Press Release by the Castletown Foundation                                          14 May 2025  

Castletown Foundation supports the OPW’s plans to open up Castletown House and demesne with immediate effect. The OPW and Directors of the Castletown Foundation continue to seek a long-term solution to the access issues at Castletown House.

The Foundation gifted Castletown to the OPW in 1994 and still owns much of the historic collection. We work in partnership with OPW to maintain and enhance this internationally important house, its historic collections and surrounding designed landscape.  These are of local, national and international significance and should be open to all the people of Ireland to access and enjoy.

Access by service vehicles via the Celbridge (or Lime) Avenue is required to provide essential maintenance, conservation and protection of the house and landscape. If the true aim of all members of the wider Castletown community is to safeguard Castletown’s security and heritage for generations to come, there can be no reason to deny access for both essential service vehicles and for Blue Badge holders. This will allow the house to open and for all members of the public to enjoy the parklands in a safe and secure manner while longer term solutions to the access issues are sought.     

Issued on behalf of the directors of the Castletown Foundation. For enquiries please contact Dr Patrick Walsh at walshp9@tcd.ie or see https://castletownfoundation.com/