At Birr Castle Demesne · Birr Castle Demesne, Birr, Co. Offaly
Only the published dates are confirmed for this programme.
Richard Haslam runs this festive wreath-making workshop at Birr Castle Demesne over two sessions, on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026. Each session lasts around two to two and a half hours, starting at 10am, and works with homegrown foliage cut from the castle’s own grounds rather than shop-bought greenery. All materials are provided as part of the ticket price, including foliage, berries and branches cut on the estate, though participants are asked to bring their own secateurs or scissors. The workshop suits anyone who wants a proper, hands-on go at building a wreath for their own front door, working alongside a floral designer rather than following a video or a leaflet, with complimentary tea and biscuits while you work. Birr Castle Demesne’s 120 acres are already one of the best known gardens in the midlands, home to the historic Great Telescope and mature tree collections, which gives the wreath-making foliage a strong local character rather than anything imported. Spaces on each date are limited and pre-booking is essential.
Birr Castle Demesne sits on the edge of Birr town, signposted from the town centre and reachable on foot from Main Street in about ten minutes. There is a car park inside the demesne gates for those driving in from outside Birr, including from Tullamore, Roscrea and Banagher. Main Street has cafes for a warm-up before or after the session, and the demesne gates are well signposted from the town centre, so the workshop is easy to find even on a first visit to Birr.
Heading to Birr Castle Demesne in Birr? Offaly has plenty more to see. Read the Birr area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
We do not yet have a suitable Offaly tour in our reviewed collection that starts locally. Use the IrelandMe tour finder to compare bookable experiences for the rest of your trip.