Timeline
Below is a timeline of events so far…
Updated 21-01-24
January 11th
The 3rd Working Group meeting commenced with SCC, community group, Public Reps,OPW, KCC at Castletown House.
OPW highlighted the grounds' closure for ten days and ongoing damage to the collection due to inadequate maintenance. Biodiversity is suffering.
The OPW survey, covering various aspects of Castletown use. The results will inform discussions in the working group. It will be a national survey because Castletown is funded by the State.
Staff shortage issues were emphasized, affecting maintenance, painting, and window works. The possibility of the house opening in March is uncertain.
The chairman announced that the working group was established under the condition that staff can access Castletown House up the avenue, leading to debates, which were resolved when SCC clarified that we had objected to the terms of the protocol proposed by OPW (which had included 5 hours of staff cars using Lime Avenue).
OPW will explore time windows for staff access and email their findings before the next meeting.
The meeting concluded with an agreement that each group can have two members attend, but only one will be the spokesperson.
January 10th 2024
Planning application deemed invalid by KCC Planning dept. TBC
December 23rd 2023
The Working group terms of reference 2nd feedback is sent.
December 21st 2023
Biodiversity Study grant application reaches the next stage
December 21st 2023
UPDATE FROM CASTLETOWN HOUSE- Over Christmas, Castletown Estate will be open to pedestrians but there will be no vehicular access. The estate will open at 9:30 and close at 16:30. There will be temporary blue badge parking near the Celbridge Gate.
December 21st 2023
SCC Correspondence issued to KCC: "...Given the events of the last 9 months, Save Castletown is now formally calling on Kildare County Council to commence the process to compulsorily acquire the 235 acres."
Letter sent to KCC regarding the Leixlip M4 Rights of Way.
December 18th 2023
The Second working group meeting commenced between OPW KCC & community group reps SCC, CCC, CRA, FOC, Castletown Foundation, along with Local councilors and Public Reps.
Key takes from meeting:
OPW are planning on public consultation starting in January
KCC awaiting legal advice re: closure of M4 gate.
Castletown Foundation concerned about preservation status of the collection.
OPW clarified again that they don’t have the powers to CPO.
KCC have also addressed CPO - that it could be a significant expenditure with no guarantee of success. CPO is a legal gamble for KCC.
OPW are seeking to engage with landowner however landowner is not engaging on the basis by which OPW are attempting to engage.
December 14th 2023
Killross Notice of Planning intent is published in a newspaper - Daily Star
December 14th 2023
SCC You Tube Channel is launched
December 4th 2023
SCC issues formal letter to KCC regarding the Rights of Way of Batty Langley Gate to Celbridge.
November 2023
SCC have proposed that the M4 Gate can close From 8pm to 7am daily.
Provided KCC assures us that the opening time each day will be respected. Only KCC OPW and the landowner will have a key.
We have also asked KCC to request to OPW that normal opening hours be restored at gates elsewhere in the Demesne.
October 2023
Community Awaits response from OPW regarding Public meeting request.
October 31st 2023
OPW Announce publicly to Press outlet The Journal that they have responded twice to Killross Solicitors:
The OPW stated a letter was issued to the solicitors acting for the owners on foot of their letter of the 10 October.
“This was issued by our legal representatives within days of its receipt,” They also confirmed that two additional letters were issued directly to the owner on the 19th and 27th October.
October 28th 2023
The OPW erected signs on the gates of Castletown, announcing new Winter opening and closing times, 09:30 - 16:30.
Many visitors using the parkland over the bank holiday are unaware of the change in opening times to the public amenity parkland.
October 27st 2023
Save Castletown Committee launches the information Website & also a Fundraising effort.
October 20th 2023
SIPTU withdrew Union Members from Castletown due to the OPW staff concerns around staff parking and access.
October 2oth 2023
The Minister announces a working group without SCC agreed protocols.
October 19th 2023
A multi- Stakeholder meeting is held, Essential services protocol floated. And communication channels discussed to address the protocols.
October 18th 2023
The 4 Community Groups, and public representatives meet Minister Patrick O’Donovan and the OPW. To address the concerns of the community and the OPW.
October 16th 2023
After more talks between the community groups, reps and OPW, SCC declined to endorse OPW proposed protocols. SCC offers talks on essential services only, due to the public concerns regarding health & safety of pedestrians. And the environmental risks posed to Lime avenue.
October 10th 2023
The Killross Solicitor writes a letter to the OPW Solicitor looking to reopen talks about the sale of land.
October 3rd 2023
Oireachtas members meet Minister Patrick O’Donovan to discuss the options available to resolve the M4 access.
September 2023
The OPW are formally requested not to use Kilross land or Carpark. This prevents the OPW accessing the state owned house and Lands via the M4. Including essential services and staff.
September 29th 2023
The negotiations between the OPW and Killross fail to find a reasonable resolution again.
September 20th 2023
The Save Castletown Campaign commences and the Save Castletown committee forms.
September 19th 2023
It became clear from all local politicians that a Consensus was emerging to go for a CPO. A compulsory purchase order, which would ensure the state owned the lands and the historic estate of castletown was reunited formally and finally. But this would be a multi year process.
September 18th 2023
Public meeting held between Public Representatives, community groups and the public. This allowed the public to voice their concerns and dismay and their panic at the situation that was unfolding at castletown. Hundreds of people attended.
September 13th 2023
Due to the Public outcry and Protests, the OPW returned to talks with Kilross regarding car park access. There was enormous public support for a successful outcome to those negotiations. And the people of Celbridge Leixlip Maynooth and surrounds rallied to castletowns defense.
September 11th 2023
OPW Construction of a new car park in the meadow halted by a local woman who was walking by at the time.
September 8th 2023
Kildare County Councillors were Informed for the first time of the M4 Access ceasing with immediate effect.
A statement was issued by the OPW around that time detailing that they had entered negotiations with the new owners regarding a license for access to castletown house and parkland via the M4 motorway. And that it had been not possible to agree feasible and agreeable terms for access.
They also announced that over the following week they would be installing visitor car parking facilities at the Celbridge gate on state owned land to facilitate vehicular access.
This came as a shock to the community.
September 1st - 8th 2023
One or more KCC Officials were made aware that there was a risk to the M4 access point and therefore a risk to the car park.
July 17th 2023
The OPW were told by the new owners that the ‘M4 Access had to Close’.
July 2023
There appear to be no recorded Public Rights of Way across the privately owned lands A number of local residents report that they have been walking specific paths across these lands, for pleasure, for in excess of forty years with no obstructions.
July 2023
Petition was raised to stop the rezone of Castletown and can be found on change.org
June 2023
The privately owned lands were fenced off and signs saying lands were poisoned were put up
National Parks & Wildlife Services (NPWS) – confirm that no poison has been laid and signs were put up to deter public access and from people letting their dogs off leads on privately owned lands.
Letters were sent by a number of people from Celbridge to local councillors and TDs. Catherine Murphy, Réada Cronin & Bernard Durkan all raised parliamentary questions.
March 2023
It became clear that the OPWs bid had been unsuccessful and Kilross & Springwood bought the land privately.
Final sale figure is not known as it was sold by a sealed bid process. It was reported to have been sold for in excess of €5 million.
September 2022
OPW Request Sanction from DPER to Bid for the Lands again. But this time because it was the open market, there would be a risk of potential competitive bidders on the lands.
July - September 2022
The 234 acres of the demesne go up for public Sale. The OPW warned DPER of the possible Risk of Ransom. In that a new owner could leverage the situation. And leave OPW at a disadvantage.
Summer 2022
OPW receive a Valuation Report:
We are of the opinion that the Market Value as defined in Appendix 1) of the freehold interest of the subject property would be in the region of €4,900,000 to €5,000,000 or approximately €21,000 per acre.
March 2021
At some point in 2021 the DPER (dept of public expenditure & reform) are ‘Unhappy with the Price’ agreed by the OPW and the previous owners of the Land.
The Beginning of the current debacle
The Beginning of the current debacle
Scroll up to see the timeline of events
Historical Timeline
Historical Timeline
Scroll down to see the Historical timeline of castletown
2017-2023:
Kildare county Council Local Area Plan 2017-2023
Castletown Lands are zoned:
F Green space and Amenity combined with Specific Policy HLA1 preservation of special & Historical Landscape. G- green Belt.
G GREEN BELT
Policy OS1 - Open Spaces
It is the policy of the Council to provide for a hierarchy of high quality multi-functional public open spaces within Celbridge, and to preserve and proteet such spaces through the appropriate zoning of Ilands.
Objectives:
It is an objective of the Council:
OS01.5: To maintain and protect, from inappropriate development, the greenbelt between Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth.
Specific Zoning Objective (HLA)
Policy HLA1- Historic Landscapes Areas
It is the policy of the Council to preserve the special landscape character of historic landscapes within Celbridge as set out on Map 13.1 Land Use Zoning .
Land Use Zoning Objectives Map
Objectives:
It is an objective of the Council:
HLA01.1: To protect the special landscape character of historic landscape areas and ensure that new development enhances the special character and visual setting of the historic landscapes outlined on Map 13.1' and to prevent development that would have a negative impact on the character of the lands within the Historic Landscape Areas.
HLA01.2: To support the preparation of Woodland Conservation and Management Plans for lands within the Historic Landscape Areas.
October 2016
Kildare County Council opted to take a cautious approach to stating a case for a right of way in Castletown House estate and demesne in Celbridge, declining to assert the right of way in their new County Development Plan.
2007
24 hour Pedestrian Access to castletown house and demesne is restricted Via the newly erected gates and opening times.
May 2006
Enforcement Notice order UD4101 issued by Kildare Council in 2006 to Declan Ryan, asking “to restore the long established right of way” which links Parsonstown, Newbridge Leixlip area with Castletown House and its riverside with Celbridge.”
February 2006
Tony Ryan Purchases the historic Batty Langley designed Gate Lodge and 12 acres that formed a part of the historic Castletown Demesne. The Honourable Desmond Guinness offered the Government first refusal to acquire the historic land and lodge.
1990’s
The construction of the M4 motorway cut through the 1760 historic route from Leixlip Gate to Castletown house. The Historic importance of this route meant a pedestrian bridge was constructed over the motorway. The Castletown estate road bridge was later demolished (despite objections) as it was deemed too close to the interchange. The route into Castletown estate continued on the Celbridge side of the M4 motorway and became the vehicle entrance and car park for access to Castletown estate from the 2000’s.
1970s
The advertisement by Castle Town Homes for the housing estate in Castletown in the 1970s stated 'legal right of way through 100 acres' for residents. The entrance from the Main St into the estate and into the demesne consolidated this reality.
1967
Hon Desmond Guinness bought Castletown House and Demesne in 1967 for £93,000. It became the flagship of the Irish Georgian Society, and was eventually handed over to the newly established Castletown Foundation.
1965
Castletown House and it’s entire Demesne (580 acres) are sold at auction in 1965 for £166,000.
Lord Carew said at the time “I hope to goodness the new purchasers will look after the house which is a national monument.”
1760s - 1830s
ROW Parsonstown area of Leixlip through to Castletown via Batty Langley. The "Walkway", right of way, is described as a permanent feature by Ordnance Survey (OSI) Ireland and it is on the original OSI, 6th survey 1830 (approx. date). Scholarly research notes that Lady Louisa Connolly endeavored to close off the old "public right of way by the riverside" in the 1760's, but she did not succeed, and referencing the eminent local historian Lena Boylan concludes, that the "right of way is still in existence today" (O Kane 2004:64, 194).
C.1760
Leixlip Gateway- Situated at Kilmacredock Upper Leixlip - comprising mid-eighteenth century stone piers and gateway. This was the historical second avenue entrance point and ROW from Leixlip up the long avenue leading to Castletown estate. The construction of the N4 Dublin to Galway road completed in 1994 was to cut through the historical leixlip avenue to castletown.
1752-1760
The public Right of Way of the Demesne is recorded in old maps by Noble and Keenan 1752 and the Rocque map of 1760 show that Castletown "demesne did not reach down to the edge of the Liffey" when originally procured by the Connollys and that "this is the line of the old Dublin to Celbridge road,.... although most of the traffic would have moved to the new road, the old route remained a right of way”