What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:45pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:45pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:45pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:45pm Friday 9:30am - 4:45pm Saturday 9:30am - 4:45pm Sunday 9:30am - 4:45pm

Rathfarnham Castle

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Rathfarnham Castle

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The original castle at Rathfarnham dates back to the Elizabethan period and was built for Archbishop Adam Loftus Group tours must be booked in advance.

The castle with its four flanker towers is an excellent example of the fortified house in Ireland. In the late 18th century, the house was remodelled on a splendid scale employing some of the finest architects of the day including Sir William Chambers and James 'Athenian' Stuart. Visitors will learn about the origins and early history of the castle and will see a series of finely decorated 18th century rooms, some containing period furniture. The castle also contains a collection of original paintings including landscapes and family portraits by Angelica Kauffman (1741-1807), Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680), and Hugh Douglas Hamilton (1740-1808). Location: Rathfarnham by-pass, between Rathfarnham Road and Grange Road (near Rathfarnham Village)

Bus Routes: 16/16A from City Centre, 17 (Blackrock - Rialto), 75 (Dun Laoghaire - Tallaght)

Guided tours available. Duration: 45 min - 1 hour

Admission: Adult €5.00, Senior/Group €4.00, Student: €3.00, Family €13.00

Leaflet/Guide Book: Leaflet in English

Seasonal Events: exhibitions, concerts, theatre, readings

Photography/Video allowed: Yes, for personal use

Additional Information: Full access for visitors with disabilities

Tearooms open daily. To contact the Tearooms call 046 940 7329.

03/11/2026

Tomorrow is the first Wednesday of the month, and you can enjoy free admission to a whole range of OPW Heritage Sites, so if you're planning a day out, make sure to pencil us in to your diary! Take a guided tour, or a self-guided tour at your own pace, and take in two wonderful exhibitions, 'Monuments in Focus' and 'The Nativity Scene, The Legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi through Italian Design and Irish Craftsmanship',

We open at 10.30am and last admissions are at 4.15pm.

02/11/2026

'The trees are in their autumn beauty...' (W.B. Yeats)

The view from the Ballroom on this beautiful Autumn day.

31/10/2026

'.Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve.' (Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree)

Happy Halloween! 👻🦇🐈🎃🧛‍♂️

🎃

27/10/2026

We are still taking bookings for Irish Heritage and Cross-Cultural Community Development - A Case Study, an illustrated talk by Brian Arnold, Director at Lusk Community Council. The talk takes place on Saturday 14 November at 3.30pm.

The Ireland of today is a distant memory to Ireland of the 1970s. While our Irish heritage remains broadly the same, the country is now a melting pot of many heritages. The town of Lusk in north county Dublin is undergoing the transformation from historic village to medium sized town, one with a strong sense of place that is now home to approximately 10,000 people. This presentation explores the dynamics of change that are impacting the town and the established community. It examines the pressures and opportunities that lie ahead and hopefully points to lessons that will assist other towns in their transformation as we move to become a country made up of multi-heritage communities.
Tickets €5 including booking fee. Booking essential.

Tickets from Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/1998128395820

26/10/2026

Face to face with the ancestors - a young visitor to the Castle encounters Charles Tottenham Loftus, Marquess of Ely in a portrait by Hugh Douglas Hamilton, one of a collection of Loftus family portraits on display in the Castle.

We're open today, Bank Holiday Monday from 10.30am - 5pm. Last admissions are at 4.15pm.

Image: Aidona Photography

25/10/2026

Rathfarnham Castle is OPEN today, and tomorrow Bank Holiday Monday 10.30am - 5pm.

Take a walk through our historic rooms and view our small but fine collection of period furniture and paintings, and view two exhibitions 'Monuments in Our Past' and 'The Nativity Scene: The Legacy of St. Francis of Assisi'.

For those of you on a tight schedule, you can pop in to have a quick look at the exhibitions - admission to both is fee.

21/10/2026

Open all weekend, including Bank Holiday Monday, 10.30am - 5pm. Last admissions 4.15pm. Admission free.

THE NATIVITY SCENE The Legacy of St. Francis of Assisi through Italian Design and Irish Craftsmanship
On the occasion of the eight-hundredth anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi, the Embassy of Italy in Ireland and the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin present The Nativity Scene: The Legacy of St Francis of Assisi through Italian Design and Irish Craftsmanship.

The project, developed by the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin and designer Andrea Vecera, artistic curator of the exhibition, is presented by the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Ireland, OPW – Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí/Office of Public Works, and DCCI – Design & Crafts Council Ireland. The exhibition will be on display at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, from 4 October 2026 to 6 January 2027.

The exhibition is conceived as a tribute to one of Saint Francis’ “inventions”: the presepe, or Nativity scene. It consists of a collection of unique Nativity scenes, offering a diverse vision of this religious representation - not only as a spiritual symbol, but also as a profound and intimate part of Italian culture.

Internationally renowned Italian designers have been invited to reinterpret the Nativity through their own personal vision, using a variety of materials, with a particular emphasis on natural materials characteristic of the Irish landscape.
The designers’ projects have been brought to life by Irish craftspeople introduced by DCCI – Design & Crafts Council Ireland, fostering a fruitful exchange between the creative excellence of the two countries.

Through this cultural dialogue, the exhibition aims to promote values deeply associated with the figure of St Francis, including solidarity, the sharing of knowledge, a sense of belonging to the community, and a spirit of collaboration.

ITALIAN DESIGNERS
Antonio Aricò | Alessandra Baldereschi | Lorenzo Damiani
Gumdesign | Giulio Iacchetti | Lorenzo Palmeri
Sonia Pedrazzini | Matteo Ragni | Andrea Vecera

IRISH ARTISANS
Garvan de Bruir | Erica Devine | Jamie Forde
Brendan Joyce | Eoghan Leadbetter | Edel MacBride | Eimear Vize

PARTNERS
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí/Office of Public Works (OPW)
Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI)

Photography: Neil Hurley

07/10/2026

We are pleased to announce that the minor technical issues which delayed the opening of The Nativity Scene: The Legacy of St. Francis of Assisi through Italian Design and Irish Craftsmanship have been resolved, and the exhibition will open tomorrow, 8th October at 9.30am.

On the occasion of the eight-hundredth anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi, the Embassy of Italy in Ireland and the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin present The Nativity Scene: The Legacy of St Francis of Assisi through Italian Design and Irish Craftsmanship.

The project, developed by the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin and designer Andrea Vecera, artistic curator of the exhibition, is presented by the Italian Cultural Institute in Dublin in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Ireland, OPW – Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí/Office of Public Works, and DCCI – Design & Crafts Council Ireland. The exhibition will be on display at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, from 4 October 2026 to 6 January 2027.

The exhibition is conceived as a tribute to one of Saint Francis’ “inventions”: the presepe, or Nativity scene. It consists of a collection of unique Nativity scenes, offering a diverse vision of this religious representation - not only as a spiritual symbol, but also as a profound and intimate part of Italian culture.

Internationally renowned Italian designers have been invited to reinterpret the Nativity through their own personal vision, using a variety of materials, with a particular emphasis on natural materials characteristic of the Irish landscape.

The designers’ projects have been brought to life by Irish craftspeople introduced by DCCI – Design & Crafts Council Ireland, fostering a fruitful exchange between the creative excellence of the two countries.

Through this cultural dialogue, the exhibition aims to promote values deeply associated with the figure of St Francis, including solidarity, the sharing of knowledge, a sense of belonging to the community, and a spirit of collaboration.

ITALIAN DESIGNERS
Antonio Aricò | Alessandra Baldereschi | Lorenzo Damiani
Gumdesign | Giulio Iacchetti | Lorenzo Palmeri
Sonia Pedrazzini | Matteo Ragni | Andrea Vecera
IRISH ARTISANS
Garvan de Bruir | Erica Devine | Jamie Forde
Brendan Joyce | Eoghan Leadbetter | Edel MacBride | Eimear Vize
PARTNERS
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí/Office of Public Works (OPW)
Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI)

06/10/2026

Tomorrow is the first Wednesday of the month, so you can enjoy free admission to the Castle, and to a whole range of other OPW heritage sites. See www.heritageireland.ie for a full list of participating sites.

Please note that due to an event taking place in Rathfarnham Castle on Wednesday evening, the first floor of the Castle will be closed to the public from 4.30pm approximately, and it is advisable to arrive by 4pm in order to have access to all historic rooms. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Normal access will resume on Thursday 8 October.

Address

Grange Road
Terenure
D14K3T6

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:45pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:45pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:45pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:45pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:45pm
Saturday	9:30am - 4:45pm
Sunday	9:30am - 4:45pm

Telephone

+35314939462

Website

http://www.rathfarnhamcastle.ie/

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