Overview
What sets Harristown apart from Kildare’s other big houses is the inside: a Georgian shell rebuilt after an 1891 fire and then filled, in the 1940s, with bold Soane-inspired colour schemes and a rare 17th-century Chinese wallpaper of bright birds. The house stands on 700 acres of demesne along the River Liffey, near Punchestown in County Kildare, in the western foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. It’s still family-run, doubling as a language school and a filming location, with a walled garden and riverside woodland walks where red deer and badgers turn up.
The one thing to plan around is access. Harristown isn’t a turn-up attraction: it opens only for a few fixed weeks across the year, mornings only, and the 30-minute house tour is the main event – book ahead, and don’t arrive after the last tour at 12:15.
History and architecture
The La Touche family, Huguenot refugees who built a banking empire in 18th-century Ireland, purchased the Harristown estate in 1768. John David La Touche commissioned a new Georgian neo-classical mansion designed by architect Whitmore Davis. The original three-storey house featured a nine-bay façade, an Ionic portico, and full-height bow windows overlooking the river. To secure the demesne, La Touche also diverted the Naas-to-Dunlavin road and funded the construction of a new stone bridge in 1788, still known locally as the New Bridge.
A fire in 1891 destroyed much of the interior. Diocesan architect James Franklin Fuller rebuilt the house to a smaller two-storey footprint, removing the third storey but retaining the grand external lines. Fuller also redesigned the adjacent St Patrick’s Church at Carnalway in a Hiberno-Romanesque style, later adding stained-glass windows by Harry Clarke. The La Touche family occupied Harristown until 1921. Their tenure includes one of Ireland’s most famous literary romances: Victorian writer and art critic John Ruskin visited the house and fell in love with the family’s precocious daughter, Rose. Their relationship ended in tragedy, but the story remains a poignant part of the estate’s cultural footprint.
In 1946, Major Michael Beaumont and his wife Doreen acquired the property and began an extensive restoration. They imported furniture, portraits, and architectural elements from their former Buckinghamshire home, which had been designed by Sir John Soane. Doreen Beaumont applied Soanian principles to Harristown’s interiors, introducing bold colour schemes and eclectic finishes that contrast with traditional Georgian restraint. Highlights include 18-foot ceilings, mahogany doors, inlaid oak floors, a room paneled in Tudor oak, and a rare 17th-century Chinese wallpaper featuring bright bird motifs. An 80-metre underground tunnel still connects the former stable yard to the house’s basement.
What to see and do
Guided house tours
A 30-minute tour covers the double-height front hall, library, drawing-room, and dining-room. Guides explain the architectural evolution, the Beaumonts’ Soanian influences, and the historical significance of the imported furnishings and Chinese wallpaper.
The walled garden and cottage walk
Restored in the 1940s, the walled garden offers a quiet stroll past mature fruit trees, herb borders, and a historic staff cottage. Seasonal planting changes the garden’s character throughout the year.
River and woodland walks
The demesne’s riverside paths follow the River Liffey, providing views of the Wicklow foothills and opportunities to spot red deer, badgers, and native birds. The grounds are particularly atmospheric in early morning light.
Carnalway Church
Located at the estate entrance, the church features Fuller’s Hiberno-Romanesque architecture and Harry Clarke stained glass. The adjacent graveyard contains the La Touche mausoleum.
Film and television location
The estate’s 700 acres, ranging from formal parkland to rugged woodlands, are regularly hired for productions. While filming schedules vary, the house occasionally hosts open days related to ongoing projects.
Practical Information
Harristown House operates on a seasonal schedule with fixed weekly blocks. Tours run daily during open periods, with the last tour departing at 12:15.
2026 Opening Schedule
- February: 2–6 & 9–13 (Mon–Fri)
- March: 9–13 & 16–20 (Mon–Fri)
- May: 1–13 (Mon–Sun)
- July: 20–24 & 27–31 (Mon–Fri)
- August: 4–23 (Mon–Sun)
- Daily hours: 09:00–13:00
Admission & Booking
- Entry: €10 per person
- Group visits and private hires require advance booking
- Phone: +353 45 483 614 or +353 87 741 4971
- Email: enquiries@harristownhouse.ie
- Website: harristownhouse.ie
Getting There The estate entrance is located at Carnalway Cross on the R412, halfway between Two Mile House and Brannockstown. From Dublin, take the N7 to Junction 11, exit onto the M9 toward Kilcullen, and follow the R448 into Kilcullen. Turn right after the traffic lights and bridge, continuing approximately 4 km to the five-road junction at Carnalway Cross. Free parking is available on the estate grounds. Public transport requires a bus to Kildare town centre followed by a taxi to the estate gates.
Nearby Attractions
Harristown House makes a convenient stop when touring County Kildare’s heritage route. Within a 30-minute drive, visitors can visit:
- Carton House – A grand Palladian estate now operating as a luxury hotel and golf resort.
- Castletown House – Ireland’s largest Palladian mansion, featuring formal gardens and a dedicated visitor centre.
- Donadea Forest Park – A 2 km woodland trail passing medieval ruins and a tranquil lake.
- Great Connell Priory – 13th-century Augustinian ruins set beside the River Liffey.
One detail worth noting from the schedule: only the May (1–13) and August (4–23) blocks run at weekends; February, March and July are Monday to Friday only. If you can’t take a weekday off, those two windows are effectively your only chance to get inside.