After the winter break, the Irish National Stud and Gardens in County Kildare opened its gates again, right as foaling season begins. It felt like a great time to send one of our visual journalists to see what the reopening looked like.
Photographer Dara Mac Dónaill spent time with Libby Coseta and Niall Kelly as they cared for Phoenix of Spain in the Stallion Stables. The whole place is a working stud farm, so there’s very real horse rearing to see.
Guided tours are available. You’ll get a look at how thoroughbreds are bred and raised and usually see plenty of horses up close. And yes, if timing’s on your side, you might catch a glimpse of foals wobbling about like Dara, who was lucky enough to meet Toffee the foal.
The gardens are calm, quiet and very walkable. The Japanese Gardens are the big headline, but St Fiachra’s Garden is lovely too – it being slightly more natural and a bit rugged round the edges. It’s usually open to visitors from 9am to 5pm (last entry 4pm), and an easy day trip from Dublin.
