Welcome to Farmleigh

An estate of seventy-eight acres situated to the north-west of Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Farmleigh provides accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation. A historic house holding important collections, an art gallery, farm animals, and the official Irish State guest house, Farmleigh House and Estate is open seven days a week.

Home to the Guinness family for generations, Farmleigh remains a unique representation of its heyday, the Edwardian period, and houses important artworks and furnishings, as well as the Benjamin Iveagh collection of rare books, bindings, and manuscripts which is held in the Library. The extensive pleasure grounds feature walled and sunken gardens and scenic lakeside walks, tastefully influenced by the Guinness family.

Farmleigh is managed by the Office of Public Works. The Estate hosts a donkey sanctuary, horses and is home to a herd of Kerry Black cows. Join one of our knowledgeable guides for a tour of Farmleigh House that takes you from the eighteenth century, when building commenced, right up to the present day.

  • Farmleigh Estate is open daily 10am – 5pm and free to visit.
  • Entry to Farmleigh House is by guided tour. (Open April – December)
  • Farmleigh House Tour Prices:
  • Adult: €8
    Senior (60+): €6
    Child (12-17)/Student (ID required): €4
    Child under 12: Free
    Family (Two adults, max five children): €20
  • The average length of the house tour is 50 minutes.

Phoenix Park Road Closures – 29th June


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!

Map of trees around the fountain lawn
Map of trees in the walled garden
Picture map of trees on the Boathouse Lawn at Farmleigh

The Farmleigh Blog

Read the latest posts below, and click through to the full Blog for all news articles and updates.

Women Writers in the Benjamin Iveagh Collection

Women Writers in the Benjamin Iveagh Collection

by Dr Nora Moroney, IRC Postdoctoral Fellow TCD, Marsh's Library, Farmleigh House. The Benjamin Iveagh Library, in its beautiful wood-panelled room at Farmleigh, contains over five thousand books. Of these, only a handful are written by women. This is not altogether...

Open House Dublin

Open House Dublin

Open House Dublin 2020 was celebrated online this year! As Covid 19 restrictions prevented any public tours entering Farmleigh House, Farmleigh Guides invite you to join them on a virtual visit for views and history of Farmleigh Clock Tower. This video highlights...

Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2020

Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2020

Connect Through Culture Exploring Farmleigh Archives For Culture Night / Oíche Chultúir 2020, Farmleigh Tour Guides present a video from Farmleigh Library looking at what it says in the papers on Friday 18th September 1868. Continuing with a theme from our Heritage...