Changed access route for Castletown House and Parklands

The Office of Public Works (OPW) wishes to inform all visitors and members of the local community in Celbridge, Co. Kildare that from next Saturday morning, 16 September 2023 car access to Castletown House and Parklands will be via the Celbridge Avenue entrance only. The public should be advised that access from the M4 motorway entrance will close permanently at 10pm on Friday, 15 September 2023.

Castletown House and the 225 acres of parklands owned by the State remain open to visitors as normal. Visitors can continue to enjoy the tours of the House, the Liffey Walk and the wider grounds. Pedestrian and cycle access via the Batty Langley Gate continues as normal.

Over the next week, the OPW will be installing visitor car park facilities at the Celbridge Gate on State-owned land to facilitate continued vehicular access to Castletown House & Parklands. These works will also see the OPW enhance facilities for cyclists and disabled drivers which will include the provision of 40 spaces for bicycle parking and 6 spaces for visitors with a disability permit. We will seek to complete the new access and parking arrangements as soon as possible and we will keep the local community updated on progress.

Earlier this year, 235 acres of lands around Castletown House were sold on the open market. The State was unsuccessful in its efforts to acquire these lands which are now in private ownership. The OPW subsequently entered negotiations with the new owners regarding the terms of a licence which, since 2007, has ensured access to Castletown House and Parklands from the M4 motorway. Unfortunately, it was not possible to agree reasonable and feasible terms for access.

The OPW continues to work closely with Kildare County Council and An Garda Síochána to ensure that visitors have access to the site. Over the coming days this will see the OPW carry out works to provide visitor parking facilities on site.

Rosemary Collier, Head of Heritage Services and Capital Works Delivery at the OPW, said:

“The OPW will return to using the traditional entrance to Castletown House through Celbridge Village and the Lime Avenue walk. The Lime Avenue will continue to be prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists. Improved facilities for cyclists and drivers with a disability permit will also be provided. We will ensure that people can continue to have access to Castletown, one of the most visited heritage sites in Ireland and of vital importance to the local community. We will seek to complete the works as soon as possible and we will keep the local community updated on progress. The team at Castletown House looks forward to continuing to welcome visitors from both the local area and further afield.”

Notes

Access to Castletown House and Parklands

All 225 acres in State ownership at Castletown House remain fully open and operational to visitors as normal, accessible from the Celbridge Village side of the estate only.

Pedestrian and cycle access is available via the Celbridge Gate and also via the gate at the Batty Langley Lodge.

The Celbridge Avenue (Lime Avenue) will remain a pedestrian priority zone with access only allowed for visitors with a disability permit, site vehicles and deliveries.

The OPW are undertaking works to construct car parking facilities for visitors to the site at the Celbridge Gate.

We will be enhancing facilities for cyclists and disabled drivers at our site. There are currently approximately 10 bicycle parking spaces near the West Wing of Castletown House. These will be increased to 40 spaces and will be kept under close review. There are currently 3 disability car parking spaces. This will now be increased to 6 spaces.

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 they become available.

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.

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

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