Castletown Estate will be bustling with exciting activities. Entertainers from Genie Mackers will keep children occupied, from wonderful face and arm painting to mystical magic shows to party games and bubble discos.

The Nore Valley Mobile Interactive Pet Farm will offer the chance to meet and greet animals such as baby chicks, bunnies and lambs, as well as a pony, donkey and roosters, in a hands-on and educational environment.

For book lovers, come and meet Mrs Books who is absolutely bonkers about books. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear her read, ask questions, and celebrate the joy of books.

Join our knowledgeable tour guides on our free family friendly tours of Castletown House where visitors can explore the exquisite interior that reflects power and grandeur and witness the significant collection of paintings, furnishings and objets d’art.

For nature lovers, Butterfly Conservation Ireland and Birdwatch Ireland will bring visitors through the beautiful parklands on biodiversity tours, identifying native flora and fauna that are at home in Castletown Estate.

Visit with the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland and interact with the wolfhounds of Irish Legends. Come and meet furry friends and volunteers from the Kildare and West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, devoted to the rescue, care and re-homing of animals throughout Kildare and West Wicklow.

Note:

While there is no general visitor parking for Castletown House at this time, we encourage all our visitors to use public transport or active travel, such as walking or cycling, to visit Castletown House and Estate. Remember to respect our neighbours and don’t park in local housing estates.

There are limited accessible parking spaces available in front of the House for Blue Badge holders, which can be accessed via Lime Avenue. Further details on how to travel to Castletown is available on castletown.ie/how-to-find-us/.

There is no café facility at Castletown House at present so families should ensure that they bring a picnic.

The Castletown Parkland is open from dawn till dusk for visitors. Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a lead, and away from the lake area.

We hope that this will be the first of many community events. The OPW is committed to keeping the Lime Avenue car free at weekends as far as possible, so the family fun day is being held on a weekday as event personnel will need vehicle access on the day.