Donaghmore Workhouse & Agricultural Museum
About This Museum
Let's be honest, you don't stumble upon a place like the Donaghmore Workhouse by accident. It stands just outside Dunacleggan in County Laois, a stark and solemn limestone building that tells a story you can feel the moment you walk in. This isn't your typical museum; it's a deeply moving portal into Ireland's most difficult history, focusing on the Great Famine and rural life. You'll find yourself walking the same floors where the destitute once sought refuge, an experience that is both haunting and profoundly human.
Collection Highlights
The main workhouse section has been meticulously preserved, from the sparse dormitories to the hauntingly simple refectory. Next door, the Agricultural Museum provides a fascinating contrast with its collection of vintage tractors, horse-drawn ploughs, and all sorts of rustic farm tools that show just how hard people worked this land.
Visitor Information
Give yourself a good couple of hours here to really absorb it all. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and add so much colour to the stories behind these walls—don't be shy about asking questions.
Architecture & Building
It's a classic, imposing Irish workhouse built from local limestone in that severe, institutional style designed to deter all but the most desperate.
Contact & Location
Address: Dunacleggan, Donaghmore ED, The Municipal District of Borris-in-Ossory — Mountmellick, County Laois, Leinster, Éire / Ireland
Phone: +353 86 829 6685
Website: Visit Website
