Free Access To Heritage Sites

This Wednesday 05 July, fees at some Office of Public Works Heritage (OPW) sites will be waived. Free Wednesday often occurs once a month on the first Wednesday of the month. The OPW looks after the state-owned heritage sites, utilises Free Wednesday as a way to encourage people to visit the historic sites that it manages and has therefore started this great initiative in 2011.

Most OPW managed sites can already be visited for free (e.g. Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park, National Botanic Gardens, Pearse Museum, etc), but some sites that normally charge a fee will be free every first Wednesday as well. In the (extended) Greater Dublin Area this means you can visit the following sites for free such as, Dublin Castle, State Apartments, The Casino, Marino, Rathfarnham Castle,  Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre at Newgrange, Glendalough Visitor Centre in Wicklow

In the past Kilmainham Gaol (the most popular site) was also on that list, but unfortunately, it was removed last year. As you can imagine, this event is very popular and so it is recommended that you arrive early at the venues. Once the day’s tickets are given out, you will not get access anymore.

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