The Irish Workhouse Centre
The Irish Workhouse Centre
The Irish Workhouse Centre
5
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5.0
490 reviews
Excellent
430
Very good
53
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Eimear
Dublin, Ireland3 contributions
Such a fantastic, but grim, tour full of historical information. It can get a bit cold in the West outside of summer months so wrap up
Written 27 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Adventurer738538
1 contribution
Recently I visited the workhouse in Portumna. We had a wonderful knowledgeable tour guide, she sure knew her workhouse history and was most informative and sympathetic to the past souls of the workhouse. I would highly recommend this tour.
Written 18 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kevin T
County Wexford, Ireland94 contributions
A must for anyone interested in History. Highlight of our visit to the west.
It really gives a picture of the most hated institution ever established in Ireland. A tour here tells you why. - it was called the 'Poorhouse' in my youth.
Don't miss.
It really gives a picture of the most hated institution ever established in Ireland. A tour here tells you why. - it was called the 'Poorhouse' in my youth.
Don't miss.
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kevinlyons234
Drogheda, Ireland54 contributions
Had a great tour and guide. The circumstances were terrible in the day but it is presented very well and restored well
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RockHill_10
Bristol, UK130 contributions
Couples
So glad we visited today. We got chatting to a couple in our hotel in Killaloe who visited yesterday and said we must go if we can.
Fantastic tour with an incredibly knowledgeable friendly guide. Detailed description of the life and times of the workhouse over 11/2 hours.
Superb exhibition by the extremely talented Kieran Tuohy was an added bonus.
As an amateur genealogist on a family history trip to Ireland this was a great addition to our holiday. My great grandfather was a medical officer in Scariff workhouse and this gave me a huge amount of insight into his working life.
I do hope they continue to be helped with funding. This is such an important part of our history.
Fantastic tour with an incredibly knowledgeable friendly guide. Detailed description of the life and times of the workhouse over 11/2 hours.
Superb exhibition by the extremely talented Kieran Tuohy was an added bonus.
As an amateur genealogist on a family history trip to Ireland this was a great addition to our holiday. My great grandfather was a medical officer in Scariff workhouse and this gave me a huge amount of insight into his working life.
I do hope they continue to be helped with funding. This is such an important part of our history.
Written 8 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Anne C
Bury St. Edmunds, UK27 contributions
Good guide, we had a good history lesson about the origins of the workhouse. There was an audio visual element as well. We weren’t able to go into some areas due to ongoing preparation for the heritage week which was disappointing.
The highlight of the visit was an exhibition of sculptures by Kieran tuohy called dark shadows, about the Irish famine which was truly moving and at times bought tears to our eyes - each piece told it’s own story with amazing detail.
The highlight of the visit was an exhibition of sculptures by Kieran tuohy called dark shadows, about the Irish famine which was truly moving and at times bought tears to our eyes - each piece told it’s own story with amazing detail.
Written 26 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Patrick T
Peniche, Portugal56 contributions
Friends
Excellent historical tour. Not a happy story but it’s important to understand it. Takes about 90 minutes. We’ll restored buildings
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Úna C
21 contributions
Couples
What a wonderful place to visit Tour guide so knowledgeable and gave a nicely paced tour.
Audio very clever.Bog sculptures amazzzing.
All 8n all a hidden gem
Audio very clever.Bog sculptures amazzzing.
All 8n all a hidden gem
Written 21 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Carol K
2 contributions
My husband and I took our grandchildren to the" Dickens and the Workhouse" talk in Portumna Workhouse. The speaker was excellent and held everyons attention through out. She did it all without notes which impressed me. It was obvious she loved her subject.
However, if there was some criticism to add, I would advise more audience controll. The talk was taken over by others and we deviated from the original subject.
However, if there was some criticism to add, I would advise more audience controll. The talk was taken over by others and we deviated from the original subject.
Written 18 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland8,575 contributions
Solo
An absolutely superb tour. I really cannot praise the guide highly enough nor recommend this place more highly.
All visits are by guided tour only I rang ahead to book as it was high season but others in the group were walk-ins. It is not possible to access the site without a guide.
There is an enchanting exhibition on the way in of bog oak famine themed sculptures.
The tour itself goes from the entrance doorway and incudes the room where the trustee's met, the exercise yard, laundry, punitive cells and privy to the women's section where they slept and worked. There is a good hologram audio visual display where the notorious manager/governor back in the day tells you about life in the Workhouse.
It's a very sad history but extremely interesting and important too I feel considering how many people went through workhouses like this and how they have never really had a voice
There is a museum too with some amazing curios and relics from the time.
An altogether fascinating experience, a really superb tour.
All visits are by guided tour only I rang ahead to book as it was high season but others in the group were walk-ins. It is not possible to access the site without a guide.
There is an enchanting exhibition on the way in of bog oak famine themed sculptures.
The tour itself goes from the entrance doorway and incudes the room where the trustee's met, the exercise yard, laundry, punitive cells and privy to the women's section where they slept and worked. There is a good hologram audio visual display where the notorious manager/governor back in the day tells you about life in the Workhouse.
It's a very sad history but extremely interesting and important too I feel considering how many people went through workhouses like this and how they have never really had a voice
There is a museum too with some amazing curios and relics from the time.
An altogether fascinating experience, a really superb tour.
Written 15 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Breda C
Ballinasloe, Ireland65 contributions
Is there a charge and certain times for here??
Irishpaddie
Dublin, Ireland46 contributions
Yes there was a charge - as a family we paid €15 and I understand its open 7 days a week from March to October 9.30 to 5 - but our tour took about 2.5 hours so Id suggest being there no later than 2 or 3pm to get full value - details of times and rates are on their web site
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
The Irish Workhouse Centre | Portumna | UPDATED September 2022 Top Tips Before You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about The Irish Workhouse Centre
- Hotels near The Irish Workhouse Centre:
- (0.13 km) Pod Umna Village
- (0.31 km) Oak Lodge Bed & Breakfast
- (0.28 km) Curra House B&B
- (0.52 km) Kelly's Lodge
- (0.68 km) Portumna House Bed & Breakfast
- Restaurants near The Irish Workhouse Centre:
- (0.06 km) The Beehive
- (0.15 km) Blas
- (0.17 km) Modena
- (0.08 km) Roma Portumna
- (0.06 km) Una M's Cakes