SCHOOL TOURS
The Irish National Stud is part of our heritage and provides a unique opportunity for school children to get close up to horses and wildlife in a relaxed and natural environment. They will be fascinated to watch the thoroughbred foals frolic in their paddocks honing their future racing skills and can enjoy hands on interaction with the miniature Falabella horses. The Horse Museum is where the ‘Sport of Kings’ comes to life,a full skeleton of Ireland’s most famous racehorse – the legendary three-time Gold Cup winner Arkle – has also been preserved.
The world famous Japanese Garden was designed and built at the turn of the century and maps the ‘Journey of Life’ according to ancient Japanese history. Children can follow the path and stop at each point for an explanation of the symbolism making their way through streams and tunnels. In St. Fiachra’s Garden they will have fun exploring an environmental trail, enjoying the flora and fauna and identifying plants and animals that live in the local habitats.
With another four acres of woodland and lakeside walks to discover, children will experience a memorable day out at this exquisite ecological facility.
Check out our New Interactive School Tour!
We are excited to announce the launch of our brand new interactive school tour. Our 2017 tour not only includes the freedom of our spectacular stud, gardens and playground, we now have a dedicated kids guide Marie-Lou, who will guide the children through the nature and science behind the world of horses.
This interactive tour also includes a unique 30-minute sensory classroom session with a quiz and spot prizes along the way.
Our Interactive School Tour is guaranteed to be a hit! Not only does the tour provide a unique learning experience with fun activities (including dress up time in jockey silks), kids also have plenty of fresh air and room to run around in the expansive gardens and playground, while teachers can relax in a safe and natural environment.
For early bird bookings we are offering free tea and scones to make the day that bit sweeter!
Buglington Hotel
You may well ask, “What is the point in having a Bug Hotel?”
Well, the answer is simple really, a Bug Hotel provides a place of shelter for insects in the cold winter months.
We give shelter to the insects; but why do we want insects anyway? Let’s face it, they just creep and buzz around, annoy everyone and eat plants. That also is quite true; but the main reason we need insects is because they pollinate plants and if we didn’t have them then 80% of all the plants we use for food would disappear. In fact, without pollinators the human race would disappear. Earth without humans!… what a thought! Who’d mind the horses?!
OUR TOURS
Our new kids guide, Marie-Lou, will bring to life the story of the thoroughbred, from birth to the racecourse with a tour of the stud and horses, followed by a 30-minute interactive classroom session where they can touch and try. A quiz with spot prizes will ensure a fun time for all and the new playground and gardens allow plenty of free time to explore.
Visit time: 2-4 hours
Price: €7 per child
Booking quote: Interactive School Tour
Call Now to Book +353 4552 1617
Interactive SESE Discovery trail with Discover Primary Science activities.
This 4 in 1 School Outing is for classes 3rd to 6th which covers
• Horse museum
• Stud Farm
• Japanese Gardens
• St. Fiachra’s Garden
Price €10.50 per child (Minimum 30 students)
Times:10h00 & 12h00 on Wednesdays
Booking quote: Paddy Madden Interactive SESE Discovery Trail
Worksheets are available for this tour which relate to the following SESE Curriculum Strands;
Living Things: Energy & Forces & Natural Environments.
A Tour Guide takes the children around the Stud Farm which takes about 45 minutes, then the Teacher takes the children on a nature trail through St. Fiachra’s Garden. The children learn how to measure a tree; how to tell the age of a tree; Bird Identification; Swan Life & Food Webs. The children return to school with their worksheets and when back in the classroom they carry out a Word Search & Crossword.
Visit time approx 2.5 hours.
Price: €7 per child
Booking quote: DPSM Trail
GALLERY
KIDS CORNER
The Irish National Stud is a farm that specialises in breeding racehorses. Mares (mothers) come here to give birth to their foals and most are born between February and May. They will then spend most of their time in fields until they become yearlings (one-year-olds). When the foals are old enough, they will be weaned away from their mothers and put into paddocks with other youngsters of similar ages. When they they reach their first brithday, they will begin a fitness program which will prepare them for life as a racehorse.
The mares will also visit the resident stallions at the farm and will quickly start carrying another baby around which takes eleven months to grow. These mares require minding throughout the year and have to be checked by vets and farriers regularly. They will also need lots of food and vitamins and regular haylage. During the winter they will be kept inside at night in straw-bedded stables.
There are lots of routines at the stud that change throughout the year, so you’ll never see the same activities twice. Come in Springtime and you can be sure to catch sight of some newborn foals. In summer the foals are bigger and will be out in their paddocks, lazing around in the sunshine, their mothers busily eating the grass.
The stud is also lucky to have two beautiful gardens. The Japanese Gardens are over one hundred years old and have a special path to explore which leads you over stepping stones through a stream (mind your toes stay dry!) and to a stunning red bridge. St Fiachra’s Garden is a natural garden and it is there that you will see lots of wildlife.
Bring your cameras or sketching pads – it will be a day to remember!
CONTACT US
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