As we focus on the exciting responsibility of hosting the EU Presidency this year, our usual cultural programme will take a short pause. We look forward to returning next year with renewed energy and a full programme. Please see heritageireland.ie for details of Easter activities at Dublin Castle, Custom House Visitor Centre and other OPW heritage sites! Thank you for your continued support.
Farmleigh House is closed for essential building maintenance works.
Guided outdoor tours of Farmleigh Estate are running daily at 11.30am & 2.30pm until Farmleigh House re-opens. Please note that these tours are weather dependant.
Farmleigh House and Estate are closed for State Business on Wednesday 8th April 2026
Welcome to Farmleigh
Set within seventy-eight acres of landscaped parkland on the north-west edge of Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Farmleigh is one of Ireland’s most remarkable historic estates. Today, it serves as the official Irish State Guest House, welcoming visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation, while also opening its doors to the public seven days a week.
Once home to generations of the Guinness family, Farmleigh offers a beautifully preserved glimpse into Edwardian elegance. The house features richly furnished interiors, important collections of art and decorative objects, and the renowned Benjamin Iveagh Library with its exceptional rare books and manuscripts. Visitors can also enjoy exhibitions in the gallery and explore the pleasure grounds, from the walled and sunken gardens to woodland paths and tranquil lakeside walks, all reflecting the vision and taste of the Guinness family.
Led by knowledgeable guides, tours of Farmleigh House trace its evolution from eighteenth-century origins to its role today as a place of state hospitality, offering insight into the lives, legacy and global influence of the Guinness family. For visitors captivated by the Netflix series House of Guinness, a guided tour of Farmleigh House offers a unique opportunity to step into the real-world setting and uncover the true stories behind the on-screen drama.
Managed by the Office of Public Works, the estate is also home to a variety of farm animals, where visitors can enjoy seeing the horses, donkeys, alpacas, and the distinctive herd of Kerry black cows and native Galway sheep grazing across the grounds. Farmleigh is truly a place where history, heritage and living landscape come together in a uniquely Irish setting.
The Boathouse Restaurant
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
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.
Click the images to find the online tree trails!
The Farmleigh Blog
Read the latest posts below, and click through to the full Blog for all news articles and updates.
The Kerry Cattle return to Farmleigh
Here at Farmleigh we are delighted to welcome the Kerry Cattle back on site. On Tuesday 7th June six heifers and three calves will move in to their field which we have prepared for them. For many years Farmleigh was synonymous with the Charolais breed of cattle....
International Sculpture Day
International Sculpture day (ISDay) Saturday the 30th April 2022 An opportunity to stroll through the gardens and grounds of Farmleigh Estate and take in some site specific and contemporary pieces of sculpture by Irish and internationally renowned sculptors. One of...
Lady Gwendolen Florence Mary Guinness (Nee Onslow) 1881-1966.
by Niall McFadden. To celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, I’d like to focus on a figure connected to the life of Farmleigh who played a pioneering role in advancing women’s political rights in the 1920’s and 1930’s. For eight years from 1927 to...
