Set in the gentle rolling countryside of Ireland’s County Wexford, Johnstown Castle stands as a silent witness to a past rich in history and intrigue. Lost alone, in the middle of a majestic estate, the site attracts visitors every year, as well as couples wishing to organize their wedding on site. It has to be said that the setting is worthy of a fairytale!
Johnstown castle – © Monica
Located in the heart of Ireland’s picturesque County Wexford, Johnstown Castle stands majestically as a privileged witness to Ireland’s medieval epic. Its thousand-year-old walls tell captivating tales of nobility, heroic battles and legendary love affairs that have shaped the cultural landscape of this region.
The origins of the château date back to the 12th century. At that time, a first building was erected here on the estate before the definitive château was built.
This is a tower house, more modest than the current version. It was built by the Esmonde family, Anglo-Normans who are said to have landed in Ireland from Lincolnshire in the 1170s, just after theNorman invasion of Ireland (1169).
Centuries go by and the château remains in the same family, handed down through several generations.
But everything changed during the Cromwellian Conquest, when the Catholic Esmonde family was driven out and lost ownership of their castle.
Oliver Cromwell, a strategic thinker, took advantage of the opportunity to station his troops here, even spending a night on the estate in 1649, shortly before the sack of Wexford in October 1649.
The castle is now considered an English military stronghold…
But time changes things. Johnstown Castle was bought by the Grogan family in 1692.
Once again, the building was passed down through several generations, until Hamilton Knox Grogan-Morgan decided to completely rethink the building (he is responsible for the current château). He therefore decided to rebuild a neo-Gothic château from the foundations of the first building.
The project is colossal and the price tag dizzying. But nothing is too good for the Grocan family. Hamilton called on Daniel Robertson for the plans and construction.
In 1863, the estate was divided into two parts: a deer park to the north, the château, forest land, a farm and two artificial lakes to the south. The ensemble is magnificent, and demonstrates the family’s influence on the Wexford area.
During the First World War, Johnstown Castle was requisitioned by the Royal Naval Air Service. The latter stored their dirigible balloons on the castle lawn and launched them in several attacks against German U-Boats. Their success was mixed, but the castle was considered an excellent strategic military point.
In May 1944, Johnstown Castle was sold by its last owners. The castle was bought by the Irish state to become the headquarters of the Department of Agriculture (called An Foras Talúntais from 1959 and Teagasc from 1988).
It is home to teams of researchers specializing in soil analysis. Laboratories were set up here (with respect for the site), and the building became the epicenter of agricultural research in Ireland.
It wasn’t until 2019 that the French government decided to open the château to visitors. Aware of its priceless historical value, the government is renovating the property to restore it to its former splendor.
The site is now a “château-musée”, with tours of the main rooms and explanatory panels on the site’s tumultuous past.
If you love Gothic Revival castles, then Johnstown Castle is the place for you. Imposing and slightly oversized, it is a magnificent example of the architecture of the period.
Step inside: the imposing stone towers, ultra-cut battlements and white-framed windows seem to whisper tales of bygone days.
The ensemble is so well preserved, you can feel the very essence of medieval life.
The visit generally takes the form of a guided tour. You’ll be able to discover the rooms of yesteryear, with their period furniture, tapestries and everyday objects that gave rhythm to Irish medieval life.
A passionate guide will tell you many legendary stories about Norman knights, Oliver Cromwell’s impact on the castle and Irish history…One chapter is even dedicated to the 1798 Rebellion that Johnstown Castle experienced.
Finally, you can explore the “underground servants’ passage”, a secret place that allowed the castle’s servants to come and go easily from the castle kitchens to the private rooms of the former owners!
But there’s more to Johnstown Castle than its impressive architecture. Throughout the year, it hosts a range of cultural events, medieval festivals and craft workshops, giving you the opportunity to experience history in an immersive way. You could find yourself taking part in medieval weapons demonstrations, sampling traditional foods, or even trying on period costumes.
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