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Heritage Ireland

Tickets bought from other websites- including ticketing resale platforms -will not be valid and such ticket-holders will be refused entry.

 

Direct links to the sites’ booking pages

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (Newgrange Knowthand Dowth)

Cahir Castle

Charles Fort Military Fortress

Custom House Visitor Centre

Dublin Castle

Farmleigh House 

Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh, Connemara – Pearse’s Cottage

Kilmainham Gaol Museum

Kilkenny Castle

Ormond Castle 

The Blasket Centre – Ionad an Bhlascaoid

The Rock of Cashel

 

Links to site pages:

Frequently Asked Questions: Buy and change your ticket

Booking online ensures entry and minimises queueing times at busy sites. At some sites, a limited amount of tickets are also available to purchase on the day on a first-come first-served basis.

  • Available: you can still buy tickets online for the tour/time(s) chosen
  • Not Available Online: tickets for this tour/time(s) can only be bought in person at the site on a first-come first-served basis
  • Sold Out: all tickets for this tour/time(s) have been sold

It means that on the date that you have selected, you can visit at any time and explore the site in question at your leisure.  Visiting aids will be available on arrival and some sites have brochures which you can download in advance from their respective websites.

Please note that although some sites are strictly by guided tour only they may also have self-guided exhibitions which you can view before or after your guided tour.

We welcome group bookings – for school field trips or tour groups please contact the site directly.  The current OPW online booking facilities are for individuals only, with a maximum numbers of tickets that can be purchased. 

You can present your ticket on a mobile device at the site’s entrance.  Failing that, bring your booking reference, name or the e-mail address used for your reservation but allow for the fact this will impact on queuing time.

Each site is different; it can vary from 28 days to 6 months and it is not always possible to book on the day.  Please check each site’s conditions of admission.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to change the date or time of your booking and tickets are non-transferable. Please see Terms & Conditions

Unfortunately, tickets are not refundable.  Please see Terms & Conditions.

We are sorry if this happened to you and there can be several reasons for this:

  • The confirmation e-mail might have been moved to your Spam or Junk Mail folder.  Please check for an e-mail from the @opw.ie domain
  • There might be a typing error in your e-mail address.  Please contact the site who will check if the booking was fully processed and issue confirmation if it was 
  • There may be a delay due to Server problems.  Check your e-mail again later
  • If the booking wasn’t processed and the payment was pending, it will be returned to your account within a few days

We are sorry if this happened to you and there may be several reasons preventing you from completing your order.  We would suggest that you:

  • Check your Internet connection and refresh the Web page
  • Try again but using another Browser
  • Restart your computer

There can be several reasons for this:

  • Maybe some of the details on the page are not correct or not filled in.  Check the card-holder’s details, CVC Code and expiry date
  • Avoid double-payments and check that the payment hasn’t gone through already before trying to pay again
  • Sometimes it helps to try again using a different Browser
  • Maybe there’s an issue with the account or credit card; try again using a different card if possible

Unfortunately no, tickets are only available online or on arrival at some sites and on a first-come first-served basis with no guarantee of admission.

We carefully structure our fee to reflect the costs of providing a ticketing service and having an administration charge to secure tickets is a standard practice when booking online

Frequently Asked Questions: Discounts

Yes, like fee-paying admissions, entrance is subject to availability. Reserve your free ticket(s) by choosing the correct link and ticket type. Please make sure to bring your Card along with your booking confirmation or normal rate will apply.

Yes, if you want to be guaranteed access. You can reserve your free ticket following the ‘OPW One Year Heritage Card’ link and buy your OPW Heritage Card(s) on arrival but make sure to allow extra time for this, especially if you have booked a guided tour. This is also likely to impact on your queuing time.

Unfortunately, if you booked a Complimentary Ticket but are unable to show the relevant discount card on arrival you will be charged at the normal rate. In the case of a booked timed guided tour, it also means that your admission is no longer guaranteed as the delay incurred may mean that you will miss it.

Yes, OPW sites accept all valid student cards which you must produce on arrival to validate your Student Ticket

Unfortunately, no. The discount rate is only available to visitors who are 60 years of age and over.

Please note that all persons with physical or intellectual disabilities and their accompanying carers are admitted free of charge to any OPW site where an admission charge applies. We want to ensure that you make the most of your visit but as each site has its own unique characteristics it is best to contact the site before visiting.

Free entry for members of the Press is only possible with prior approval from the site; please make contact ahead of your visit.

Teachers preparing for a school visit can avail of free admission but this will only be possible with prior approval from the site; please make contact ahead of your visit.

On ‘free days’ interest usually exceeds capacity and it is therefore very important for each site to be able to spread visits throughout the whole day. This is to try and provide a quality experience to all our visitors and continue to protect and preserve the sites. On those special days, admission is still subject to availability and on a first-come first-served basis.
If you have queries about specific dates, please contact each site individually.

Not if they are under the age of 12; however, you still must book a ticket for each child by following the ‘Child (Under 12)’ link.  Please note that the OPW implements a Child Safeguarding Policy on all its sites and that children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.  For more information click here.

This facility is unfortunately not currently available.

Certain membership cards attract reduced or complimentary admission. Like fee-paying admissions, entrance is subject to availability and you must bring the relevant discount card with you or normal rate will apply. In the case of a booked guided tour, it may also mean that your admission is no longer guaranteed as the delay incurred may mean that you will miss it.

Frequently Asked Questions: Visiting

Unfortunately no, if you bought a ticket for a guided-tour, it is time-specific and only visitors who arrive at the indicated time are guaranteed entry.

Unfortunately no. As admission is only possible with a valid ticket it is very important to select the correct number of tickets when booking, including all complimentary tickets such as Under 12 or Heritage Card Users. If this was not possible at the time of booking make sure to check whether some are still available on arrival. At times, a limited number of tickets will remain available on the day on a first-come first-served basis but admission is not guaranteed and is unlikely at very busy sites.

Some sites will offer this facility but you must reserve your tickets separately.

If you are unable to find the answer to your question or
would like to get in touch for another reason, please contact the site directly.

Terms and Conditions

1. Tickets purchased online are non-refundable unless:

  • You contact the site within one-hour of purchase
  • The site is forced to cancel your visit

in which cases, we will refund the full amount originally paid

2. Tickets purchased online are non-exchangeable. Tickets that are not refunded under the terms laid out in Section 1) cannot be amended in anyway

3. Tickets purchased online are non-transferable to another person

4. All discounted tickets such as student tickets and tickets for visitors with Heritage Cards purchased online must be presented with the relevant valid discount card on arrival or full admission rate will apply. The final decision of validity and suitability will rest with the site’s staff and the company’s decision will be final

5. Group bookings are not permitted online and must be done by contacting each location individually; please refer to each site’s conditions of admissions. Failure to respect the online booking requirements will result in admission being refused and tickets will not be refunded. Abuse of the online booking system may also affect your ability to make future bookings

6. When booking complimentary admissions online, you may only book for a specific day and time.  This policy is in effect to discourage and prevent unfair ticket-booking practices.  Sites reserve the right to cancel any order(s) for Tickets purchased in excess of the relevant limits without notice.  This may also affect your ability to make future bookings

7. In the case of time-specific tickets, late arrivals will not be accommodated and tickets will not be refunded

8. Any personal information you provide will be used only for the purpose supplied. It is our policy never to disclose such technical information in respect of individual website visitors to any third party unless obliged to disclose such information by a rule of law. The technical information will be used only by only for statistical and other administrative purposes. You should note that technical details, which we cannot associate with any identifiable individual, do not constitute ‘personal data’ for the purposes of the Data Protection Acts, 1988 – 2003

9. All bookings must abide by the rules and regulations as set out in the Office of Public Works’ Child Safeguarding Statement. Failure to do so will result in admission being refused and tickets will not be refunded. Schools are advised that if certain conditions are met they can avail of the Free Educational Visits for Schools Scheme but bookings cannot be done using the online facility.  To ensure compliance with the Child Safety Statement, organisers should familiarise themselves with the Scheme’s conditions and contact each site individually to plan their visits

10. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you have checked the sites’ accessibility and realised the possible restrictions and hazards involved. No refunds will be given for services not utilised

11. Promotional vouchers/discounts must be redeemed at time of purchase and cannot be used for any purpose other than redeeming designated rewards or discounts. At no time will vouchers/discounts be available to be refunded for their cash value.  Note that some promotional offers are not available for advance bookings; please check each offer’s own terms and conditions

12. In line with the Office of Public Works’ Customer Charter, we are committed to providing quality and efficient services to our customers. However, if you have a complaint contact the site directly at the earliest opportunity.  They will investigate it fully and undertake all reasonable efforts to resolve it.  If the complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction at this stage, it will be escalated to the relevant Head of Section

13. The opening of OPW sites can be weather dependent and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all, access may be subject to change at short notice. Every attempt will be made to announce these closures ahead of time but if you are in any doubt, please check with site for its Open/Close Status

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