How a Barbara Streisand concert led to current Castletown House dispute
THE future of the 300-year-old Castletown House is feared for, because of a blockage and protest at its only remaining access gate, which has been ongoing for almost a year, and has seen SIPTU remove its remaining staff.
The root of this issue lies in the OPW's loss of vehicular access via the M4 from Junction 6, compounded by SIPTU’s subsequent withdrawal of staff, who are now unable to reach their workplace by car through the alternative route proposed, the one-kilometre Lime Avenue at Celbridge Gate because of the ongoing protests at the Gate.
“Castletown House, renowned as Ireland's first and finest Palladian mansion, is sadly falling into disrepair due to an ongoing impasse that has deprived the Office of Public Works (OPW) of essential access,” said local man John McDonnell, chair of Castletown Community Voice.
He explained how it all stems from a Barbra Streisand concert, and the subsequent sale of farmland on the northern side of the Estate.
Mr McDonnell explained how, to aid the set-up for the concert in 2007, a new private road was built in from the M4 side, which became “the de facto entrance” for staff, contingent on a rolling, amicable annual licence fee to the then landowners, Janus Securities.
This then led to the pedestrianization of the principal Lime Avenue entrance from Celbridge town that year.
However, in April last year, Janus Securities decided to sell the 230 acres of the northern estate, and while it had long been an ambition of the OPW to re-unite the estate, they were outbid and the land went to Straffan developer Lar McKenna for around €5m.
However, for reportedly insurance reasons, Mr McKenna decided to close off entirely any access to the estate from Junction 6, which precipitated the OPW to revert to the Lime Avenue entrance.
“It remains the official vehicular access point for the estate, however, a faction of the local community has opposed this access, blocking staff vehicular entry since last September,” said Mr McDonnell.
“They’re a group of local Celbridge and Leixlip people who stand at the gate all day every day blocking the entrance.
“This standoff has deeply divided the community in North Kildare, with no resolution in sight.
Because of this ongoing protest, SIPTU withdrew 20 members of staff from having to walk the one-kilometre, unlit avenue “in the dark for six months”.
“The grounds are now not kept, and the longer this goes on the less likely the specialized staff will return,” he said.
He explained how there was a plan put forward to allow a window of vehicular access at 8am and at 5pm to allow just the 20 cars of the employees in, which would be “walked up at a funeral pace by an OPW contractor”, but a spokesperson for the protestors said categorically: “No car will be allowed on the avenue”.
“There was over one million visitors a year up to 2021, now it’s fallen off a cliff. It’s a complete impasse, a debacle,” added Mr McDonnell.
“What is needed now is a commitment to compromise and common sense, enabling the estate to be restored to its former glory for the enjoyment of all.
“In response, we have formed a new group, Castletown Community Voice, with the sole aim of advocating for the immediate return of all OPW staff to Castletown House and Parklands.
“We are urgently calling on the minister responsible for the OPW, Deputy Kieran O’Donnell, to prioritize resolving this impasse with renewed focus and determination.
“Furthermore, we implore all local groups to put aside past grievances".
