Latest news with #SaveCastletownCommittee
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Irish Times
Challenge brought over alleged unauthorised erection of gates blocking access to Castletown House
A community group has claimed in the High Court that a set of gates allegedly blocking public access to a period house and its estate in Co Kildare is an unauthorised development. Save Castletown Committee CLG claim the gates and connected fencing, erected by the owners of a 235-acre parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House in Celbridge, are blocking public vehicular access to the house and grounds via a road known as Gay's Avenue. The committee is seeking an order requiring the owners to remove the gates and fencing, on the grounds that planning permission was not obtained for their erection. According to court documents, Save Castletown Committee was established in September 2023 after the Office of Public Works did not acquire the 235-acre parcel of land. READ MORE It was instead acquired by a group of related companies, the respondents in the action: Celio Properties Ltd, Kilross Properties Ltd, Liffey Bridge Homes Ltd and Springwood Properties Ltd. The privately owned parcel makes up part of the Castletown House demesne, while the State-owned part of the includes the grounds on which the house itself is built. On Monday, Save Castletown Committee's counsel John Rogers SC, appearing with Peter Leonard BL and instructed by FP Logue solicitors, said his side were looking for 'some priority' in seeking a hearing date. Appearing for respondent parties, Michael O'Donnell BL said Kildare County Council considers the erected gates to be an exempted development. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys listed the case for an expedited hearing date, set for late July. In a sworn statement, Fintan Monaghan, chairperson of Save Castletown Committee, says that the public has previously 'enjoyed habitual access' to Castletown House via Gay's Avenue. It connects an access point to the house to the northern entrance to the historic demesne, which is close to the M4 motorway. The erection of the gates and fencing has blocked all public vehicular access to the house and demesne grounds, Mr Monaghan claims. 'The lack of vehicular access has significantly limited the ability of the public to habitually access this recreational and tourist amenity,' he says. Mr Monaghan says that the ongoing blocking of access to Castletown House at Gay's Avenue is having a 'severe impact' on the local community. He claims the gates obstruct the primary route from the M4 motorway to the demesne, and could potentially delay emergency medical services from reaching the northside of the demesne, or accessing the demesne via the M4 in a timely manner. The gates could also impact tourism and recreation at Castletown House, Mr Monaghan says, and threaten the financial viability of the house. This could have a knock-on effect on local business, he says. Mr Monaghan says his group's purpose is to promote public access to the Castletown House estate, and the reunification of the historic demesne lands. '[Save Castletown House] believes that Castletown lands are of vital historical, cultural, and ecological significance for the community of Celbridge and Leixlip, and therefore considers that they should be in State ownership for the use and benefit of the people of the area and for the State as a whole,' he says.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Legal challenge over alleged unauthorised gates blocking access to Castletown House
A community group has claimed in the High Court that a set of gates allegedly blocking public access to a period house and its estate in Co Kildare is an unauthorised development. Save Castletown Committee CLG claim the gates and connected fencing, erected by the owners of a 235-acre parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House in Celbridge, are blocking public vehicular to the house and grounds via a road known as Gay's Avenue. Advertisement The committee is seeking an order requiring the owners to remove the gates and fencing, on the grounds that planning permission was not obtained for their erection. According to court documents, Save Castletown Committee was established in September 2023 after the Office of Public Works did not acquire the 235-acres parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House. The land was instead acquired by a group of related companies, the respondents in the action: Celio Properties Ltd, Kilross Properties Ltd, Liffey Bridge Homes Ltd and Springwood Properties Ltd. The 235-acre, privately-owned parcel makes up part of the historic demesne of Castletown House. The State-owned part of the historic demesne includes the grounds on which the house itself is built on. Advertisement On Monday, Save Castletown Committee's counsel John Rogers SC, appearing with Peter Leonard BL and instructed by FP Logue solicitors, said his side were looking for 'some priority' in seeking a hearing date. Appearing for respondent parties, Michael O'Donnell BL said Kildare County Council considers the erected gates to be an exempted development. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys listed the case for an expedited hearing date, set for late July. In a sworn statement, Fintan Monaghan, chairperson of Save Castletown Committee, says that the public has previously 'enjoyed habitual access' to Castletown House via Gay's Avenue. Gay's Avenue connects an access point to the house to the northern entrance to the historic demesne, which is close to the M4 motorway. Advertisement The erection of the gates and fencing has blocked all public vehicular access to the house and demesne grounds, Mr Monaghan claims. 'The lack of vehicular access has significantly limited the ability of the public to habitually access this recreational and tourist amenity,' he says. Mr Monaghan says that the ongoing blocking of access to Castletown House at Gay's Avenue is having a 'severe impact' on the local community. Ireland Environmental group brings court challenge against... Read More He claims the gates obstruct the primary route from the M4 motorway to the demesne, and could potentially delay emergency medical services from reaching the northside of the demesne, or access the demesne via the M4 in a timely manner. Advertisement The gates could also impact tourism and recreation at Castletown House, Mr Monaghan says, and threaten the financial viability of the house. This could have a knock on effect on local business, he says. Mr Monaghan says his group's purpose is to promote public access to the Castletown House estate, and the reunification of the historic demesne lands. '[Save Castletown House] believes that Castletown lands are of vital historical, cultural, and ecological significance for the community of Celbridge and Leixlip, and therefore considers that they should be in State ownership for the use and benefit of the people of the area and for the State as a whole,' he says.
The Journal
07-05-2025
- The Journal
Gardaí investigate €500k vandalism as OPW vehicles wrecked and CCTV wires cut near Castletown House
GARDAÍ ARE CURRENTLY investigating extensive criminal damage to vehicles and equipment at a site used by the Office of Public Works (OPW) near Castletown House in Celbridge, Co Kildare. Vehicles and facilities used by the OPW were targeted over the May Bank Holiday weekend at Donaghcumper House, which borders Castletown House. The total damage caused was estimated to cost over €500,000. The OPW currently use the site for staff access to Castletown House. Four OPW and contractor vehicles were overturned, allegedly using a teleporter which was later dumped in the River Liffey, while outbuildings and staff welfare units were set on fire and four CCTV towers were disabled after their wiring was cut. OPW OPW The property is used as a staging site for transporting OPW staff to nearby Castletown House, a historic estate at the centre of an 18-month controversy as residents have opposed the OPW's proposals to use a narrow pedestrian walkway for heavy vehicles . Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, condemned the damage. 'This criminal damage to State property owned and managed by the OPW is shocking and unacceptable,' Moran said in a statement. Advertisement OPW OPW 'A Garda investigation is under way. The cost of the damage will be in excess of €500,000. I would urge anyone with information to contact An Garda Síochána. At this time, the safety and well-being of OPW staff is of paramount importance,' he said. Save Castletown Gate Protectors, a local group who have maintained a presence at the entrance to Castletown House in protest against the OPW for 18 months, condemned the incident in a statement. The group said that they were 'deeply saddened' about the extensive criminal damage to OPW property, and condemned 'any such action in the strongest possible terms'. The Save Castletown Committee, a seperate community group comprised of local residents, said they were 'shocked' by the incident. 'Save Castletown Committee would like to take this opportunity to express our solidarity with staff and those affected by these attacks,' a statement from the community group told The Journal . The OPW confirmed the site had already been fitted with significant security infrastructure, which has since been reinforced following the attacks. OPW OPW Staff had only recently resumed operations at Castletown House on April 10, after a prolonged absence due to tensions surrounding access. Between April 22 and 30, the OPW recorded multiple incidents of intimidation and vandalism at Donaghcumper, culminating in last weekend's more destructive attack. While no arrests have yet been made, gardaí have appealed for witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward as inquiries continue. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
