Adult and Community
At Farmleigh there are a variety of talks, tours and trails provided throughout the year inspired by the collections, grounds and Guinness family history. If you would like to book a group tour focused on art, architecture or an outdoor tour of Farmleigh Estate contact the guides at farmleighguides@opw.ie or on 01 815 5914.
Themed talks and presentations have taken place on fabrics, the clock tower, the Tailor and Ansty and the four Irish Nobel Laureates of literature. For details on upcoming talks and workshops see our Calendar or Facebook page for details and booking information.
Blogs
Read the latest Farmleigh blogs here!
Art Tours
Tours highlighting the Guinness Family and OPW art collections at Farmleigh as well artworks on loan from the National Gallery and Hugh Lane Gallery. Contact the guides at farmleighguides@opw.ie or on 01 815 5914 to enquire about booking an art tour in Farmleigh House.
Sculpture Trail
The Office of Public Works has introduced contemporary sculptures throughout Farmleigh Estate over the years. These permanent sculptures display a range of themes, from celebrating the accession of new states into the EU to the alignment of the planets in 1916. The sculptures also represent a diverse range of Irish and international artists.
A one-page map of the sculptures in Farmleigh Estate is available for download here. Read about the sculptures here.
Architectural Tours
Farmleigh House boasts an eclecticism of interior decoration ranging from the classical style to Jacobean, Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Georgian. Discover the original Georgian house enclosed within the 19th century mansion. Join us during the Open House festival in October or contact the guides at farmleighguides@opw.ie or on 01 815 5914 for dates of upcoming architectural tours in Farmleigh House.
The Installation of the Prince of Wales as Knight of St. Patrick in St Patrick's Cathedral.
Look Behind-The Painting that tells a Treasure of Stories.
This video series will explore Michael Angelo Hayes’ painting in Farmleigh Library. Listen to a series of stories about Artist & Earls, Princes and Pearls, Guinness & Swords, Ladies & Lords-a palette of painted tales from past to present. If a picture paints a thousand words – one amazing painting tells hundreds of heritage heart warmers. So much more than One Knight to remember! Watch out for further videos, stories and events inspired by this painting.
The first video in a series on this painting. The Artist painted himself looking back so let’s join him in doing that. Step back through the historical web of portraits and pageantry into the lives and loves of the prominent characters, the ceremony, society and events of the day.
Emer returns to discuss the Installation of the Prince of Wales as Knight of St. Patrick in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in 1868 by Michael Angelo Hayes, this time with an emphasis on Benjamin Lee Guinness and how he funded the restoration of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1860s.
The Clock Tower
Rising to about 37m in height the Clock Tower combined the Victorian desire for mixing the aesthetic and practical and is a well known landmark, as recorded in a local ditty: “Mister Guinness has a clock, And on its top a weathercock, To show the people Castleknock.” Read the Clock Tower Blog or watch the Clock Tower Video to learn more about the history and function of the Clock Tower at Farmleigh.
Turais ar an Teach
Chun turas trí ghaeilge a chur in aireamh seol ríomhphoist chuig farmleighguides@opw.ie.
Farmleigh Tree Trails
The oldest tree at Farmleigh is the great sycamore at the edge of the donkey field, over 220 years in age. Farmleigh was owned by the Guinness family from 1873 – 1999. Edward Cecil Guinness, brewer and great grandson of Arthur Guinness began to develop a planting scheme at the estate with the introduction of the Thuja Avenue in the late 19th century. An assortment of trees from cedars to sequoias were introduced and the pleasure grounds at Farmleigh began to take shape. The Cherry Walk was later introduced by Gwendolen, Lady Iveagh in the mid-twentieth century and leads to the Sunken Garden. The Magnolia Walk was introduced by Miranda Guinness and both ladies had an influence on the planting and design of the walled garden at Farmleigh, now cared for by the Office of Public Works.
See our tree videos below for highlights of the trees at Farmleigh Estate.
| Discovering Trees at Farmleigh | Autumn Trees at Farmleigh | Spring Trees at Farmleigh |