Learn about rural life in Ireland, including one of the most devastating times in the country’s history, in this agricultural museum, which occupies the old farm buildings of Johnstown Castle.
The Irish Agricultural Museum chronicles Irish rural life through the ages in a series of comprehensive exhibitions. Examine the collection of tractors and farming equipment, see recreated workshops and examples of old country furniture, trace the evolution of farmhouse kitchens and delve into the tragic event of the Great Famine.
The museum is located on the grounds of Johnstown Castle, which dates back to the 12th century. Although it was once owned by a wealthy Wexford family, it is now owned by the Teagasc, Ireland’s Agricultural and Food Development Authority. The museum is devoted to documenting the changing nature of rural life in Ireland following the Industrial Revolution.
Inspect the many examples of farm machinery on show and try to guess the purpose of each piece of equipment. Tractors are particularly well represented with several early Ferguson models on show. For an insight into domestic life in rural Ireland, view the recreated farmhouse kitchens. These show how the kitchen would have changed from generation to generation.
Perhaps the most moving exhibition is that covering the Great Famine, which devastated the country between 1845 and 1852. Learn about the impact of the famine on farming life and about the starvation, disease and mass emigration that ensued.
Farmers aren’t the only rural workers covered in the exhibits. Several other trades are also examined in more detail. View recreated blacksmith, cooper and wheelwright workshops.
Bring the whole family along to the museum. Several interactive exhibits, including quizzes and trails, will help keep children entertained. A tea room can be found near the entrance, while an on-site shop sells souvenirs and trinkets.
The Irish Agricultural Museum is about 4 miles (7 kilometers) southwest of Wexford town. The museum is open daily, with opening hours varying depending on the season and the day of the week.
While you are in the estate, be sure to stroll around the beautiful grounds, where more than 200 shrub and tree species grow. Look for the Gothic castle towers, the sunken Italian garden and the estate’s resident peacocks. An entrance fee applies.
