Changes to regular schedule

Please note, we are not available for venue hies, weddings, or supernova tours during July and August as our science exhibit is receiving a significant overhaul this summer. The upgrades include a new hard-shell planetarium dome, a state of the art theatre, and new VR experiences. The works we are undertaking will also improve accessibility.

These updates will add whole new experiences for visitors in the very near future, but in the meantime it will mean some minor disruptions to the summer calendar. As we cannot hold planetarium shows while we install the new system, we are instead offering a solar system video-tour in our forum theatre space. We are also screening shows that offer insight into the day-today work at the Observatory as well as a short history of Blackrock Castle.

We’re very excited about the updates to the visitor experience and can’t wait to share them with you. We apologise for any inconvenience the augmented schedule may cause. Your patience is vey much appreciated. If you do have any queries about the schedule please feel free to email us ahead of your visit.

Amendments to our regular offering:

We will continue to offer our guided access to the tower rooftop and old fort throughout July and August with some exceptions (See below*).
Due to demand, online booking is essential for these tours throughout July and August.

Tuesday to Sunday: Guided access to the fort and tower top are available at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. The time you select when booking will dictate which of these tours is available to you.

Self-guided tours and restricted access.

• In addition to our guided tours we will also be offering self-guided tours at a cost of €5 per person. This tour offers access to the same areas as the guided tour with the exception of the old fort and the high tower. For health and safety purposes these areas can only be accessed on a guided tour.

Blackrock Castle Observatory is closed August 22nd and August 29th to accommodate maintenance.