Remedial works to begin at Kildare castle ruins
Jigginstown House
STABILISATION and remedial works are set to begin later this year on the ruins of a 17th century castle on the outskirts of Naas.
That is according to the Office of Public Works (OPW), who gave the update on Jigginstown House (also known as Jigginstown Castle) after frustration was recently expressed locally over the lack information on the situation at the site on the Newbridge Road.
A spokesperson for the OPW told the that they have identified the building “as a high priority for 2026".
They detailed that the works will commence “subject to the granting of ministerial consent by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage”.
They added that they intend to concentrate on the west and east ends of the building to begin with and that they plan on engaging with Kildare County Council, other government agencies and “the wider community” with regards to a conservation management plan for the site.
The contacted the OPW after site was recently described as an “eyesore” by local councillor Anne Breen at the most recent meeting of Naas Municipal District, where she asked for an update “on the current status of the on-going conservation work” at the location.
The council response, issued by senior planner Amy Granville, said that the council does not have a timeline for the completion of works as they are not being undertaken by the council, stating that it is a matter for the OPW to deal with.
Cllr Breen was unhappy with the response, expressing her frustration that the conservation work is ongoing since she was on Naas town council in 2009, asking “have we any reports on what conservation work was done?”.
Cllr Breen asked if a letter could be written to the OPW to find out what work has been carried out and when it’s going to be finished.
Cathaoirleach Seamie Moore noted that the public have been looking at the scaffolding for a long time and said “there’s more stories about that scaffolding than there is about Jigginstown Castle itself”.
Cathaoirleach Moore also said that there is a new entry point into the site on the castle farm side opposite Chadwick’s hardware store, after someone broke a fence as part of an instance of breaking and entering.
Jigginstown House is a National Monument owned by and in the care of the OPW. According to the council, it is “the earliest large structure in the country built primarily from brick.”
It was constructed under the guidance of Thomas Wentworth who was Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1632 to 1641 during the reign of Charles I.
The castle was intended as a residence for the King when he visited Ireland. Wentworth was executed for high treason in 1941 with there being uncertainty over whether the building was ever finished.
