Strokestown Park Museum Restaurant in Strokestown

Very interesting viewpoint of how the Irish potato famine came about and it's impacts on residents and resulting exodus.

An excellent and very moving museum. The National Famine Museum at Strokestown tells the story of the Great Famine in a powerful, informative and thought-provoking way. What makes it particularly interesting is its connection to the local area and the original Strokestown estate records. The story of the 1,490 tenants who left the estate in 1847, walking 165km to Dublin before beginning their journey to Canada, is especially moving. The displays explain not only the potato blight, but also the poverty, land system, relief efforts, evictions, emigration and wider circumstances that contributed to the enormous suffering experienced by ordinary Irish people. There is a huge amount of information, but it is presented in a modern and engaging way, with original documents, personal stories and exhibits that put real people behind the statistics. A sobering experience, but an extremely important part of Irish history. I came away knowing considerably more than when I entered. I would highly recommend a visit and would allow plenty of time to properly take everything in.

A very unusual setup, where there is a hodgepodge museum on the Famine that gets better/ more professional as you go in…the stables, that is. Then a guided tour with a guide who couldn’t quite stay on topic or keep chatter down with such a large group, in the main house, which was essentially 18th-19th century artifacts, lived in and with until the 1980s or so then handed over to the trust for preservation and public access. Kudos to the man who bought it with contents and knew it for the historical treasure it was! Unfortunately because of the guiding and group it ran well over the stated hour so I had to leave 1h15 in and missed the dining and kitchen, other areas.

Lovely spot. Gardens are beautiful and well cared for. I never got to see the house as I had dog with me. Dogs are also not allowed in famine museum.

Visited this place a few years ago and today I was pleasantly surprised to find a new visitor centre and cafe/ shop. The tickets for a guided tour were good value as they cover a visit to the National Famine Museum of Ireland And the walled gardens as well as Strokestown house its self. Our guide Michael, gave an informative talk / story in various rooms and we really enjoyed it.

Absolutely fantastic museum about the experience of ordinary people uprooted and having to travel across the Atlantic to an uncertain future during the 1840's in Ireland and how landlords treated them , seeing them as an inconvenience and a liability....just to get rid of as expeditiously as possible. Well done everyone involved in Strokestown house and the famine museum. Highly recommend a visit. Beautiful garden and woodland walks too.

Excellent tour guide of the house, highly knowledgeable and informative. Well worth a visit, loved every minute. Famine museum was very informative and laid out, would really make you think how people were made live

Brilliant volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge a must place to visit.

Brilliant volunteers who have a wealth of knowledge a must place to visit.

I would highly recommend a visit. It was extremely interesting. The amount of historical and personal items in the house is really unique. Our tour guide Ella was excellent. I really felt like I was going back in time. I was sorry when the tour was over. There is a lovely cafe where we had our lunch. All the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. You can also visit the Famine Centre and walled garden so it is a full day out. Great value.