Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent)

I thank the Deputy. Rathfarnham Castle was built in 1583 and throughout its long and rich history has been owned by Archbishop Adam Loftus, the founder of Trinity College, Speaker Conolly, and the Jesuit Order. The castle is one of Ireland's oldest Elizabethan houses. For most of the 20th century, the castle was owned and occupied by the Jesuits. The castle was declared a national monument and purchased by the State in 1987. The OPW is responsible for the care and management of Rathfarnham Castle while the lands are managed by South Dublin County Council. Since 1987, the OPW has undertaken an extensive programme of conservation and restoration to secure the historic fabric of the building and has also undertaken works to improve access to the building with the installation of a lift and ramps.

As the Deputy has noted, the exterior of the castle is showing signs of wear and tear. The exterior of Rathfarnham Castle is finished with a substance called lime harling, which was last renewed in 2010. This would normally be expected to last many decades, so detailed assessments have taken place to understand the cause of the wear and tear. To address the issue in the short-term, a sample of the north facade was cleaned in June 2024 to assess whether cleaning the facade was feasible and would be of benefit to the building. Cleaning and repair works are being progressed after a completed sample proved effective. This is a preventative measure to maximise the lifespan of the existing wet dash and lime finish.

This will improve the current appearance of the castle.

In the longer term, however, a full refinish of the exterior is required, along with repair works to prevent this wear and tear. This is a large works project that will necessitate full scaffolding being erected around the building. However, there is a short seasonal window, along with weather conditions, in which the lime harling finish can be applied and these works are not expected to take place until 2027. Funds have been allocated to undertake this project, with a senior architect assigned to oversee the design and completion.

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