← All events
heritage · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
Stradbally Woodland Railway Train Rides
At Stradbally Woodland Railway · Stradbally Hall Estate, Stradbally, Co. Laois
At Stradbally Woodland Railway · Stradbally Hall Estate, Stradbally, Co. Laois
One of the oldest volunteer-run heritage railways in Ireland comes alive each August, offering train rides through the woods of Stradbally Hall Estate during National Heritage Week. The Stradbally Woodland Railway has been running since 1969 - the first railway of its kind set up by volunteers on the island - and the event is a genuine slice of industrial history that happens to be excellent fun for all ages. It suits families with young children, anyone with a soft spot for steam engines, and curious visitors who want something more hands-on than a museum display.
Passengers board narrow-gauge trains and travel a one-kilometre woodland track through the estate grounds, with each ride taking around 12 minutes. One ticket gives you unlimited rides for the day, so there is no pressure to make it count on a single pass. The railway runs from 11am, with the last train departing at 3:40pm.
The morning usually starts with Rusty, the railway’s diesel locomotive. As the day warms up, Róisín takes over - a 1949 Andrew Barclay 0-4-0WT steam engine that spent her working life on the bog railways of Laois and Offaly before settling at Stradbally more than 50 years ago. She is the pride of the fleet and worth seeing in steam. The railway now runs Róisín on carbon-neutral biocoal.
Steamin’ Brews, the on-site café, serves tea, coffee, and snacks. Picnic benches are set out beside the track, and there are toilets and baby-changing facilities. Dogs on leads are welcome.
Stradbally is a small market town in the midlands of County Laois, roughly 70km from Dublin and 20km from Portlaoise. From Dublin, take the M7 motorway and exit at Junction 17 for Monasterevin, then follow the R445 and local roads into Stradbally - the journey takes under an hour from the city. From Portlaoise, it is a straightforward 20-minute drive on the R430. There is no direct rail or bus service into Stradbally village; driving or arranging a lift is the practical option. Parking is available on the Stradbally Hall Estate grounds.
The estate hosts the Electric Picnic festival site and has a long connection to events and public life in Laois. The town itself is compact and easy to explore on foot. There is more to see in Stradbally and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Stradbally Woodland Railway in Stradbally? Laois has plenty more to see. Read the Stradbally area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.