Are you searching for the best things to do with kids in New Ross? The Kennedy Homestead is a unique historical homestead and museum venue located in Dunganstown near New Ross, County Wexford. It serves as an engaging cultural destination where families can trace the origins of the famous Kennedy family, explore a preserved farmyard, and enjoy an educational day out discovering trans-atlantic history.

Prices start from £0.00 for very young children, while affordable visitor tickets are provided for standard adult, student, and family admissions. Booking your entry grants you full access to the state-of-the-art visitor center exhibits and the peaceful outdoor memorial grounds.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines interesting global history with an accessible cultural trail, this homestead is a fantastic pick. It provides a great opportunity for older children to discover twentieth-century history while younger ones enjoy the outdoor farm layout.

Key Features

• Educational Day Out: The museum tells the direct success story of an Irish emigrant family becoming the leaders of the Western world.
• Interactive Exhibits: Modern audio-visual displays and historical film archives let children engage with history dynamically.
• Sensory Play Elements: Walking around the authentic historic farmyard allows children to experience a peaceful, traditional rural setting.

Detailed Highlights

• The Emigrant Vessel Display: This exhibit tracks the difficult journey of Patrick Kennedy when he left Wexford in 1848. Kids will learn about the rough sea conditions and what it took to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Presidential Archive Collection: This section features actual items used by President John F. Kennedy during his historic 1963 return to his ancestral home. Children enjoy seeing real historical video footage of the huge local celebrations.
• The Original Homestead Farmyard: The old stone structures still stand on the grounds today. Kids can see exactly where the Kennedy family worked before finding success across the Atlantic.
• The JFK Legacy Video Theatre: A dedicated viewing room showing a custom documentary about the family's rise in American politics. The fast-moving footage keeps teenagers fully engaged with modern history.
• The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Garden: A beautifully kept outdoor memorial space perfect for a quiet stroll. It allows kids to run along the safe garden paths after learning inside the museum.

Specific Named Attractions & Exhibits

• The 1848 Emigration Narrative Gallery
• The 1963 Presidential Visit Photographic Exhibit
• The Ancestral Stone Barn and Farmyard Outbuildings
• The Patrick Kennedy Memorial Garden
• The Kennedy Family Tree Interactive Display
• The JFK Legacy Video Presentation Theatre