World-class gardens & agricultural research

Johnstown Castle was originally the site of a Norman castle built by the Esmonde family of Lincolnshire. In 1649, The Esmondes were expelled by Oliver Cromwell for being Catholic after The Sack of Wexford. The estate was then bought by the Grogan family in 1692 whose descendant Cornelius Grogan was hanged for his part in the 1798 Rebellion. His younger brother John Knox Grogan began to restore the estate in 1810 the estate and 60 years later his son, Hamilton Knox Grogan-Morgan, created Johnstown Castle as it stands today. The ornamental grounds and gardens were designed by Daniel Robertson who is famed for designing the garden terraces at Powerscourt Estate, Co. Wicklow, and Wells House in Co. Wexford. The grounds are greatly enhanced by two lakes with folly towers which are populated with a range of waterfowl. In 1945, Maurice Victor Lakin gave the estate to the Irish state in lieu of taxes after which it was taken over by Teagasc and used for agricultural research. It is now open to the public and houses the excellent Irish Agricultural Museum.