Call for Kilkenny's Woodstock to reduce admission charge for groups

A bus operator who takes groups to Kilkenny’s scenic Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum is calling for the local authority to reduce its entry fee for tour groups, especially older visitors.

The call comes following the discovery by a retirement group from Dublin that they would have to pay €10 each for entry and a tour, compared to the €5 per-vehicle parking fee for visiting cars.

Denis Buggy, of Buggy Coaches in Castlecomer, told the Kilkenny People that he has been hired by the group for a three-day tour of the South East. Along with Nicholas Mosse’s Bennetsbridge studio and the Dunbrody in New Ross, Woodstock, in Inistioge, was to be on that itinerary - but what they see as a steep entry fee has changed that.

Mr Buggy said he had previously been charged €30 for coach entry but on this occasion, when the group contacted Woodstock’s county council email address in advance, as its website asks, they were given a price of €10 per person.

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He said there is quite a difference between that charge and what they would have paid per head if arriving by car or, indeed, if the €5 charge applied to the bus.
Mr Buggy said the group did not want to take a formal tour, just walk around Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum like any other visitor.
When Mr Buggy himself made contact with Woodstock staff he was told the group must take the tour and the charge was non-negotiable.

The Dublin group has read up on Woodstock, Mr Buggy said, and found out they are not the first pensioners to run into a problem trying to visit - when Queen Victoria wanted to visit Woodstock she was prevented by a flood!

A spokesperson for Kilkenny County Council explained to the Kilkenny People that special arrangements are in place for large visitor groups so that the resources of the Woodstock site can be properly managed.

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As a small, working garden the arrival of a large number of people together can have an impact, so the staff need to know when they are visiting.
At times the garden or arboretum’s work programme may have to be changed to accommodate a group.
The charge of €10 per person includes a tour, with a tour guide arranged by the local management that provides additional insight into the area.

It has proved popular with groups, including an American group who have been repeat visitors to learn about the ‘champion trees’ growing there.
Other resource logistics are taken into account, including opening of facilities and barriers.
The price for entry is the same whether the group avail of the tour or not.
Market research was carried out by Kilkenny County Council when setting what they consider a fair price for a ‘fantastic offering.’

The website for Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum states in the ‘admissions’ section that “entry to Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum is €5 per car.
Enquiries for large group visits should be sent in advance to woodstock@kilkennycoco.ie.”