Following local engagement OPW will not proceed to install a temporary car park at Castletown House and Estate

13 September 2023 @ 8pm

The OPW met with concerned local residents at Castletown House this evening in relation to the forthcoming closure of the M4 access road and car park and proposed new access and car parking arrangements at Castletown House and Estate.

It was agreed with the concerned locals that the OPW will not proceed with plans to install a temporary car park inside the Celbridge Gate. The OPW will instead operate vehicular access through the historic entrance to Castletown House at Celbridge Gate and facilitate visitor parking at the front of the house in the short term.

Rosemary Collier, Assistant Secretary General and Head of Heritage at the Office of Public Works said:

“We have had very robust and positive engagement with the community and we have listened carefully to their views on the historic landscape at Castletown. We will not proceed with our temporary car park plans. Visitors should be advised that there will be reduced car parking facilities but we will do our best to look after our local and national visitors within the area at Castletown estate, in State ownership. Castletown House and Estate will be fully operational and open to the public and the team looks forward to welcoming visitors as normal.”

The Celbridge gate entrance is the historic approach route to the House and has been in use since the eighteenth century. This is the only vehicular entrance which the State owns and as such has always been the primary entrance for the public to Castletown House and Estate.

From this Saturday, 16 September, vehicle access will be via the Celbridge Gate and Lime Avenue. Pedestrians will be signposted to an alternative route via the Liffey Walk to Castletown House.

We would encourage those who can travel by public transportation or active travel to do so. Additional disability parking and bicycle parking will be located next to the House.

The OPW is committed to working with the community to resolve access issues at Castletown from the M4 side and confirms that it is in contact with the private landowner.

Notes

About the OPW at Castletown House and Parklands

The OPW has been managing Castletown House since the property and some immediately adjacent lands were donated to the State in 1994. Since then the OPW has significantly invested into the conservation, restoration and cultural and recreational amenities at this important heritage site. Over time, the OPW has also acquired additional lands that formed part of the original estate, where they became available, to reunite the historic demesne. The OPW wishes to continue acquiring suitable lands where possible.

Castletown is one of OPW’s most visited heritage sites in Ireland. The popularity of Castletown can be attributed to the beautifully restored parklands, gardens, wildflower meadows, river and forest walks in a unique historical and architectural setting, as well as the varied programme of events on site, and close proximity and connectivity to the capital and neighbouring towns.

The Celbridge Gate is the historic entrance to the house and has been in use since the eighteenth century. This entrance was used for all vehicular visitor access for 7 years after the State acquired Castletown and before the State entered into a license agreement with the previous landowner on the M4 side. The Celbridge Gate is used by OPW staff and the local authority as well as for deliveries and work vehicles.

On the matter of a compulsory purchase order, both the OPW and the local authority are seeking legal advice on this matter. It is important to note that the process can take a considerable amount of time. A CPO process is legally complex and it can be particularly challenging to satisfy the conditions that the compulsory purchase of the property is necessary for the common good.

For more information or to arrange an interview opportunity with an OPW spokesperson, please contact pressoffice@opw.ie

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