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A lobby with a large table, potted plants, and two people walking through a doorway. 1
A person holding a shiny, ornate silver teapot. 2
A historical map with handwritten notes and a red stamp. 3

Gardens and Grandeur Life in the Big House

By Mount Congreve Gardens
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$43 per adult
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 1h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

Step inside Mount Congreve House & travel back to 1775 in this immersive, character-led experience. As silver glints in the afternoon light & order is restored, guests are guided through the rituals of dining by Thomasina Whitcombe, the estate’s senior stewardess—precise, watchful, & said by some never to have truly left service!

Mount Congreve was the last house in Ireland to employ liveried servants, & within the Large Drawing Room—adorned with rare Chinese wallpaper & fine Irish silver—every gesture matters: who is seated, who serves, and what remains unspoken.

The experience continues with a gentle walk to the Walled Gardens, the productive heart of the estate that sustained the household, where formality gives way to soil & season.

Set within the world-renowned Mount Congreve Gardens, this is a cultural storytelling experience rather than a horticultural tour.

Duration: ~60 min
Includes: In-character guided tour & full-day garden access
Weather: Moves fully indoors if required

Activity location

  • Mount Congreve Gardens
    • Kilmeaden
    • Waterford, Ireland

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Mount Congreve Gardens & Country Estate
    • X91 PX05, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland

Check availability

Gardens and Grandeur Life in the Big House

  • Activity duration is 1 hour1h
    1h
  • English
Language options: English
Starting time: 2:00 PM
Price details
NZ$43.17 x 1 AdultNZ$43.17
Total
Price is NZ$43.17
Until Sat, 15 Aug

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Admission fee
  • Inclusions
    Parking Fees

Know before you book

    • Service animals allowed
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

Mount Congreve Gardens

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Travelers take part in a guided, in-character experience inside Mount Congreve House, led by the estate’s stewardess. They explore the Large Drawing Room and learn how dining, service, and household order operated in an Irish Big House in the late 18th century. Guests hear stories of daily life, hierarchy, and tradition, see historic interiors including Chinese wallpaper and Irish silver, and gain insight into how the house functioned behind the scenes. The tour continues with a short walk to the Walled Gardens, where travelers learn how the household was supplied with food and how productive gardens supported life indoors. The experience lasts approximately 60 minutes and includes garden access for the remainder of the day.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Mount Congreve Gardens
    • Kilmeaden
    • Waterford, Ireland

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Mount Congreve Gardens & Country Estate
    • X91 PX05, Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Ireland

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