Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)

Dunguaire Castle is an iconic cultural and heritage landmark in Kinvara on the Wild Atlantic Way. However, it remains closed off to the public and stuck in limbo. The castle was a real asset and a significant benefit to the community. Its continued closure is a real missed opportunity for the village of Kinvara and the region as a whole. The castle is on the edge of the village, within walking distance from it. Its closure is most definitely impacting on footfall in Kinvara. Throughout the summer months, and even today, we have busloads of tourists driving past the site and they can stop and take photos but that is it. They cannot enter. In the past there were tours, banquets, performances and so on. It really enhanced the tourism offering of the local area and provided a lot of employment.

The fact is that Galway County Council is willing to take ownership of this castle from the Shannon Group, and wants to do so, but requires significant funding to bring the castle up to a safe standard. The council has gone to the Government with a request for the necessary funding but so far it has been turned down. There have been rubbish excuses from Government about there being no specific funding stream available from any of the Departments. The reality is that when Clare and Limerick county councils were acquiring sites from the Shannon Group, they received significant support from Government. In the case of Clare County Council, it received €6 million. Why then are the people of Kinvara and County Galway being treated as second-class citizens in this regard? Why is one of our most cherished heritage assets being left to crumble? Providing the funding to Galway County Council is not an expense; it would be an investment in Kinvara - in local jobs and businesses, tourism and preservation of a heritage site. Can the Minister of State give a commitment today that the necessary funding to reopen Dunguaire Castle will be provided to Galway County Council?

See this speech in context