House of Guinness: Where to follow in the family’s footsteps in Ireland

From the creator of Peaky Blinders, House of Guinness is the latest historical drama to take Netflix viewers by storm.

Set in 19th century Dublin and New York, the eight-part series follows four members of the dynasty after the death of their father, Benjamin Guinness, who trebled sales of pints of the black stuff and contributed to the brand’s continued success today.

While we all know St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin for being the home of Guinness, there are plenty of other places you can explore the House of Guinness in Ireland…

While Guinness might be associated with Dublin thanks to the iconic St. James’s Gate Brewery, the stout’s story actually began in County Kildare. This 16 kilometre route, named for Arthur Guinness who invented the dark beer, connects a number of key sites in his life, including Celbridge, where he grew up, Leixlip, the site of his first brewery, and Oughterard Cemetery, his final resting place. Along the way, you can also visit the From Malt to Vault exhibition at Ardclough Village Centre, as well as Leixlip Castle, which was bought by one of Arthur’s descendants, Desmond Guinness, in 1958.

More information: discoverireland.ie

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If you want to go back even further in time, Cashel Palace Hotel in County Tipperary could also be considered to be a (small) part of the Guinness story. Arthur Guinness’ father, Richard Guinness, served as the Archbishop of Cashel’s land agent and grew hops in the grounds surrounding the manor here. Plus, the archbishop was Arthur’s godfather, and it was with his £100 inheritance that Arthur Guinness started his Dublin brewery.

More information: cashelpalacehotel.ie

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Ashford Castle, which was included in our WanderSleeps 2025, is another historic hotel you can stay in and become a part of the Guinness story. Benjamin Lee Guinness, grandson of Arthur Guinness, purchased the property in 1852, and both he and his son, Arthur, worked to restore and develop the estate you see today.

More information: ashfordcastle.com

Read next: Historic & Heritage Sleeps

Now the official Irish state guest house – where foreign dignitaries stay during visits hosted by the government – Farmleigh was first purchased by Edward Guinness, Arthur Guinness’ great-grandson in 1873, and stayed in the family until 1999, undergoing significant renovation and extension plans while serving as one of the Guinness’ Dublin homes. Aside from hosting significant figures including Queen Elizabeth II and President Joe Biden, the estate is open to visitors between April and December, who can look around the extensive grounds, the library and art gallery.

More information: farmleigh.ie

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As St. James’s Gate Brewery expanded, the Guinness family purchased buildings in the surrounding neighbourhood for offices and housing, and even had their own Guinness Power Station. This building was transformed into the Roe & Co. distillery, so named for George Roe, a historic Irish distiller, in 2017. Inside, you’ll learn about the former distillery, which closed in 1926, as well as the new whiskey being created here.

More information: roeandcowhiskey.com