Dracula Revisited, Presented by Enchanted Croí Theatre
2022-10-29 21:00 (Europe/Dublin) | Strokestown Park
Step into the darkness at Strokestown Park with Enchanted Croí Theatre to be immersed in Bram Stoker’s Gothic Classic ‘Dracula’ once again. This time…revisited, unearthed, and reborn.
We invite you to be enchanted in a web of words, a splattering of song and verse, and sensuous night dances. Join us in the shadows for an adults-only Halloween event with a drink on arrival.
“Listen to them..the children of the night! What music they make”….
Book Tickets here.
For children’s Halloween event click here.

This event is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under The Night Time Economy Support Scheme 2022

Jack O’Lantern’s Woodland Walk, with Enchanted Croí Theatre
2022-10-30 00:00 - 2022-10-31 00:00 | Strokestown Park
Sunday 30th Tour Times: 12, 2 and 4 pm
Monday 31st Tour Times: 12, 2 and 4 pm
All costumes are welcome and encouraged !
Enchanted Croi Theatre in partnership with Strokestown Park will be stepping through the mists of time into Ireland’s Ancient past to celebrate the traditions of Samhain.
Jack O’Lantern and an Cailleach will lead the way through the Autumnal veils this Halloween. Our site-specific performance hosts ghosteens galore when we unearth our stories, spells of wonderment and the shrill sounds of the Banshee for all your family and friends to enjoy.
Book your tickets here.

Resilient Irish Women and Strokestown Park House
2022-11-02 13:00 - 17:30
Come and enjoy free performances and talks about “Women and Strokestown Park” on the 175th anniversary of the assassination of Major Denis Mahon.
The “Resilient Irish Women and Strokestown Park House” event will be held on 2 November 2022, the 175th anniversary of the assassination of Major Denis Mahon, the first landlord to be murdered during the Great Hunger. The purpose of the event is to commemorate and celebrate the women of Strokestown and Roscommon who endured and lived on from the Irish Famine and the decades that followed.
Please call 071-9633013 to reserve your free place.
Order of events

1pm-1:15pm. Opening Remarks:
1:15-2pm Caroilin Callery “The Women of Strokestown Park: Bringing History to Life”
2pm-2:45pm Cathal Poirtier “Roscommon Women in Irish Language Folklore”
2:45-3:15pm Break
3:15pm-3:45pm. Declan Kavanagh, “The Sharkey Sisters of Strokestown”
3:45pm-4:pm Break
4pm-5:30pm. Enchanted Croi Theatre Roundtable and Performance of Extracts from In the Midst of Plenty: A New Folk Musical in the Time of the Famine (moderated by Caroilin Callery).

This event is supported by Roscommon County Council’s Festival and Events Grant Scheme 2022.

SpookTacular Science
2022-11-05 00:00 | Strokestown Park
Taking place on November the 5th with event times at 12, and 2 pm
Planet Science Kidz is delighted to partner with Strokestown Park for some SpookTacular Science this Halloween. Children can look forward to:
– Gooey Bugs n Slime, Giant Slime bubbles, Slime monsters, Slime falls;
– Erupting potions
– Coke Geysers
– Air Rockets
Don’t miss out on this Hands-on STEM Hallowe’en Lab. Come and Discover Science with us & make a fun mess in our lab.
Click here for tickets.

IMBOLC - Visual art Exhibition
2023-01-28 11:00 - 2023-02-26 15:00 | Vaulted Stables – Event Space
Title: IMBOLC
Entry Fee: FREE
Artists: Frances Crowe, Margo Mc Nulty, Lea Farrell, Olena Kovalevych
Launch hosted by Mary Kennedy (RTE Presenter) on the 28th of January at 3 pm this exhibition will be open until the 26th of February as part of Brigid’s awakening festival
IMBOLC features work that acknowledges the past, celebrates our heritage and evokes memory and the passing of time. Highlighting how points in history are seeds for our future that feed our sense of place and offer reflection and a sense of value as we move forward into the spring with a renewed hope of what is to come.
Artist information:

LEA FARRELL This series of oil paintings was created to highlight the fusion of nature and local heritage through the eyes of a newcomer. Discovering the local history surrounding her as she walked was a great bonus for Lea. ‘History and what the past left us are part of us. As an immigrant, I had to leave my heritage behind. It’s another aspect of human continuity that most of us only miss when it’s no longer in reach. Achieving a balance between history, nature, and present reality is a modern-day challenge and it is our job as modern people.’

MARGO MCNULTY Work in this exhibition is part of a project ‘Mantles’ which is a collaborative project between artist Margo McNulty and writer Shauna Gilligan supported by Creative Ireland. ‘Mantles’ explores themes of heritage and a sense of place symbolising the sacred Irish feminine, Brigid. Through archival artifacts and site visits, it aims to create through words and images new representations of Brigid. This body of work includes painting, etching, photography, and a publication. Click here to visit Margo’s webiste.

FRANCES CROWE’s large wall hangings titled Love in a Pandemic reflect on the enormous impact on local communities and separated families. Isolation from loved ones has made us yearn for what went before. However, the pandemic also offered us the gift of time, an escape from the usual busyness of life which allowed for moments for reflection and introspection. Repetition of pattern, texture, colour, and form in her two-dimensional woven works are motivated by memory and longing. Time spent observing and interpreting local surroundings, with a focus on the garden, is the inspiration for Frances’s most recent narrative work. Using a large palette of yarns, her woven tapestries reflect time spent immersed in her environment. Her most recent works snowdrops in snow bring hope of new beginnings with spring in the air. Click here to visit Frances’ website.

Olena Kovalevych was born in Ukraine in the city of Dneprodzerzhinsk in 1973, close to the village of Petrikovka. In 1992 she graduated from the Petrikov Art School and was awarded a diploma as an art teacher at the Kharkov State Pedagogical University. Olena continued to work in art education for 7 years. From 2003 to 2015, she was employed in the department of architecture and urban planning, engaging in the design of the urban environment and the protection of historical monuments. Olena began managing an art gallery in 2015. From 2021 she took up employment as a restorer at the Museum of History in Kamenskoye. After the beginning of the Russian aggression, Olena became engaged in volunteer activities. Since October 2022 she has been residing with her son in Strokestown. Ireland, its people, and nature inspire her to create decorative compositions influenced by the Ukrainian folk style.

Galentine's Day At Strokestown Park
2023-02-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodland Café, Strokestown Park
Galentine’s Day, Woodland Café, Strokestown Park
The perfect excuse to celebrate with your girl gang, Galentine’s Day is all about showing your girl-friends how much you mean to each other.
On Sunday 12th February from 1 pm until 4 pm our Woodland Café will celebrate friendship with our Galentine’s Day Afternoon Tea Special, enjoy quality time with your besties over a feast of sweet and savory treats, you may even fancy a glass of prosecco!
Featuring live music during afternoon tea by Green bird, a folk trio that captivates listeners with their glorious soundscapes and songs.
Booking In Advance Essential!
Ticket: €25.00 inc Afternoon Tea with Prosecco
€20.00 inc Afternoon Tea without Prosecco
Tickets Available here

Glass Display by Artist Emma Bourke
2023-02-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Strokestown Park
A new Display at Strokestown featuring the work of Emma Bourke, Glass Artist.
Join us for an exclusive event at the National Famine Museum on Sunday 19th February at 3pm, when Emma will talk about her creative process and the inspiration for her intricate designs.

To book your place at this free event, please call 071-9633013.

A display of miniature glass sculptures, created by a Mayo-based glass artist and inspired by the plants in the gardens of Strokestown Park, is currently on display in the Visitor Centre of the new National Famine Museum.
Emma Bourke is a glass artist whose work is inspired by folklore, cultural identity, and the medicinal uses of plants. Her delicate creations of glass wildflowers and plants are intricate yet miniature in scale.
During 2020, Emma spent time in Strokestown Park, sketching plants in the gardens and using these sketches and her experience in Strokestown to create a series of unique glass sculptures. Each botanical-themed sculpture is made from “lamp-worked” glass: a more robust type of glass used to make scientific instruments. Using a small torch, the glass is worked in stages, allowing the artist to return to the piece again. Emma works by painstakingly creating hundreds of miniature elements before assembling them into a finished piece.

A native of County Mayo, Emma Bourke studied Craft Design at the National College of Art & Design before pursuing a master’s degree in Glass at the University of Sunderland. Based in Westport, Emma’s work is in the collections of the National Museum of Ireland, Corning Museum of Glass (New York) and Mayo County Council.
The exhibition runs at the National Famine Museum until March 2023.

Woodland Café Sessions
2023-03-19 13:00 - 16:00 | Woodland Café, Strokestown Park
Join us on the 19th of March for our Woodland Café sessions Featuring Fiachra Guihen.
Fiachra Guihen is an acclaimed local harpist who will be performing between 1 pm and 4 pm in the Woodland Café.
There is no charge, simply come enjoy your Mother’s day in the beautiful Woodland Café at Strokestown Park.

Tree Folklore for Children
2023-03-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Strokestown Park
As part of National Tree Week join us for an educational walking tour through our 19th-century woodland to learn about ancient Irish folklore surrounding trees and how the evidence of our ancient forest is still embedded in the world around us through stories and place names.
Learn about the challenges posed by deforestation and invasive species like Japanese Knotweed. A relaxed, short walking tour suitable for all ages.
Members are free, simply bring your membership card.
Tickets are available here.
Other events happening around the country for Tree Week here.

Thomas Mahon and the Trees of Strokestown Park
2023-03-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Strokestown Park
As part of National Tree Week join us to learn about Thomas Mahon and the Trees of Strokestown Park.
In the summer of 1776, the famous agricultural reformer Arthur Young visited the Strokestown estate and wrote admiringly of the work that had been done to improve it by its then proprietor Thomas Mahon. On this relaxed walking tour of the Strokestown Demesne, we take a look at some of the trees that have survived from Thomas’ time as well as some of the more recent additions and learn about how land usage on the estate has changed over the centuries.
Members are free, simply bring your membership card on the day.
Tickets available here
Other events happening around the country for Tree Week here

Ireland EU50, Erasmus + and lifelong learning in Museums
2023-03-30 14:00 - 16:30 | Vaulted Stables – Event Space
Come and celebrate 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership with free talks in a magnificent historic house.
Engaging speakers including Michael Doorly (Concern Worldwide), Jemma Lee (Léargas), Gerry O’Sullivan (former Director of the Erasmus+ National Agency at the Higher Education Authority), and Caroline Nash (Karatas Consultants) will explore the European Union’s role in promoting aid, education, and heritage in Ireland and at the National Famine Museum.

Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
2023-03-31 20:00 - 21:30 | Strokestown Park
Book your tickets here.
Born into a musical family, siblings Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta hail from the village of An Áird Mhóir in the Gaeltacht region of Connemara, County Galway.
They are noted for their sean nós singing (unaccompanied traditional Irish vocal performance in the Irish language) and their unique arrangements of both Irish and English language songs.
Séamus & Caoimhe take a particular interest in vocal arrangement and harmonization with their performances benefitting from the vocal tones that only families share.
Their Late Late Show performance in 2022 of the soulful lament Anach Cuain captured the mood of the nation and went viral around the world.
They are both accomplished multi-instrumentalists, Irish dancers, and All-Ireland-winning performers who keep the Irish language and their heritage at the heart of all their musical endeavors.
Caoimhe is currently studying for a BA in Irish Music at the Irish World Academy at the University of Limerick. Séamus is studying a BA in Applied Languages which includes Irish, also at UL.
Séamus & Caoimhe have just released their first EP. It is produced by Brian Whelan and Riverdance composer Bill Whelan and recorded at their studio at The Fort, Roundstone, Connemara.
For a taster of what to expect on the night click here.
This event is gratefully co-funded by Roscommon County Council through the Irish Language Office.

Victorian Darkroom
2023-04-20 13:00 - 2023-04-21 13:00 | Strokestown Park
Book tickets online here
Travel back in time and visit our Victorian darkroom and laboratory, dating from the late 1800s, was created by Henry Pakenham Mahon, an enthusiastic early photographer. It is extremely rare for intact and fully equipped darkrooms like ours to have survived.
Henry used his wealth and knowledge to pursue this expensive and complicated hobby and within his laboratory, visitors will see his collection of cameras, glass plate negatives and notebooks, developing and enlarging equipment and materials.
The darkroom and laboratory are accessible through a newly curated tour and exhibition. The curation of our darkroom exhibition was made possible through funding from the Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2022.
These tours have limited availability and are running for the first time on the 20th and 21st of April at 1pm each day.
Book tickets at reception or online here

Mud Bugs Spring Workshop
2023-04-22 | Strokestown Park
Saturday April 22nd, 11am & 2pm.
Mud Bugs returns with their Spring Workshop. These workshops are all about connecting children and families with nature. We use nature to inspire creativity, curiosity, exploration, imagination and play. We want to connect children with the magic of the changing seasons through adventure, art and education.
There are two sessions available on the day; 11 am and 2 pm. Each session takes up to two hours and is suitable for children aged 3 to 12 yrs.
Book your tickets here.
*Children must be accompanied by an adult.
** Don’t forget your wellies!

Strokestown Poetry Festival
2023-04-27 - 2023-04-30 | Strokestown Park
For a full program please see the Strokestown Poetry website here.
Please join us for this year’s twenty-fifth Strokestown International Poetry Festival which promises to introduce new and emerging, national and local talent, alongside established, international, and diverse voices, speakers, and musicians.
We will open on Poetry Day Ireland, Thursday 27 April, with the premiere of Bealach an Fhéir Ghortaigh/Hunger’s Way, commissioned by the festival during the pandemic and featuring the work of a whole host of poets and musicians responding to Strokestown Park House and the surrounding landscapes.
Over the weekend we will host a variety of readings, talks, and panel discussions; book launches of anthologies, journals, and sole collections; workshops for adults and children, and screenings of poetry-related films. We are very pleased to feature an internationally acclaimed Burmese poet in exile ko ko thett. We will culminate on Sunday evening with a celebration of the work of Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin by assembled poets and followed by a reading of her work alongside cellist Eimear Reidy. The four-day poetry festival is all housed graciously under the one roof of Strokestown Park House and Gardens and the National Famine Museum.
For a full program please see the Strokestown Poetry website here.
For tickets and inquiries please contact the Strokestown Poetry Festival here

The Photo Album of the Irish Canada exhibition
2023-05-05 - 2023-06-12 | Vaulted Stables – Event Space
Access with every ticket and members free

Open until 18th June 2024

The Photo Album of the Irish Canada exhibition celebrates the ordinary and extraordinary histories of Canadians with Irish heritage across generations, reflected in family photo albums. The exhibition is part of a wider Photo Album of the Irish project which includes publications and an online archive organised by Photo Museum Ireland.

Biodiversity Woodland Talk with Strokestown Park Guide & Historian Oisin O’Driscoll
2023-05-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Strokestown Park
Join us for a family-friendly exploration of our historic, 300-year-old woodland to learn about the importance of forestry in preserving Ireland’s biodiversity for future generations, and how these woodlands are threatened by invasive species and deforestation. Combining folklore with ecology, this easy-going and interactive walk through the woods is suitable for children and families of all ages.
Places are limited, please register your place by contacting us at 0719633013 or email info@strokestownpark.ie
National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), with thanks to funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Events are run by IEN member groups, as well as by Heritage Officers and other local groups.

Woodland sessions
2023-05-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Woodland Café, Strokestown Park
Zoé Basha is a musician, composer, and carpenter. She draws from her background as a traditional singer blending the airs and style of Irish traditional song, rhythm and harmonies of Occitan polyphonic singing, and the sway and singing technique of Appalachian ballads, with blues and jazz music.
Join us on Sunday the 28th for our complimentary May Woodland Sessions in the Woodland Café

Victorian Walled Garden & Strokestown Meadow Tour with Strokestown Park General Manager John O’Driscoll
2023-05-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Strokestown Park
Strokestown Park General Manager John O’Driscoll began his career in Strokestown Park as the Head Gardener almost 25 years ago and has a degree in horticulture from the National Botanic Gardens. He has lead the continued restoration and development of the estates Victorian Walled Garden & Woodlands, along with the establishment of the park’s substantial meadow located at the front of the estate. This is a unique opportunity to take a guided tour with John and discover the rich and varied biodiversity that exists in these spaces thanks to his passionate vision.
Places are limited, please register your place by contacting us at 0719633013 or email info@strokestownpark.ie
National Biodiversity Week is organised by the Irish Environmental Network (IEN), with thanks to funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Events are run by IEN member groups, as well as by Heritage Officers and other local groups.

The Potato People Exhibition
2023-06-28 - 2023-08-27 | Vaulted Stables – Event Space
FINAL CHANCE TO SEE THESE REMARKABLE SCULPTURES AT STROKESTOWN PARK – EXHIBITION ENDS THIS SUNDAY AUGUST 27th.
Step into a captivating world of history and art at The National Famine Museum, as we proudly present Joe McCaul’s extraordinary sculpture exhibition titled “The Potato People.” Located within the magnificent vaulted stables this unique display promises a moving experience like no other.
This thought-provoking show runs between June 28th to August 27th. It is free to Irish Heritage Trust members and all visitors who purchase tickets to our Museum.
“The Potato People” exhibition draws inspiration from poignant accounts of the Irish Famine, particularly the book “The Truth Behind the Famine” by Jerry Mulvihill, copies of which are available at the Strokestown Park shop. This book resonated deeply with Joe and compelled him to find a meaningful way to honor the millions who perished from hunger, disease, and forced emigration during this dark chapter of history.
Through these stories of the Famine, Joe connects us with the individuals whose lives were tragically affected. Joe has given each sculpture a name and background story. This enriching addition enhances the experience, enabling visitors to connect more intimately with the artworks and grasp the historical significance they represent.
Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition this summer, that combines artistry, history, and heartfelt storytelling and join us as we pay homage to the lives lost and the resilience of those who endured An Gorta Mór.
Full events calendar available here.

Art Workshops with our Artist in Residence, Olena Kovalevych
2023-07-01 | Strokestown Park
Strokestown Park is delighted to host a course of Art Workshops by our Artist in Residence, Olena Kovalevych, this July. Olena is a Ukrainian artist and art teacher who specialises in the traditional Petrykivka folk-art style, native to her region in Eastern Ukraine.
Tickets are available to book here
She will teach the basics of this highly decorative art style over a four-week course, with one class per week.
We are offering separate courses to children (8 to 16 years old accompanied by a participating adult) and adults only.

Each course will take place over four Saturdays in July – on the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd of July.
A child with participating Adult classes will take place between 12 pm and 2 pm.
Adult Only classes will take place between 3 pm and 5 pm.
Classes are suitable for beginners.

A booking fee of €80 for each course.

Childrens’ Courses : Price of €80 covers admission for one child (8 to 16 year olds) plus one participating adult only. Additional children can be added by purchasing an additional €80 ticket.
Adult Only Courses: Price of €80 covers admission for one adult.
All art materials are included in the cost.

More information on Olena and her Artist in Resident project at Strokestown Park available here
Tickets are available to book here
Strokestown Park’s Artist in Residence project with Olena Kovalevych is supported by the Roscommon County Council, Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, from 2023 to 2027, which places creativity at the centre of public policy.

Dog-Friendly Day at Strokestown Park
2023-07-02 | Strokestown Park
On Sunday, July 2nd we invite you to join us for our Dog-Friendly Day, an opportunity to socialise with other doggie parents and carers. We are delighted to partner with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind & Petmania, Ireland’s Pet Experts for this very special day. Dog owners will have free access to our Victorian Walled Garden and Woodlands throughout the day. Our dog-friendly Woodland Café will have live music by Zoe Basha and Ultan O’Brien from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Petmania Roscommon will be with us from 12 pm until 4 pm providing:

FREE Grooming Demonstrations
FREE Coat Checks with their Professional Dog Groomers
FREE Weight Checks for Your Dog
Nail Trims are available on the day

The Strokestown Park Estate has historically been a highly regarded breeder of Black Labradors. Major Stewart Hales Pakenham Mahon, in the 1960’s and 70’s, the second husband of Olive Pakenham Mahon was a passionate breeder of black Labradors and was a renowned judge of this breed.

Summer Scavenger Hunt
2023-07-05 - 2023-08-31 | Strokestown Park
Running for the full school summer holidays 7 days a week.
Cost €7.50 per family.
Embark on a captivating summer adventure amidst the enchanting Victorian Walled Gardens of Strokestown Park! Delve into the wonders of nature as you join us for an exhilarating scavenger hunt that will ignite your curiosity and ignite your senses. Explore the hidden treasures and discover the bountiful secrets of the gardens.
Immerse yourself in a day of thrilling exploration, where the whole family can delight in the thrill of the hunt. Uncover clues, and unlock the mysteries of the natural world, all while creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
As you traverse the lush landscapes and meandering pathways, keep your eyes peeled for the vibrant flora and fascinating fauna that call this place home. From captivating butterflies to whimsical birdsong, each step reveals a new surprise waiting to be found.
Upon completing your scavenger hunt adventure, a delightful reward awaits! Every triumphant participant will receive a small token of achievement.
Don’t miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to connect with nature and embark on a journey of discovery. Secure your tickets at the reception for only €7.50 per family, and get ready for a fun-filled day that will leave you captivated by the magic of the Victorian Walled Gardens at Strokestown Park. Join us for a summer escapade like no other!
More summer events here

Strokestown Park Fun Fest
2023-07-29 12:00 - 18:00 | Strokestown Park
Play Festival for Children
Book your tickets here.
On Saturday 29th July, Strokestown Park will be taken over by a wonderland of fun, magic, entertainment, music, and creativity, where ALL children and their families will experience up to ten activities including some of Ireland’s best performers and activities providers in one place for one day only.
Suitable for children aged 0 to 10 years.
An unforgettable way to have fun and make memories during the Summer holidays.
DJ Gigi of Kidisco will be with us providing the musical entertainment and hosting dance parties throughout the day.
The award-winning Discovery Playtime will host a wide variety of sensory play-based activities throughout the day including balloon modelling, face painting, and lots more.
Ready Steady Play will bring families on magical and interactive musical adventures into the rainforest, under the sea, practicing your circus skills, and lots more fun!
The iconic Custard Pie Puppet Theatre will enchant children and families with puppet shows to suit all ages.
Mud Bugs, our resident nature expert, will be in our Wild Garden exploring all the fun and creativity nature provides for children.
Nemo the Illusionist is one of the most sought-after entertainers of his kind in Ireland. Trained in the French cabaret style, he blends the art of illusion with comedy and personal interaction to create shows that enthrall children and adults alike.
Children will also be captivated by some mesmerizing characters that live in our Walled Gardens who will visit them throughout the day.
Roscommon Sports Partnership will be with us, providing physical play and activities.
Roscommon Mobile Library Service will also be on site encouraging children to discover the joy of reading and sharing stories. Sensory equipment is available in the mobile library for children’s additional needs.
FUNFEST is proud to say that at the heart of our programme of events is inclusion for ALL. On the day we will have a Sensory Zone available for children who may need time to chill out and recharge. While all activities are suitable for every child there will be a programme of events especially for children with additional needs, to ensure no child misses out on the fun of the day.
Your ticket covers entry into the main festival area and all activities within this space.
There will be food and beverage vendors on-site in the Walled Gardens – as no festival is complete without good food!
Gates open at 12 pm and close at 6 pm.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 1yr are FREE.
Reduced ticket prices are available for Strokestown Park Membership holders.

Strokestown Park Fun Fest is supported by the Roscommon County Council, Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-Government five-year initiative, from 2023 to 2027, which places creativity at the centre of public policy.

Heritage Week - Show and Tell with our Walled Garden Volunteers
2023-08-14 - 2023-08-17
During Heritage Week, our Walled Garden’s Volunteers will be onsite every day to welcome curious visitors into their little piece of heaven. Working alongside our full-time gardener this team of 20 volunteers freely give of their time to maintain Strokestown Park’s Gardens. An important element of what our volunteers do is the continuation of food production in the kitchen garden – a practice that has been taking place within the walls for nearly 300 years.
Old cultivating methods and hand tools are used, with no automation. Crops include wheat, oats, berries, currants, apples, pears, squash, courgettes, onions, parsnips, beetroot, and tomatoes. While hundreds of years old, many of the fruit trees are still producing. The Walled Gardens at Strokestown Park House were originally created in 1740, as one large vegetable garden. Now, the 6 acres comprise a Pleasure Garden, as well as a Vegetable Garden, 3 glass houses, and an Exhibition Space containing garden tools once used by the garden staff. We welcome conversation and contribution, and exchange of ideas and interests.
Access to the Gardens is included in any general admission ticket and is free to Irish Heritage Trust members.
Other Heritage Week events here
Supported by The Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2023

Heritage Week - Safeguarding Strokestown Park House
2023-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 | Strokestown Park
A special tour by the curator focusing on safeguarding measures to preserve the House and its Artefacts.
This special hour-long tour by the curator will look at the many, behind-the-scenes, projects that the Irish Heritage Trust has carried out to safeguard the House, its contents, and outbuildings. We will focus on the major threats to historic collections and measures to reduce deterioration. You will learn, for example, about our recent Heritage Council-funded project to install UV filters to reduce light damage; the dismantling and reconstruction of the Kitchen Gallery and Portico; addressing dry-rot; controlling humidity; stabilising the Mausoleum; recent upgrades to the House; restoration of the Greenhouses, etc. This promises to be an informative event.
It will be free to the public but places will be limited to 25 persons – so prior booking is essential.
Book your free place here
Other Heritage Week events here
Supported by The Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2023

Heritage Week - Victorian Photography at Strokestown Park House
2023-08-15 15:00 - 17:00 | Strokestown Park
Learn about early photography with a talk from photography expert, William Fagan of The Photo Museum Ireland during the first hour. This talk will be followed by a tour of the rare and intact Victorian Darkroom of Henry Pakenham Mahon at Strokestown Park House. Please allow for a total of two hours for this event.
A new exhibit in this Darkroom was installed in 2022 with Heritage Council funding.
Spaces on the Darkroom Tour will be limited to 25 persons. Prior booking is essential.
Book your free place here
Other Heritage Week events here
Supported by The Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2023

Heritage Week - A Story of the Irish Famine in Clay
2023-08-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Vaulted Stables – Event Space
Potato People – A Story of the Irish Famine in Clay
Live audience with sculptor Joe McCaul, creator of the sculpture exhibition ‘Potato People’, which is on display at the National Famine Museum until the end of August. Joe will talk about the motivation behind the creation of this emotive work. He will also explain how the pieces were created using the traditional Japanese Raku firing method. The talk will happen in our new Vaulted Stables Event and Exhibition Space where the work is on display.
Entry to this once-off event is included with all Famine Museum Tickets issued on this day or free for members.
Other Heritage Week events here.
Supported by The Heritage Council under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2023

Culture Night at Strokestown Park 2023
2023-09-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Vaulted Stables – Event Space
On Friday, 22nd September we will celebrate the culture of Ukraine and Ireland through art, music, and food.
Our Ukrainian and Irish volunteers will be serving up traditional home-baked treats in our beautiful Vaulted Stables Event Space.
The center-piece of the event will be the opening of an exhibition of paintings created by our Strokestown Park, Artist in Residence, Olena Kovalevych. Olena works in the traditional Petrykivka painting style of her native province of Dnipropetrovsk in Eastern Ukraine. She will also exhibit work from students who attended her workshops during the summer and a piece she has specially created for Culture Night for Strokestown Women’s Shed. To find out more about Olena and her art here.

Musical entertainment will be provided by both Irish and Ukrainian traditional musicians. Musicians will include Timur Selimshah, a Crimean-Tatarian folk singer, whose traditional style of music is rarely heard outside of the Crimean Peninsula. He will be joined by Kateryna Babarik who will be performing popular Ukrainian songs. Irish music will be performed by Joanna Sweeney on whistle, bodhran and singing, Gerry Harrington on fiddle and Liam Stapleton on pipes and flute. This is an open session, so you’re welcome to bring along your instrument and lend your singing voice to the night.

Finally in the former grain store above the Stables, we have fittingly installed a panel exhibition from the Ukrainian Embassy, focusing on the Holodomor. The Holodomor was a man-made famine endured by the Ukrainian people in the early 1930s. Alongside this exhibition will be artistic pieces reflecting on the Holodomor created by Olena Kovalevych and Alia Shadrova.

This is a free event, suitable for all ages. 7 pm to 9 pm. Vaulted Stables and Stable Courtyard,Strokestown Park House. No booking is necessary.
The full culture night schedule for Roscommon is available here
Strokestown Park Artist in Residence Programme 2023 is supported by the Roscommon County Council Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-government five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy.
Our Culture Night event has received support from the Arts Council through Roscommon Co Co, Arts Office.

Autumn Fête
2023-10-01 12:00 - 17:00 | Strokestown Park
Click here to book tickets
On Sunday, October 1st we invite families, friends, and companions to Strokestown Park Autumn Fete for an afternoon of follies and fun for young and old.
An opportunity to create shared memories with friends and loved ones through a host of engaging, enriching, intergenerational, inspiring, and unforgettable activities.
Events on the day include Mummer’s Costume Making Demonstration with Edwina Guckian followed by Music with the Ox Mountain Trio and Dancing inspired by the Mummer’s Tradition’s – Animal Petting Corner – Mud Bug’s Nature Craft’s – Traditional Woodland Game’s – Family Scavenger Hunt – Bespoke Guided Tours of Strokestown Park House, Museum & Garden’s – Vintage Car Display – Croquet on the Lawn and much more.
Click here to book tickets
Full calendar of events here
Strokestown Park Autumn Fete is part of the Cultural Companions Programme supported by Creative Ireland, Creativity in Older Age Funding, delivered by Roscommon County Council.
