Ardgillan Demesne Walking Tour with Tom Reilly

What to Expect

Local historian Tom Reilly leads a guided walking tour through the wider Ardgillan Demesne, looking beyond the castle itself at the old buildings that once housed the estate’s employees, gatekeepers and gardeners. Ardgillan Castle was built in 1738, and the tour traces how the surrounding parkland and its outbuildings developed and changed over nearly three centuries of use, pointing out features that are easy to walk past without knowing their history.

It’s a good fit for anyone who has visited Ardgillan’s gardens or clifftop walks before but has never had the estate’s working history explained, and for local history enthusiasts in Balbriggan and Skerries in particular, it’s a chance to hear from someone who has clearly researched the demesne in real depth. Tours like this tend to book out, so early booking is worthwhile if you want to secure a place.

Ardgillan Demesne sits on a clifftop between Balbriggan and Skerries with sweeping views out over the Irish Sea toward Rockabill lighthouse and the Mourne Mountains on a clear day, so the walk itself is worth doing even before the historical commentary is factored in. The castle and its walled gardens are open to visit before or after the tour, making it easy to build into a longer morning or afternoon out in the area.

Good to Know

• Thursday 20 August 2026
• Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan
• Guided walking tour led by historian Tom Reilly
• Free, but ticketed as the tour is likely to book out
• Covers the demesne’s outbuildings, gatekeepers’ lodges and estate history since 1738
• Book via the Ardgillan Castle events listing or by phone

Getting There

Ardgillan Castle sits on a clifftop demesne between Balbriggan and Skerries, best reached by car via the coast road, with on-site parking. Dublin Bus routes serve Balbriggan, from where it’s a short taxi journey to the castle grounds.