Rathfarnham Castle
An inspiring Elizabethan castle within easy reach of Dublin City Centre
Limited Access
Castle closed until further notice. Grounds open.
Café takeaway only.
Admission
Free Admission
Adult: €5.00
Senior/Group: €4.00
Child/Student: €3.00
Family: €13.00.
Rathfarnham Castle
The castle at Rathfarnham dates back to the Elizabethan period. It was built for Adam Loftus, a Yorkshire clergyman and politician. Loftus was ambitious and eventually rose to become Archbishop of Dublin and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
Loftus’s castle, with its four flanker towers, is an excellent example of the Elizabethan fortified house in Ireland. In the late eighteenth 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. The collection includes family portraits by Angelica Kauffman, Sir Peter Lely, and Hugh Douglas Hamilton.
It now hosts a wealth of exhibitions and cultural events.
Highlights

Gallery
Opening Times
Open throughout the year
09:30 – 17:30
Seasonal Opening Times
- May – September
Daily 09:30 – 17:30
Last admission 16:45
- October – April
Wednesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays
10:30 – 17:00Last admission 16:15
Contact
Rathfarnham
Dublin 14
D14 K3T6
01 493 9462
rathfarnhamcastle@opw.ie
Facilities
- Art
- Baby Changing
- Brochure
- Cafe
- Car park
- Changing exhibitions
- Coach parking
- Events Venue
- Lift
- Playground
- Toilets
Restrictions
- Assistance dogs only
Nearby sites to visit
Rathfarnham Castle
Pearse Museum – St. Enda’s Park
An enthralling chapter in the story of 1916
Approx. 1.7 km from Rathfarnham Castle
Iveagh Gardens
Experience a sense of wonder in Dublin’s ‘secret garden’
Approx. 4.4 km from Rathfarnham Castle
St Stephen’s Green
A Victorian civic gem in Dublin’s greatest garden square
Approx. 4.9 km from Rathfarnham Castle
Social Guide
Download, print and read our social guide (PDF) about visiting Rathfarnham Castle. This will help first-time visitors, families and people with developmental and learning disabilities to prepare for a visit to Rathfarnham Castle.
Download the Social Guide