Save Castletown Gate Protectors

22/12/2025

After 2 plus years carpark at Castletown House is now open .
Fantastic happy Christmas to all

18/12/2025

The Save Castletown Gate Protectors are delighted to announce that vehicular access to Castletown Estate via the M4 entrance will be reinstated from Monday December 22nd.

Minister Kevin Boxer Moran met with a delegation from our group earlier this week and expressed his desire to make this happen. Once again, thanks to the Minister for delivering on his promise.

The Minister has today also confirmed that staff and contractors will use the M4/Barnhall Road entrance from Monday. Lime Avenue will revert to being as it was prior to September 2023.

We wish the community a very Happy Christmas, and a safe 2026 and beyond on our beautiful estate.

We are thankful of this development and hope everyone enjoys the newly and significantly larger reunited demense.

15/12/2025

Carpark to open before Christmas 🤞

Great work being done on the road from the n4 and carpark cleaning fixing potholes fantastic.

01/12/2025

https://www.kfmradio.com/news/localnews/castletown-cost-to-taxpayer-under-scrutiny-as-opw-pressed-on-missed-buyout-windows/

The OPW also confirmed the business case behind the multimillion-euro deal will be published - but only “in due course”.

29/11/2025

Great photos of the walks last weekend.
Thanks to brendan for the great photography

28/11/2025

We wish to thank Deputy Aidan Farrelly for raising some important points at the Public Accounts Committee yesterday, 27/11/2025.Acquiring the lands at Castletown was a significant achievement for North Kildare, and the benefits will be reaped for generations

It is also important that we move forward in a pro-active way. Part of the process is reestablishing trust, which involves acknowledging past mistakes and learning from them.

There are key points which the OPW chair has glossed over, and need to be highlighted

The OPW failed to acquire the lands in an off-market direct offer of sale in 2021. The main contributor to this failure was the OPW handing in paperwork 2 days before a decision had to be made, giving DPER no time to perform due diligence or sign off on the project. This opportunity was not sanctioned by DPER as a result. Had the OPW managed the business case with appropriate care, the lands could have been secured, unopposed for a sum in the region of €5m, and what transpired in the ensuing 4 years, financially and otherwise, would have been avoided.

Secondly, we take issue with the statement that the OPW were forced to close the site due to tensions. The OPW forced their own staff into an hours long stand-off with the community in September 2023. What transpired was a 15 month long campaign based on lack of staff access, while a right of way existed for staff access via another entrance all along. It is this alternate access that is currently in use for staff today.

Thirdly, it was mentioned that the recent business case which culminated in the successful purchase of the lands was realised with 4-6 months of intensive effort. The OPW lost the public auction in April 2023. So why wasn’t that same effort applied at that time? The agreement could have been reached by September 2023, a time at which the M4 access was still available. Everything that transpired over the following 2 years and the associated significant costs and community tensions were completely unnecessary.

We once again congratulate Minister Kevin Boxer Moran and all involved for steering this issue to its fantastic conclusion. But the mistakes along the journey cannot be overlooked. The often asserted long term ambition of the OPW to reunite the lands is not reflected in these failings. Accountability is required.

Aidan Farrelly TD Naoise Ó Cearúil T.D. - Kildare North Rupert Heather Nuala Killeen Réada Cronin TD Claire O'Rourke Social Democrats Joe Neville TD James Lawless TD

26/11/2025

Castletown is saved, time for the next phase…

Following a long and difficult 27 month campaign at Lime Avenue gates, culminating in the OPW and Minister buying the lands in private ownership at Castletown on 19/11/2025, it’s time to move on to the next phase.

Yesterday, Tuesday 25/11/2025 marked the final day of our presence at the Gazebo at Lime Avenue. It’s now down to the OPW to see this over the line, reestablish Lime Avenue as a pedestrian space, reopen the M4 gate for vehicular access and reinstate public parking at Castletown. All of this, Minister Moran has committed to doing in the coming weeks. We will be asking for a definitive delivery date for these objectives.

The minister has also committed to meaningful public and community engagement. We hope this is the first step to a more open and transparent relationship with the OPW on helping to shape the future of Castletown. If done well, this process will truly benefit the future of Castletown as we realise the full potential of the jewel in our local crown. This is a process in which we should all be able to engage. Community activism works. Be part of the story. We certainly will be.

Finally, we would like to extend heartfelt thanks for the huge outpouring of support we have received from the public over the last few days, both in person and on social media. It has been truly overwhelming, and very much appreciated.

Thank you all. We’ll see you down the avenue.



Claire O'Rourke Social Democrats Aidan Farrelly TD Réada Cronin TD Naoise Ó Cearúil T.D. - Kildare North Rupert Heather Nuala Killeen Joe Neville TD James Lawless TD Réada Cronin TD Page

21/11/2025

Time to enjoy the wonderful parklands .
Thanks for the support over the last 2 years .

20/11/2025

Words cannot express how delighted the Gate Protectors are at the news received from OPW yesterday. It’s been quite a slog, but clearly worth it and we would not have got there without the incredible support and diligence of some of our public representatives who properly stuck up for and defended the position this community group took to safeguard safety, accessibility, heritage, and biodiversity in Castletown. So a big thank you to: Réada Cronin TD Aidan Farrelly, Naoise O’cearuil,
Claire O’Rourke, Nuala Kileen, Rupert Heather. And those who have recently retired Bernard Durkin And Catherine Murphy. Thank you for your conviction, dedication, support and consistency. This result could not have been achieved without you and we are sure we speak for the whole community with sincere gratitude for your genuine commitment to the community and Castletown House and Demesne which is now set to be a place we can again all enjoy safely for generations to come.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Minister Kevin Boxer Moran for delivering on his commitment after over two years of OPW intransigence.



Rupert Heather Réada Cronin TD Page Naoise Ó Cearúil T.D. - Kildare North Nuala Killeen Claire O'Rourke Social Democrats Aidan Farrelly TD

19/11/2025

The Save Castletown Gate Protectors are delighted to announce all the lands at Castletown House & Demesne are back in State ownership! Many thanks to Minister Kevin Boxer Moran for delivering this amazing result for the communities of North Kildare and beyond. We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.

More detail to follow…