Johnstown in County Kildare can be explored through several themes: the village’s history, the Palmerstown House Estate with its golf course, and the indoor play facilities at The Playbarn. If you are looking for accommodation in Johnstown, these highlights can help with planning—depending on whether you are more interested in historical details, golf or play areas.
Historical traces in the village
Johnstown probably developed between a river crossing at a former ford and the site of its old church. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the village was largely built by the Earl of Mayo around the remains of a medieval church. The village’s history therefore centres on both the likely connection between the ford and the church and the village’s later development.
In the old churchyard is a Celtic-style High Cross gravestone dedicated to the Earl of Mayo. It is considered the most distinctive gravestone in the churchyard and is dated 1872. Other historical remains include the octagonal base of a medieval baptismal font and a flat stone slab carved with the coats of arms of the Wogan and Flatsbury families. The iron railings around the churchyard feature unusual arrow motifs and are considered early surviving ironwork.
Another archaeological feature stands in a field at the southern end of the village: a perforated standing stone. It is described as being astronomically aligned with the summer solstice. The traces therefore range from grave monuments and church remains to an interpretation associated with the standing stone.
Palmerstown House: architecture and golf
The gate lodge at Palmerstown House dates from around 1850. It is built of granite ashlar and has double-leaf cast-iron gates; it forms an integral part of the Palmerstown House estate. The combination of stone construction and metal gates gives the building a different character from the grave and archaeological stones around the church.
The Palmerstown House Estate is home to an 18-hole golf course on 900 acres of parkland. Course features include an island green on the tenth hole, introduced in 2020. The estate also has a Trackman driving range with indoor and outdoor bays, which opened in 2022. This means you can consider the course for a round of golf and the range as two distinct golf offerings.
Play and exercise
The Playbarn in Johnstown is an indoor adventure playground for children up to 12 years old. Its multi-level play and slide area is divided into sections for babies, children under five and children aged five to twelve. Facilities include a climbing frame, a large Lego area, a football pitch, a penalty shoot-out area and wavy slides. If you are planning a visit, please check the current opening hours and admission conditions beforehand.
A walking route on new footpaths between Kill and Johnstown was also mapped by the Johnstown Community Association. If you are planning to follow this route, check beforehand that it is currently accessible.
County Kildare: more to explore
County Kildare has additional, distinct places to visit. Castletown House is in Celbridge, County Kildare, in an 18th-century parkland setting on the banks of the Liffey. It now houses a significant collection of paintings, furnishings and works of art. The grounds of Castletown House are open year-round from 07:00 to 22:00; check the current conditions before your visit.
At Donadea Forest Park, the Lake Walk offers a different way to get moving: the circular trail is 0.8 km long, takes about 30 minutes and is accessible to everyone. There are also three permanent orienteering courses: a short one measuring 1.8 km, a medium one measuring 3.4 km and a long one measuring 4.6 km. This gives you a choice in County Kildare between a short circular trail and set routes of different lengths.
Discover more destinations: Naas, Droichead Nua, Prosperous, Leixlip, Kildangan, Moone, Monasterevin, Carbury
For the broader travel overview: County Kildare.
