Under-18s Go Free at Portumna Castle and Gardens

What to Expect

For the whole of August 2026, the OPW is running a pilot scheme giving free admission to everyone under 18 at its fee-paying heritage sites nationwide, and Portumna Castle and Gardens is one of the Galway sites taking part. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult, and pre-booked tickets are required to manage numbers for the duration of the scheme. Portumna Castle was built in the early 1600s by the fourth Earl of Clanricarde as the power base of the de Burgo family, and its design blends late-medieval and early Renaissance style. A major fire in 1826 left it a roofless shell for well over a century before state restoration began in the 1960s, and that work is still ongoing today. The ground floor is open to visitors and holds an exhibition telling the story of the castle and the de Burgo family. Outside, the walk up to the building passes through restored formal gardens, with the walled kitchen garden the highlight, and the site looks out over Lough Derg. It sits right beside the River Shannon and Portumna Forest Park, so a castle visit can easily be combined with a walk or cycle in the forest afterwards.

Good to Know

• Runs 1 to 31 August 2026, daily 10am to 6pm (last admission 5:15pm)
• Adult admission €5, Child/Student normally €3 but free for the duration of this scheme
• Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult; pre-booked tickets required to manage capacity
• On-site playground and picnic area, plus a café and gift shop in the courtyard
• Baby changing facilities and wheelchair-accessible toilets on site
• Ground floor and gardens are the visitable areas; guided tours available
• Book via heritageireland.ie or contact the site directly on 090 974 1658

Getting There

Portumna is in the south-east corner of County Galway, on the shore of Lough Derg where the River Shannon widens, roughly an hour and a quarter’s drive from Galway city via the M6 and R355/R353. The castle sits at the edge of the town, next to Portumna Forest Park, with on-site car parking. There is no direct rail link to Portumna; the nearest stations are Athlone or Ballinasloe, from where a car is needed to complete the journey.