Free entry
Our sanctuary is open to the public four days a week Friday - Monday (Closed Tuesday - Thursday).
- 9.00 am - 4.00 pm
This includes bank holidays.
Our free-to-visit sanctuary has something special to offer, whether you’re looking for a family day out, or to spend some quality time with our donkeys.
Explore everything the sanctuary has to offer, from our scenic walkways to our resident donkeys - there’s so much to explore with your own herd whatever the weather!
If you are visiting with your family, or arranging to meet others, our Visitor Information Centre acts as a good central meeting point. Here, you can also purchase all your donkey-related gifts and find out about our work.
All of our adoption donkeys live on the Open Farm and you will be able to see your adoption donkey and many more donkeys and mules.
We welcome well-behaved dogs but would ask that you keep them on a lead at all times and clean up after them.
Facilities
What can I expect from my visit?
A visit to The Donkey Sanctuary starts at the Visitor Information Centre. Our friendly staff will be delighted to tell you about our donkeys and walkway and what you can expect to see as you stroll along our walkways.
Our first group of donkeys live in a paddock behind the Visitor Information Centre. This group is home to our mares and foals, who are kept near the farm, as they need special care and attention.
By the black gate entrance to the farm yard you will find most of our adoption donkeys. Make sure to stop and meet your adoption donkey during your visit. To find the start of our walkway, follow the path to the left of the visitors centre, just in front of the main car park, near the green port a cabin. They walkway starts with the Barret’s walk, where our adorable foals will be waiting to greet you.
Our walkways
While on the walkway there are vantage points from which to see the donkeys, historical sites and village/countryside of Liscarroll. The castle, the third largest of Ireland’s 13th Century castles, is best seen from the Rock Walkway. Valley Walk is a good vantage point to see the donkeys who live in the Valley Shed and our mules who live near them. There are eight mules at the Open Farm and they are called Bonnie, Bowser, Janet, Tally, Red, Maria, Casey and Addie.
The name Fort Walk is given to a short section of walkway where evidence of a Ring Fort still remains today. To help identify it, rocks have been placed in the area of the fort. Follow Fort Walk back to Sheehan’s walkway and this will bring you back down to Lime Kiln Walk. For a short loop at the bottom of Sheehan’s Walk, walk up Coleman’s Walk and back down Barrett’s Walk which will bring you back to the mares and foals.
At the left hand side of the fence, you will find three of our adoption donkeys, snowdrop, Mary and Roma alongside some younger donkeys that enjoy the attention they receive from our many visitors.
For a longer walk, try Farm Walk. This walk is adjacent to the main road and links to Rock Walk and Valley Walk. Please note that Farm Walk is not suitable for young children or buggies. To ensure you undertake the best walk for your abilities, please speak to our staff in the Visitor Information Centre.
Getting here
How to find us
Knockardbane Farm
Knockardbane
Liscarroll
Co Cork
Ireland
P51 PH29
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Our Ireland sanctuary is open to the public Friday - Monday from 9am - 4pm.
Contact us
Telephone: +353 (0) 22 48398
Meet the herd
Accessibility
We offer designated areas for disabled parking. You can find information about walkways at our Visitors Information Centre.
The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland is a No Smoking (Including E-Cigarettes) venue, this includes all walkways.
Our full accessibility statement outlines all the details for visitors planning a day at The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland.
PROTECTING VISITORS, STAFF AND DONKEYS
We ask that you do not feed the donkeys as it encourages them to expect food from everyone and fingers can look deceptively like carrots to a donkey. Some foods also present a choking hazard.
Kindly pass any treats to staff in the Visitor Information Centre who will ensure they are distributed to the donkeys at feeding time.
We encourage you to wash your hands in the washroom facilities or hand washing station in the main yard during your visit.
More information section
More information
Our sanctuary is open to the public four days a week Friday - Monday from 9am - 4pm (closed Tuesday - Thursday).
This includes bank holidays.
Contact
Telephone: +353 (0) 22 48398
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9.00am - 4.00pm
Office closed weekends and Bank Holidays
Visitor frequently asked questions
Each session will be a maximum of three hours long to facilitate parking.
No. You do not need to book in advance.
Visiting hours are Friday - Monday between 9.00am- 4.00pm.
Entry is free of charge. As a charity, we welcome and encourage donations. It is with your help that we can continue our work and we hope you can make a donation during your visit.
There is no limit on how many people you can bring with you.
Yes, dogs are welcome and must be kept on the leash at all times.
We have a secure picnic area where you can enjoy your picnic or snacks. You are welcome to stroll on our walkways to meet our donkeys and mules and enjoy the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Our gift shop selling donkey related products, teas/coffees and snacks will be open and visitor only washrooms will be open to the rear of the shop. Wheelchair access car parking is available, but please contact us in advance so we can reserve wheelchair access parking spot.
Hand sanitiser dispensers are located throughout the sanctuary. We encourage you to use sanitiser or to wash your hands in the washroom facilities or hand washing station in the main yard during your visit.
We have introduced enhanced cleaning procedures throughout the day, which seek to disinfect high frequency touch points.
Yes, you can! All of our adoption donkeys live on the Open Farm and you will be able to see your adoption donkey and many more donkeys and mules. Please do not feed the donkeys. Their diets are carefully managed by our team.
Yes, it will. The shop is open Friday - Monday between the hours of 9.00 am - 4.00 pm.
Thank you. As a charity, we rely on your help to continue our vital work. You can help us by making a donation when you visit at one of the donation points or in the gift shop. Alternatively, you can make an online donation.
If you would like to make a regular donation, please talk to a member of our staff in our gift shop when visiting.
If you cannot make a donation at this time, perhaps you could follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to learn more about our work or sign up to receive newsletters on our website.