EVENTS
At Whitestown House, we’re passionate about exploration, experimentation, and the joy of learning. Our events bring like-minded people together in a spirit of discovery and generosity. These enriching, creative gatherings feature wonderful experts and collaborators who share their knowledge and passion with participants. Community and authentic experiences are central to our ethos, our workshops are an opportunity to connect with others, be inspired and enjoy this beautiful house and estate.
Whitestown House and Estate has been built with the vision and skills of generations of men and women. Tradition and heritage are very important to us and with our workshops we hope to create opportunities to come together to share knowledge and skills while learning from one another.
Our workshops will always begin with a warm welcome, with fires lighting and tea, coffee and Hazel’s scones. Some events will be held in the house, bookmaking in our beautiful library, flower arranging in the back drawing room or history and heritage being explored on our long dining room table. Other workshops and events will be held elsewhere on the estate, in the shoot room or stables, or out in the woods or fields.
All our workshop events are ticketed, details of upcoming dates are outlined below.
Upcomming Events
Spring Foraging Walk and Wild Food Lunch
Saturday May 24th
Join us for a wonderful day reconnecting with our heritage and enjoying nature in the idyllic surroundings of Whitestown House Estate. Learn all about foraging with this informative and fun session with Denise from The Herb School.
On arrival you will be welcomed into the library for morning tea and Hazel's homemade scones, while Aoife shares some of the fascinating history of Whitestown House and estate.
Then we will spend the morning exploring the estate grounds learning about the native Irish seasonal plants and herbs that grow here. Denise will give you plenty of tips on harvesting and using foraged plants to create tasty and nutritious wild food dishes.
After all that fresh air you will be treated to a refreshing pre-lunch wild ingredient cocktail (or non-alcoholic alternative) and a delicious three-course wild food inspired lunch prepared by Kelly and Hazel. We will all gather at the legendary long table in the dining room to relax and enjoy each other's company.
Everyone who attends will receive a recipe leaflet to take home and a native Irish Wild Herb identification eBook.
Tickets are very limited and can be booked at the link below.
Meet the expert
Denise Dunne runs the The Herb School and The Herb Garden, a rewilded, organic garden situated just up the road in the Naul village. She is passionate about sharing her love and deep knowledge of foraging. Wild leaves, flowers, berries, seeds and roots have been used for healing and food for thousands of years in Ireland and Denise aims to help people safely identify and use these wonderful natural resources. Some of the most delicious and nutritious edible wild plants are at their very best in springtime. From wild garlic to nettles, these plants are abundant, local, seasonal and free.
Newbridge House Collaboration
2025 Dates & Events to be announced
Our collaboration with Newbridge House is a true source of joy for us, bringing together the traditions of Irish country house hospitality with modern creativity and warmth.
In 2024, we welcomed guests to a series of immersive masterclasses, exploring the art of cookery, hosting, and the enduring charm of gathering around the table. From a seasonal brunch masterclass filled with conversation and cocktails to an elegant dinner party demonstration set against the backdrop of Newbridge’s historic interiors, each event was a celebration of heritage, conviviality, and shared experience.
As neighboring estates with deep cultural legacies, Whitestown House and Newbridge House share a history of hospitality, storytelling, and social gatherings. We are excited to continue this tradition in 2025 with a new series of events that invite guests to step into the world of country house entertaining where food, design, and history come together to create unforgettable experiences.
Stay tuned for exciting announcements about our upcoming events at Newbridge House, we look forward to welcoming you once again for exceptional food, inspiring conversation, and a celebration of Ireland’s rich traditions.
Meet the experts
Whitestown House and the Keogh family have a long history and love of hospitality. Hazel brings her wealth of experience hosting large parties, renowned for welcoming and entertaining guests over the years. A keen cook and homemaker, Hazel’s warmth and hospitality is legendary and much loved.
Aoife’s background is in the art industry, and her creativity and artistic flare is woven into the very fabric of Whitestown House. Aoife designs all our events, she has a passion for tablescaping, the history and heritage of hospitality and is known for creating personal and original touches for our events.
Ballymaloe trained Kelly, brings her expertise in the culinary arts, planning menus that champion seasonal, local and sustainable ingredients. Kelly’s cookery demonstrations are informative and interactive, she encourages questions and ensures everyone learns new skills in an enjoyable atmosphere.
And of course Hazel keeps an expert eye on it all, ensuring that the spirit and warmth of Irish country house hospitality is experienced by all who attend.
Previous Events
We love a good story at Whitestown House, and this special evening was steeped in history, folklore, and storytelling. Our guests gathered around the fires as acclaimed author and broadcaster Anthony Murphy regaled us with the myths and legends that have shaped Ireland’s rich cultural heritage.
Our guests enjoyed the warm hospitality of Whitestown House, with complimentary whiskey from our neighbours on Lambay Island and wine and nibbles as the conversation flowed. The Full moon added to the atmosphere and sense of place. Hopefully our first of many such gatherings.
Myths by the Fireside with Anthony Murphy
Foraging Walk and Wild Food Lunch
This was a wonderful day reconnecting with our heritage and enjoying the glorious summer sunshine in the surroundings of Whitestown House Estate. We learned all about foraging with this informative and fun session with Denise Dunne from The Herb School and The Herb Garden.
We spent the morning exploring the estate grounds learning about the native Irish seasonal plants and herbs that grow here. Denise gave us plenty of tips on harvesting and using foraged plants to create tasty and nutritious wild food dishes.
After all that fresh air we enjoyed Kelly’s Elderflower, Lemon Verbena and Sweet Geranium Spritz cocktails al fresco and a delicious three-course wild food inspired lunch in the dining room.
Everyone who attended received a full recipe leaflet to take home and a native Irish Wild Herb identification eBook.
HOSTING a spring gathering
A day filled with creativity and camaraderie at Whitestown House.
We experienced the art of tablescaping guided by Tara from The Designed Table, crafted beautiful seasonal arrangements with Ciara from The Potting Shed, and created personalised place name settings with Calligraphy by Laura.
After our creative endeavours, we gathered around the long table in the dining room to enjoy a delicious two-course seasonal lunch accompanied by pink bubbles.
This was a wonderful day celebrating the joys of spring in the company of fellow hosting enthusiasts.
