Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In the same vein, the OPW is giving out mixed messages. The Government is giving out many mixed messages since the people have been restricted during the Covid crisis. The Taoiseach was in the beautiful town of Cahir with me some years ago when I was a fellow traveller of his. He knows the town well. It is a beautiful town with a wonderful organisation, Cahir Development Association, leading its tidy towns efforts. It has many businesses, one of which, John Quirke Jewellers, celebrates 45 years in business today. Cahir House Hotel celebrated 13 years in business yesterday and there are many other small community businesses.

The castle site is closed, as is the wonderfully artistic and scenic Swiss Cottage. Those facilities have wonderful staff and I want them to be safe. Surely the sites can be opened for outdoor tours and not have the gates locked. Tourists are flocking to Cahir, which is a wonderful town. The town has done what other people have suggested as regards cleaning and eliminating litter and enhancement schemes. There is a wonderful community. Surely these sites should all be open on a restricted outdoor basis to allow people to get a view of those beautiful buildings.

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