Johnstown Castle

The mature woodlands and lakes surrounding this beautiful turreted castle comprise 50 acres are nothing short of magnificent. Two famous Wexford families are have lived on the estate since 1170 when it was owned by the Esmondes; a famous Norman family. During the 15th and 16th centuries the Esmondes constructed a tower house at Johnstown. The estate was confiscated during the Cromwellian period around 1640 and changed hands a number of times before being acquired by John Grogan in 1692. The Grogan family remained on the estate until 1945 and constructed the magnificent castle which is on the estate today between 1810 and 1855. Daniel Robertson a county Kilkenny born architect who was was also responsible for some of the building work on the castle designed and planted the surrounding grounds in the 1830’s. The gardens include a huge Rhododendron arboreum, several fine redwoods and a 5 acre lake opposite the castle which Robertson had dug out and designed. In 1945 the estate was presented as a gift to the Irish nation by Maurice Victor Lakin and was later occupied by the Department of Agriculture who established an agricultural institute there

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