Causey Farm: The Home of Farmaphobia + The Christmas Experience

Causey Farm in County Meath is a 300-acre working farm where visitors can try their hand at everything from baking traditional Irish brown bread to milking cows and dancing a céilí. The farm has been in the Murtagh family’s hands for generations. In fact, according to local historians, the Murtaghs were kings or chieftains in this part of Meath around 1,000 years ago.

These days, the family welcomes visitors for group activities, hen parties and some of Meath’s most popular seasonal events, including Farmaphobia and the Causey Christmas Experience.

One important thing to know before visiting: Causey isn’t a walk-in attraction. It’s only open to the general public during selected seasonal events, with other experiences arranged for groups. 

Visiting Causey Farm

Although a visit to Causey Farm is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

1. Location

Causey Farm is located at Girley, Fordstown, between Kells and Athboy in County Meath, just below the Girley Bog. It’s a 10-minute drive from Kells, a 20-minute drive from Navan and a 50-minute drive from both Drogheda and Dublin Airport.

2. It’s not an open farm

This is probably the most important thing to know before visiting. Although Causey is a working farm with cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals, you can’t simply arrive and wander around. The farm welcomes pre-booked groups and opens to the general public for selected seasonal events.

3. There’s plenty to experience

Depending on the activity you’ve booked, you could find yourself baking brown bread, milking a cow, learning traditional Irish dancing or heading out on a tractor and trailer ride. There are also seasonal events, including Easter activities, Dogitude, Pooka Spooka, Farmaphobia and the Christmas Experience.

4. Booking is essential

You’ll need to book your visit in advance. Seasonal events have their own dates, ticket prices and booking arrangements, while activities such as hen parties, educational visits and group experiences need to be organised separately.

Things to do at Causey Farm

One of the reasons that people from all walks of life flock to Causey Farm is due to the sheer volume of things there are to see and do here.

From the Causey Farm Halloween events to Santa, hen parties and more, there’s endless things to see and do.

1. Traditional Irish farm activities

One of the most interesting things about Causey Farm is that it gives visitors the chance to get involved in traditional Irish farm life, rather than simply watch it from the sidelines.

Depending on your group experience, you might find yourself milking a cow, baking a loaf of brown bread or heading out on a tractor and trailer ride through the countryside.

There’s also the chance to meet the farm’s animals, which include cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens and geese. Some experiences even involve walking barefoot through the bog, so don’t arrive expecting to keep your shoes spotless!

2. Causey Farm Christmas Experience

Christmas is a big deal at Causey Farm. More than 200,000 people have enjoyed its Christmas Experience over the years, and the event returns for annually. 

Unlike a quick visit to Santa in a shopping centre, this is a Christmas experience spread across the farm’s old sheds, with each building offering a different festive activity.

Visitors move from one area to another, exploring the Christmas-themed attractions before meeting Santa. The farm animals are tucked away for winter, the old farmyard is decorated for Christmas and the whole experience is designed to make the most of the farm’s traditional setting.

3. Farmaphobia

If you’ve heard of Causey Farm before, there’s a good chance it’s because of Farmaphobia, one of Ireland’s biggest Halloween events. This is the farm’s more intense Halloween experience, with six horror attractions spread across 100 acres.

The most recent line-up includes Funhouse Freaks, Coven, The Cornjuring, Slaughter House, The Crypt and Zombie Morgue. Expect creepy clowns, witches, a haunted cornfield and plenty of other encounters designed to make you regret buying a ticket in the first place! Farmaphobia is very different from the farm’s family-friendly Halloween event, Pooka Spooka, so make sure you’re booking the right experience.

4. Dogitude

Dogitude is a two-day festival dedicated to dogs and the people who love them. Expect everything from agility displays and sheepdog trials to gundog demonstrations and breed meet-ups.

There are also workshops, activities you can try with your own dog, stalls selling pet products and food for visitors.

It’s a very different experience from the farm’s Christmas and Halloween events, and one worth keeping an eye on if you’re planning a visit with your dog.

5. Pooka Spooka

Get your scariest face on and head down to Causey Farm for their annual Pooka Spooka spectacular! With a mirror maze to lose yourself in, a magician and hayride to keep you entertained, there’s also a scarecrow corn maze, broomstick rides, limb throwing, and traditional games and crafts galore. 

When it’s time to wind yourself down, you can settle down for the storytelling, just remember not to get too spooked! If you’re not familiar with the Irish ghost, see our guide to the Puca.

6. Hen parties and team-building

If you’re organising a hen party and want something different from the usual hotel and cocktail-making afternoon, Causey Farm is worth considering. The farm caters for groups of around 10-50 people, with activities ranging from baking brown bread and milking cows to learning the Siege of Ennis and playing the bodhrán.

You can also head off on a tractor and trailer ride, meet the farm animals and, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try walking barefoot through the bog. The experience finishes with tea, freshly baked scones and some of the brown bread you’ve made.

7. Cultural activities

Causey Farm also welcomes school groups, international visitors and companies looking for team-building activities. The experiences focus on traditional Irish culture and rural life, with visitors getting involved in activities rather than watching demonstrations from a distance.

Depending on the programme, you might learn a céilí dance, try playing the bodhrán, bake Irish brown bread or take part in farm activities. It’s an interesting option for groups who want to experience a side of Ireland that’s very different from the usual castles, museums and sightseeing tours.

8. Easter events

Easter at Causey is another time when the farm opens for a family-focused seasonal experience. Previous Easter programmes have included egg painting, carrot planting, Easter-themed activities and opportunities to meet the farm’s animals.

It’s also a chance for children to see the farm during spring, when lambs and other newborn animals are among the main attractions. The exact activities and dates can change from year to year, so check the current Easter programme before making plans.

Things to do nearby

One of the beauties of Causey Farm is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best places to visit in Meath.

Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Causey Farm.

1. Girley Bog Walk (8-minute drive)

The Girley Bog Walk is one of my favourite walks in Meath. The environment is unique, and takes approximately 1-1.5 hours to complete, and covers around 5.6kms/3.5mi. The trail is way marked and is relatively level with only slight inclines. Wearing sturdy footwear is recommended, and it’s worth noting there are no amenities on site.

2. Kells Round Tower (10-minute drive)

Part of the Kells Abbey and St Columba’s Churchyard, the round tower in Kells is located near the main gate and is easily accessible from the curbside. There’s street parking nearby, and the churchyard also contains four of the five High Crosses of Kells, the fifth is close by at the Old Court House Heritage Centre.

3. The Spire of Lloyd (14-minute drive)

Just outside of Kells, the the Spire of Lloyd at the People’s Park is well worth visiting. The heritage structure is a 30-metre high tower and is accessible to climb on Bank holiday Mondays, with an amazing view from the top, nearby is an historic Pauper’s Graveyard for victims of the Great Famine.

4. Loughcrew Cairns (25-minute drive)

Erected around the same time as Stonehenge, these Neolithic burial chambers at Loughcrew contain impressive stone carvings and rock paintings that date back to 3000 BCE. The Cairns were once known as the Hills of the Witch, and visitors can explore them either on their own or as part of a guided tour.