Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens: One of Ireland's Best Attractions

The Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens is one of Ireland's best attractions. Horses are an integral part if Irish society and the Irish National Stud is the home to Ireland's best stallions and the birthplace of its most valuable bloodstock. The Irish National Stud should not be missed if you are touring Ireland or visiting the east coast of Ireland. This is definitely one of Ireland's top attractions.

Ireland has tons of attractions but one of the top attractions in Ireland is the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. The Irish National Stud is located in County Kildare. Directions to the Irish National Stud can be found on their website which is provided in the resources section of this article. It is ideal for a day trip from Dublin or a stop for anyone on route to Dublin.

This top Irish attraction has an interesting history. The Irish National Stud was officially established in 1946, but its history dates back to 1900. The stud was originally privately being owned by Colonel William Hall-Walker otherwise known as Lord Wavertree. Colonel Walker had a passion for racehorses and used the land to create a state of the art stud farm. Over the next few years the stud farm produced several winners. By 1943 the land and stud was in possession of the Irish Government who went about setting up the Irish National Stud. Today the Irish National Stud produces some of Ireland's and the world's best racehorses and is one of the top attractions in Ireland.

The grounds are immaculate and can be enjoyed by both horse lovers and non-horse enthusiasts. There are 958 acres in total and 288 stalls for the horses that live at the stud. There is also a museum on site the covers some of Ireland's best racing moments and its best horses. It is possible to tour the stud on your own or join a guided tour. One of the best times of year to visit is early spring between February and April.

This is the time of year when the foals are born. You will have the chance to see the new foals frolicking in the fields with their mothers and maybe even get the chance to peak into the stall of a foal just hours old. As you tour the grounds you may notice that horses are not the only inhabitants enjoying the lush pastures, there are cows too. At first this may seem a little strange but they have a very important purpose. It was discovered that by putting the cows in the fields with the horses they remained calmer and more relaxed thus lessening chances of injury. This is very important when the value of these horses is so high.

The Irish National Stud is open year round each day of the year. A great plus about visiting the stud in early spring is that it will be fairly quiet as it is the low season in Ireland with regards to tourists.

Another reason the Irish National Stud is a top attraction in Ireland is the Japanese Gardens. These fantastic gardens were created when the stud was still owned by Colonel Walker. The theme of these gardens is meant to follow the 'Life of Man' from birth until death. The Japanese Gardens located at the Irish National Stud are one of the best in all of Europe. The gardens themselves are one of Ireland's top attractions and should not be missed.

When you arrive at the Irish National Stud you must enter reception to pay for your entry. The fee gets you into all that the stud has to offer including the Japanese Gardens. The currents costs in euros are 10 for adults, 8 for those over 60, 8 for students over 16, 5 for children under 16 and children under 5 get free entry. There is also a family pass that costs 25 euros. The family pass includes two adults and four children. There is free parking at the Irish National Stud along with a restaurant where you can get lunch, snacks and beverages.