OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan meets with local Oireachtas Members to work together to resolve Castletown access

This afternoon, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Patrick O’Donovan met with local Oireachtas Members from North Kildare – Réada Cronin, Bernard Durkan, James Lawless and Catherine Murphy and Senator Vincent Martin – in relation to the ongoing access issues at Castletown House and Estate in Celbridge.

Minister O’Donovan said:

“Following my meeting with local Oireachtas Members, one thing is clear: we are united on the importance of the lands at the historic demesne of Castletown House in terms of heritage value and public access. We had a candid and constructive conversation to address the issues. I have asked my officials to re-examine all the options open to the OPW to address this ongoing access issue. We at the OPW are committed to resolving this matter. We share local frustration, but it is essential now that the community works with us so that our staff can safely access their place of work, visitors with mobility issues can be accommodated and that Castletown is protected and maintained.”

The OPW confirms that it will re-examine all options available to address the access issues at Castletown House, including those ideas suggested at the meeting today by the local Oireachtas Members.

The OPW wishes to work collaboratively with the community to address this issue and to ensure that visitors can continue to enjoy visiting the house and historic landscape at Castletown in a safe manner.