Council spend €1.5m to secure Liffeyside lands in Kildare

AFTER being discussed for more than a quarter of a century, it looks like a linear park will be created along the banks of the Liffey in Celbridge following the news that the last parcel of lands on the Donaghcrumper House estate has finally been bought by Kildare County Council.

Following agreement in last month’s full council meeting, the final 7.5Ha (18.75ac) was purchased from NAMA for €1.5m.

The council had previously owned 12.33 ha of the land here, but it was landlocked until this purchase, which means that all 26.3 ha (68ac) on the south side of the river opposite Castletown is now in public hands.

“The house has been sold to the OPW, and it will be brought back to its original state and re-opened for the public,” said cllr Bernard Caldwell. “Kildare County Council will probably put in a playground and some pitches, it’ll be of huge benefit to Celbridge and north Kildare.

“It won’t open tomorrow, but its in the right hands, and going the right way.”

He added: “There will be a linear park that they’ve been talking about for 20 or 30 years, but they’re pretty serious now.

“At the moment that’s all I know, all else is speculation.”

Confirmation

A council spokesperson confirmed all this.

“Kildare County Council currently owns 12.33 hectares of land on the south side of the River Liffey adjoining the Donaghcumper landholding.

“The purchase of these additional lands will re-unite the landholding into the Council’s ownership.

“It is also part of a longer-term vision to establish the River Liffey Amenity Park and corridor and it is a step towards the County Development Plan objective to protect the special landscape character associated with the historic country estates and houses of Castletown, Donaghcumper and St. Wolstan’s.

“In due course, and following the expected close of sale, Kildare County Council will prepare a masterplan for the Donaghcumper lands in consultation with the public and local stakeholders.”

The former cathaoirleach of Kildare County Council, now TD for Kildare North, Joe Neville commented: “We’re delighted to welcome the purchase of Donaghcumper House and adjoining lands by Kildare County Council.

“Throughout my time as a councillor, a significant frustration of mine and of the communities in the Celbridge area has been a lack of publicly owned land used for community spaces for young people and families”.