Irish National Stud & Gardens
Irish National Stud & Gardens, Brallistown Little, Tully, Co. Kildare, R51 AP20, Ireland
A working thoroughbred stud in County Kildare with celebrated Japanese Gardens, laid out from 1906 to 1910 to symbolise the journey of life, and the Millennium St Fiachra's Garden.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Irish National Stud & Gardens?
The Irish National Stud combines a working horse farm with two very different gardens, and the gardens alone justify a visit. The Japanese Gardens were laid out between 1906 and 1910 by the Japanese gardener Tassa Eida and his son Minoru for Colonel William Hall Walker, and they are designed to symbolise the journey of life. St Fiachra's Garden, opened in 1999, looks instead to the Irish landscape.
In the Japanese Gardens a path takes you through the stages of a life, from birth and childhood through marriage and old age to death and the afterlife. Along the way you pass features such as the Tunnel of Ignorance, the Hill of Learning, the Well of Wisdom and the Island of Joy and Wonder. Water was diverted to make streams and ponds, rock was brought in from Ballyknockan, and a dry garden was added in the 1970s. St Fiachra's Garden, designed by Martin Hallinan, has monastic cells, a lakeside bronze statue of St Fiachra, the patron saint of gardeners, and a fairy trail.
For gardeners, the Japanese Gardens are a lesson in how stone, water, trees and lawn can tell a story. A free guided tour of the stud is included with admission, and there is time to wander the gardens on your own. Allow two to three hours. Between February and May you may see foals with their mothers, and retired champions known as the Living Legends graze in the paddocks. There is a restaurant in the Japanese Gardens, as well as the Irish Racehorse Experience.
What to see
- The Japanese Gardens, tracing the journey of life from birth to the afterlife.
- The Tunnel of Ignorance, the Hill of Learning and the Well of Wisdom.
- St Fiachra's Garden, with monastic cells and a lakeside bronze statue.
- The dry garden, added in the 1970s.
- Foals in the paddocks in spring and the retired Living Legends.
Irish National Stud & Gardens through the year
- spring
- Foals are born between February and May, and fresh growth fills the Japanese Gardens.
- summer
- The gardens and the lake at St Fiachra's are lush and green, a good time for a long wander.
- autumn
- Autumn colour in the Japanese Gardens makes for a quieter, reflective visit.
- winter
- The stud runs seasonal events in winter; check the official website for current opening times.
The story behind the garden
Colonel William Hall Walker, from a Scottish brewing family, bought the farm at Tully in 1900. In 1906 he engaged the Japanese gardener Tassa Eida to design a Japanese garden; the work took four years and forty local labourers, with Scots pines replanted, alpines from Walker's own nursery, and a tea-house, statues and bonsai shipped from Japan. The stud also bred the 1909 Derby winner Minoru, named after one of Eida's sons.
During the First World War Walker gave the farm and its bloodstock to the Crown, and it became The National Stud. The Irish Government took over the land in 1943, and the Irish National Stud was formally established in 1946. It opened to visitors in the 1970s, when a dry garden was added. St Fiachra's Garden, designed by Martin Hallinan, was opened by President Mary McAleese in 1999 to mark the Millennium.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Families, horse lovers and garden visitors who want a Japanese garden with a strong story behind it.
- Getting there
- The Irish National Stud is at Tully, just outside Kildare town, about 45 minutes from Dublin and reached from exit 13 of the M7. Kildare has a direct rail service from Dublin and other cities.
- Before you go
- Admission covers the stud, the guided tour and both gardens, and a visit takes two to three hours. Check the official website for current opening times and tickets.
Questions about visiting Irish National Stud & Gardens
How long do you need at the Irish National Stud?
Allow two to three hours. That gives time for the free guided tour of the stud, included with admission, and a self-guided walk through the Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra's Garden.
Are the Japanese Gardens included in the Irish National Stud ticket?
Yes. Access to the Japanese Gardens and St Fiachra's Garden is included in the admission ticket, along with the guided stud tour. Check the official website for current prices and any separately ticketed events.
Who designed the Japanese Gardens in Kildare?
They were devised by Colonel William Hall Walker and laid out between 1906 and 1910 by the Japanese master gardener Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. They are designed to symbolise the life of man.
When can you see foals at the Irish National Stud?
Foals are born in the foaling unit between February and May, and you can often see them with their mothers in the paddocks in spring. It is one of the most popular times of year to visit.
How do you get to the Irish National Stud?
It is in Tully, County Kildare, about 45 minutes from Dublin. By car, leave the M7 at exit 13. There is also a direct train service to Kildare from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Westport.
Garden features
Location
Irish National Stud & Gardens, Brallistown Little, Tully, Co. Kildare, R51 AP20, Ireland
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