Irish Agricultural Museum

The Irish Agricultural Museum is a museum committed to the records of Irish rural life. Housed within the farm homes of Johnstown Castle, County Wexford, the collections represent all elements of rural existence, such as transport, crafts, farming activities and dwelling. In the early Nineteen Seventies Dr Austin O’Sullivan commenced collecting materials referring to farming and rural existence in Ireland. In 1974 Dr Thomas Walsh, the Director of An Foras Taluntais, agreed to the foundation of an agricultural museum.

From this, a group formed in 1976 with the purpose of setting up a museum to house this series, among others. The Museum, housed within the former farm buildings of Johnstown Castle Estate, changed into opened in 1979 via Irish President Patrick Hillery. Since the outlet, the museum has expanded and now occupies 1,600 square metres of gallery area. The status quo and growth of the Museum has led to the persevering with recovery of the property's farming buildings which date from 1810.