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heritage · Monday 20 July 2026 · 11:00am 
Irish National Stud Heritage Tours and Japanese Gardens
At Irish National Stud · Tully, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare
At Irish National Stud · Tully, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare
The Irish National Stud at Tully, just outside Kildare Town, is one of the few places in Ireland where a day out genuinely earns the word “heritage.” This is a working thoroughbred stud farm - stallions worth tens of millions of euros stand here - and the guided heritage tour makes that world accessible to anyone with a passing interest in horses, Irish history, or simply a fine garden. It suits families, couples, solo visitors, and anyone who wants to spend two or three hours somewhere that actually has things in it.
Your ticket covers four distinct attractions on a single site. The stud farm tour is the centrepiece: guided at set times, it takes you around the immaculate yards where you can see active stallions and, in season, mares with their foals. Guides know the horses by name and temperament and will tell you about Ireland’s racing history with genuine enthusiasm.
The Japanese Gardens are the other headline act. Created between 1906 and 1910 by Japanese craftsman Tassa Eida and his son Minoru, they were commissioned by Colonel William Hall-Walker, the eccentric Scottish whisky heir who established the stud. The gardens are designed to symbolise the journey of the soul through life - from Oblivion to Eternity - and are widely regarded as the finest Japanese gardens in Europe. They reward slow walking and quiet attention.
Also on site is St Fiachra’s Garden, a contemplative space dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint of gardens, and the Irish Racehorse Experience, an immersive attraction covering the breeding and racing world. A restaurant, gift shop, and free car park round out the visit.
Tully is approximately 2km south of Kildare Town, well signposted off the main roads. By car from Dublin, take the M7 and exit at junction 13 for Kildare - the drive is around 50 minutes. From the town centre itself, it is a short drive or a manageable walk on a fine day. By rail, Kildare station is on the Dublin Heuston to Limerick/Waterford/Cork main line and is served frequently, with the journey from Heuston taking around 35 minutes. From the station, a taxi or local bus covers the final stretch to Tully. Free on-site parking is available for those arriving by car.
Kildare Town itself is worth a stroll - the Round Tower and Cathedral sit at its centre and are free to visit, and the town has decent options for lunch. There is more to see in Kildare and across Co. Kildare.
Heading to Irish National Stud in Kildare? Kildare has plenty more to see. Read the Kildare area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.