Minister Moran announces appointment of the main contractor to the project to restore Kilmacurragh House at the National Botanic Gardens, Wicklow

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, TD, has announced the appointment of the main contractor who will undertake the planned restoration project to conserve and preserve the historic Kilmacurragh House in County Wicklow.

The OPW has appointed Kelbuild Ltd, a company with specialist expertise in heritage projects, as the main contractor for the works. Kelbuild will undertake the works with an extensive team of skilled heritage craft workers.

The House is located at the heart of the National Botanic Gardens in Wicklow. As one of the last Queen Anne-style houses in Ireland, Kilmacurragh House has considerable architectural importance and it is also one of the earliest unfortified houses in County Wicklow.

Much of the original roof structure was destroyed by fires in the 1980s. The House was acquired by the OPW in 1996, along with the gardens which feature a rare collection of plants from around the world

Reinstating this significant house, at the heart of the designed gardens, is part of OPW’s commitment to conserving the built heritage of Ireland for the enjoyment of generations to come.

The project will address structural issues and protect the building from the elements by restoring the exterior of the house. This will include reinstatement of roofs, other roof repairs, reinstatement of internal floor structures and restoration of external walls, including windows and doors.

Conservation specialists in the OPW have undertaken detailed analysis of the existing building to retain, to the greatest extent possible, the historic building fabric of this important protected structure.

Accompanied by OPW Chairman, John Conlon and Minister of Finance, Simon Harris TD, Minister “Boxer” Moran said: ‘I am delighted that much needed works to restore Kilmacurragh House have now commenced. The works, when completed, will significantly enhance the visitor experience at Kilmacurragh with the unique and historic house at the centre of these magnificent gardens.’

A second phase of restoration will begin in the future, once the current structure has been stabilised, protected from the elements and begins to dry out naturally.

The Gardens at Kilmacurragh, along with the National Botanic Garden, Glasnevin, comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. Kilmacurragh Gardens had 180,000 visitors last year. This is just the latest development in the OPW’s plans to invest in and develop the National Botanic Gardens at Kilmacurragh.

In 2019, the OPW acquired an additional 55 acres of lands from Coillte, which included the walled garden and the historic eighteenth-century deer park. This has re-united the house and gardens with important elements of the historic demesne. The purchase of the deer park was particularly noteworthy as its surrounding walls are virtually intact and are a significant part of the original landscape that surrounded the house.

OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request to discuss the events. For further information please contact pressoffice@opw.ie.

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NOTES:

Brief History of Kilmacurragh House, Co. Wicklow

Kilmacurragh House is a recorded monument and a protected structure of national importance. The house built in 1697 is a rare example of the Queen Anne style in Ireland. Designed by Sir William Robinson and commissioned by Thomas Acton, the house was known as ‘Westaston House’ from 1750 to 1850.

The house and gardens remained in the Acton family from the end of the 17th century until 1944, when it was sold by Charles Acton (1914–1999). The structure is of considerable historic and architectural interest.

National Botanic Garden, Kilmacurragh

Kilmacurragh is renowned for the remarkable gardens and plant collection established by the Acton family. The present collection is based on material collected by some of the great plant hunters of the nineteenth century from South America and Asia.

Over the past 20 years, the tree and plant collection has been revitalised, making the garden a mecca for green-fingered enthusiasts.

The differing soil type (acidic) and higher rainfall makes this the perfect complimentary site to the collections at the National Botanic Garden, Glasnevin. In 2010, Kilmacurragh Gardens officially became part of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland.

Kilmacurragh House: Stabilisation and Restoration of the Building Exterior Works

These works are being carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by OPW Heritage Services conservation architects with civil & structural conservation engineers; Garland Consulting Engineers, mechanical & electrical engineers; Ronan Meally Consulting Engineers, archaeologists; Archaeological Projects and ecologist; Faith Wilson.

Planning approval for the works was granted by Wicklow County Council in early 2024. The project will address structural issues, restore the external appearance of the house, including existing windows, doors and external walls, reinstate the roof, close the building envelope to the elements and stabilise the internal floor structures. As an important historic building and protected structure, the OPW will retain, to the greatest extent possible, existing fabric.

The works include:

• New timber frame roof structure with natural slate to the original house, south wing and kitchen wing,
• Repairs to the existing ‘Bull Nose Wing’ roof.
• Structural repairs to external and internal walls.
• Reinstatement of floor structures at first floor and second/attic level.
• Repairs to existing solid floor finishes at ground floor and basement level
• Façade repairs including masonry works and reinstatement of external roughcast lime render to all facades
• Repair of existing historic external joinery and new matching external joinery
• Installation of three new staircases within the house to improve access
• Electrical and mechanical works
• Landscaping works.

Following a tender process, Kelbuild Ltd were appointed to carry out works to stabilise and restore the building exterior of Kilmacurragh House. The contract sum is €6.5m ex VAT. The contractor is commencing on site in December 2025. It is anticipated that the construction period will be 36 months.