Wonderful Barn
Wonderful Barn
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
64 reviews
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19
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24
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20
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1
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Lilith
Stuttgart, Germany1,097 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
If you are in the area you shouldn't miss a visit to the barn "the wonderful barn".
The unusual architecture is fascinating. An information board provides enough information to understand the historical significance.
The surroundings of the barn are rural, idyllic and invite you to take a walk.
A not so well-known place, so it is not overrun by tourists and there is no entrance fee.
The unusual architecture is fascinating. An information board provides enough information to understand the historical significance.
The surroundings of the barn are rural, idyllic and invite you to take a walk.
A not so well-known place, so it is not overrun by tourists and there is no entrance fee.
Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David D
1,210 contributions
Sep 2020
This whimsical creation dates to the 1740’s when it was probably built as a famine relief project, similar to the nearby Conolly’s Folly. The building itself is oddly reminiscent of the minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra, or the medieval depictions of the Tower of Babel. The odd shapes and proportions are worth checking out by anyone who has a love for the architecturally odd.
However, the adjoining house and farm buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair and ruin, and the Barn itself is inaccessible. It is a shame that the County Council have allowed this to pass into decay, but as it stands, it is merely a pleasant view and nothing more. Until something is done to repair the grounds, it is a wasted opportunity.
However, the adjoining house and farm buildings have been allowed to fall into disrepair and ruin, and the Barn itself is inaccessible. It is a shame that the County Council have allowed this to pass into decay, but as it stands, it is merely a pleasant view and nothing more. Until something is done to repair the grounds, it is a wasted opportunity.
Written September 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alan C
Kildare, Ireland190 contributions
Nov 2019 • Solo
Well known amongst people from Kildare but in particular people who live / from
Leixlip. Unfortunately not the easiest to find and access but the architecture is amazing and the history associated with it is very interesting. Read up on it before hand to understand the history associated with this Leixlip landmark but it’s having a look of near it.
Leixlip. Unfortunately not the easiest to find and access but the architecture is amazing and the history associated with it is very interesting. Read up on it before hand to understand the history associated with this Leixlip landmark but it’s having a look of near it.
Written July 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
the dudu x
Leixlip, Ireland1 contribution
Jan 2014 • Friends
the wonderful barn (the wundy) is cantastic, and class for the sesh. Me and the boys went there with a few cans of dutch back in first year and you'd go pull a few chung wans. I'd reccomend this spot to any young aspiring alcoholic.
Written January 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aideen M
County Antrim, UK3 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
We saw this on a tourist board in Maynooth and decided to visit. Definitely weird and wonderful. It's not maintained so is fenced off but you can still see the strange twisting structure and other oddities around it. You'd spend about 20 mins here.
Written December 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alyson K
Maynooth, Ireland907 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
Although I have lived near Leixlip for the past couple of years I had never been to visit this sight. Of course I had caught glimpses of the Wonderful Barn through the hedges while driving on the N4 but wasn't entirely sure how to find it. A quick scan of some helpful TripAdvisor reviews and I decided to pop over today after my usual walk around the grounds of Castletown House.
As previously mentioned there is very little in the way of signage to direct you but there is a sign for renting Allotment space on the entrance gateway. As I was on foot parking wasn't an issue but there is a housing estate closeby with plenty of space to park. Another option is to park at the small group of shops about 5 mins walk away and grab a takeaway coffee to bring on your walk.
The site provides a nice area to wander around although with some much needed investment the potential for a wonderful local amenity is definitely there.
While in their current neglected state the buildings can not be accessed however even in disrepair they convey a quiet charm and are worth a visit.
As previously mentioned there is very little in the way of signage to direct you but there is a sign for renting Allotment space on the entrance gateway. As I was on foot parking wasn't an issue but there is a housing estate closeby with plenty of space to park. Another option is to park at the small group of shops about 5 mins walk away and grab a takeaway coffee to bring on your walk.
The site provides a nice area to wander around although with some much needed investment the potential for a wonderful local amenity is definitely there.
While in their current neglected state the buildings can not be accessed however even in disrepair they convey a quiet charm and are worth a visit.
Written May 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CelCor
Kildare, Ireland447 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
As we had been visiting Castletown House nearby we thought we'd venture over to see this landmark also. We couldn't get it on the sat nav in the car so we followed Google maps, but still couldn't locate it. While driving around (following google maps) we did not see one sign for it anywhere in Leixlip. We ended up driving into a rugby pitch off a roundabout (which was very close to the barn) but the couple of people we stopped to ask for directions didn't know how to get to it. As it turns out, there is absolutely nothing at the entrance to indicate that the Wonderful Barn is down a little road that is barricaded and accessible only to walkers or cyclists. We found out after that anyone with an allotment can gain access with their car. It's extremely disappointing that this landmark is not signposted; if it is we did not see one sign and thus is something the town needs to look into.
The Wonderful Barn is a lovely structure--but that's it; there are no facilities in the area (no shop, cafe, toilet, etc). You won't gain access to the building either, and there are no information signs posted giving you info about the barn, pity how some things are so neglected by the State.
The Wonderful Barn is a lovely structure--but that's it; there are no facilities in the area (no shop, cafe, toilet, etc). You won't gain access to the building either, and there are no information signs posted giving you info about the barn, pity how some things are so neglected by the State.
Written March 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EefaIRE
Leixlip, Ireland13 contributions
Aug 2013 • Friends
I've lived in Leixlip for most of my life bar one year and the Wonderful Barn is always something I find eye catchingly beautiful. The large barn is an upside-down cone shape with two smaller copies of it in the grounds. It has a winding staircase that wraps around it and brings you to the store rooms in it. And at the very top room there is a metal hoop on the ceiling where it is rumoured that people were hanged there for crimes in the 1700s. It had a magnificent history, and it is a shame that there is no direct access to the Barn. You can view it as it is located in a pubic park, but entering the building is hazardous. As a local, I have been in it myself when I was a kid and it is such a wonderful place. Really earned the name. There is also a house and stables beside it that are in an awful condition, but I hope it will be restored. Some of the barn has been restored already and one can see a huge difference between the new and the old part of it. It was restored with very little care as to how it would affect the aesthetics of it.
It is worth a look and a poke around (hop a wall if you dare!). It's located in a very nice public park so bring a flask of tea and some sandwiches and it'd make a nice afternoon!
It is worth a look and a poke around (hop a wall if you dare!). It's located in a very nice public park so bring a flask of tea and some sandwiches and it'd make a nice afternoon!
Written November 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spyems
Dublin, Ireland141 contributions
Sep 2018
This is very interesting to visit but not well looked after which is shame. It is unusual looking so worth a quick visit but that is all.
Written August 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,521 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
The Wonderful Barn is an absolute delight. I've never seen anything quite like it in my life.
I had never heard of it until a recent TV programme visited some off the beaten track hems in Ireland and as it is so near to me I thought, "I have to see this thing."
Quirky is not the word. It looks like something you'd see in a theme park or a Disney cartoon like Shtek!
It's a barn obviously, a granary, though it is also postulated that it may have been used as a dovecote, and it dates back to 1743.
It's corkscrew like shape with exterior spiral staircase is 72feet high. The views from the top must be amazing but unfortunately the building, of course inactive, is anso unopen. In fact thetecare a lot of off putting 'keep out' signs and fencing.
It is set in wooded grasslands with gardening allotments around but the area is poorly kept with some graffiti, rubbish and dereliction. Such a shame that Kikdare council don't do it up as it has massive potential.
Don't let that put you off visiting though. It's a building like no other you'll ever see!
I had never heard of it until a recent TV programme visited some off the beaten track hems in Ireland and as it is so near to me I thought, "I have to see this thing."
Quirky is not the word. It looks like something you'd see in a theme park or a Disney cartoon like Shtek!
It's a barn obviously, a granary, though it is also postulated that it may have been used as a dovecote, and it dates back to 1743.
It's corkscrew like shape with exterior spiral staircase is 72feet high. The views from the top must be amazing but unfortunately the building, of course inactive, is anso unopen. In fact thetecare a lot of off putting 'keep out' signs and fencing.
It is set in wooded grasslands with gardening allotments around but the area is poorly kept with some graffiti, rubbish and dereliction. Such a shame that Kikdare council don't do it up as it has massive potential.
Don't let that put you off visiting though. It's a building like no other you'll ever see!
Written August 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No. Not open. Plenty of keep out signs unfortunately. But the grounds are open
Written August 11, 2018
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