Discover Fingal Through Open House Dublin Free Festival Programme

Discover Fingal Through Open House Dublin Free Festival Programme

Fingal County Council is proud to continue support of the Open House Dublin, Ireland’s largest architecture festival taking place from 10-18 October 2026. A diverse programme of free tours of flagship buildings along with creative activities for children and families are among the free events showcasing Fingal’s rich heritage, architecture and public realm as part of the Irish Architecture Foundation’s flagship Open House Dublin

Now in its 21 years, Open House Dublin celebrates the buildings, communities that shapes Dublin and its surrounding areas. This years’ theme ‘Dublin is Living’, invites visitors to discover the stories, design and heritage of the place in which we live, work and connect with. Throughout the week, there's hundreds of free events to take part in across the county.

Free Events offered by Fingal

As part of the festival programme, Fingal is set to host a range of tours and events on Saturday, 17 October:

  •  Visitors can explore Ardgillan Castle, where guided tours will reveal the history of the eighteenth-century castle and regional park. Since its acquisition by Fingal County Council, significant restoration works have been carried out to the castle and grounds. The tour will focus onthe ground floor rooms and kitchens allowing visitors to experience the buildings heritage and architectural significance.
Ardgillian Castle 1
  • Tours of recently completed Crowscastle Green, Fingal County Council’s social housing development in Holywell, Swords. Highlighting the design, sustainability features, community spaces and innovative housing solutions behind the 57-home scheme, while exploring the challenges and opportunities of delivering modern social housing.
crowsnesyle 1
  • Attendees will also have the opportunity to explore a vibrant mixed-tenure community developed by Fingal County Council and GEM Construction at Church Fields in Mulhuddart. This tour showcases sustainable homes, community amenities, public open spaces, active travel infrastructure, and inclusive play features, demonstrating how quality design supports thriving and connected communities for all ages.
churchfields 1
  • At Malahide Castle, visitors can discover more than 800 years of architectural history through an engaging tour featuring historic interiors, private rooms, exquisite furnishing and renowned art collections.
Malahide Great Hall
  • Newbridge House & Farm will host a special tour of the recently restored historic glasshouses and Sun House, led by the Head Craft Gardener. Visitors will learn about the conservation of five heritage structures dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and gain insight into the restoration process, historic gardening practices, and Fingal County Council’s ongoing investment in protecting this unique heritage asset.
glasshoused 1

Introducing the Open House Dublin events in Fingal, County Architect, Fingal County Council, Fionnuala May said: “Fingal County Council is delighted to once again support Open House Dublin 2026 as both a sponsor and organiser of building visits, reaffirming our commitment to celebrating and sharing the county’s rich architectural heritage. This year’s programme allows us to showcase recent new housing projects delivered by the Council, creating new communities and spaces for living. The programme offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore some of Fingal’s most significant historic sites, including Ardgillan Castle and Newbridge House. These landmark locations not only showcase the area's architectural character but also tell the stories of the communities, traditions and history that have shaped Fingal over generations. We look forward to welcoming visitors to discover and engage with these remarkable places as part of this year’s festival.”

The IAF Director, Emmet Scanlon commented, "Our striking visual campaign for this year’s festival aims to communicate the one main idea we champion in Open House year after year — that people and place are better when each takes care of the other. Open House Dublin is a unique and exciting chance for everyone to attend behind the scenes tours, to get involved in talks, debates and workshops but it is also a chance to encounter the very many people who are working in and with communities across city and county, to ensure Dublin is a healthy and beautiful city that is better designed for life and for living."

For further information on events taking place in Fingal and across Dublin during Open House Dublin 2026, visit www.openhousedublin.com