An estate of seventy-eight acres situated to the northwest of Dublin’s Phoenix Park, Farmleigh provides accommodation for visiting dignitaries and guests of the nation. Farmleigh remains a unique representation of its heyday 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.
Farmleigh was bought in 1873 by Edward Cecil Guinness (1st Earl of Iveagh), the great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, founder of the Guinness Brewery. Originally a Georgian two-storey house, the 1st Earl of Iveagh had the building extended twice, first to the designs of J.F. Fuller who added the third storey, and later by William Young. Farmleigh was passed on from one generation to the next of the Guinness family and in 1999 Arthur Guinness (4th Earl of Iveagh), sold Farmleigh to the Irish State. The extensive pleasure grounds feature walled, sunken gardens and scenic lakeside walks.
The on-site Boathouse Restaurant, with its deck overlooking the ornamental lake at Farmleigh, offers tasty nutritional food, complemented by an excellent wine/drinks list, speciality coffees, and confectionery.
Open: The Estate and Coffee Shop are Open year-round. See website for opening hours of the house. Access to Farmleigh House is by guided tour. Please note that because Farmleigh is a working Government building, the House may close at short notice, or tours may be restricted.
Admission: Admission fees apply.
How to get there: If travelling to Farmleigh by car from City Centre:
Enter Phoenix Park from the gated entrance on Parkgate St, near Heuston Station. Continue on Chesterfield Avenue for approximately 3.6km until the third roundabout. Take the first exit at this roundabout. At 100 metres, turn right onto White’s Road. Continue straight, and the entrance to Farmleigh will be approximately 500 metres.
By Bus: Take bus number 37 from the city centre and get off at Castleknock Gate. Enter Phoenix Park and take the narrow pedestrian pathway through the field to your immediate right. Walk down this path until you reach a road. Turn right and you should see the gates of Farmleigh a short distance away.
Farmleigh is a fifteen-minute walk from the Castleknock Gate.
From Heuston Station take bus numbers 25a, 25d, 25x, 25b, 66x, 51d, and 67x to Palmerstown, Lucan Road (see below under Luas details)
By Luas (tram): Take the Luas Red line to Heuston Station. From Heuston Station, there are various buses available to Palmerstown, Lucan Road, which is a twenty-minute walk from Farmleigh.