Design team almost there for Ardee Castle
A DESIGN team to begin the process of opening up Ardee Castle to the community is expected to be in place by mid June.
Council officials are in the process of securing a team under its tender process, to include architects, engineers, designers and a quantity surveyor.
They will build on the preliminary design, granted permission under Part 8 planning, and develop a detailed plan.
Some of the key features is access for all, which is planned through a house adjacent to the main castle building.
The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are involved with the council on the project and although the delay in works starting has left many members of the community annoyed and frustrated, Cllr Dolores Minogue feels the process is gathering pace.
‘ This is an important step in not just opening the castle, but boosting tourism generally in the region,’ she stated.
‘Not only we the council but the general public have very ambitious plans to make great use of the space, to house programmes of artistic work and historical displays. My understanding is that the council will be very interested to talk to local groups with a view to hearing their ideas and suggestions for any exhibitions they might have. We will be very proactive to ensure that we use the space very creatively to provide both an outlet for local groups and variety and interest for visitors to the area.’
The castle has been closed to the public for some years and is presently surrounded by barriers after pieces of stonework fell from the top of the structure.
Local interest groups have threatened to organise town marches to highlight the ongoing close of the facility.
It is the largest fortified medieval tower house in Ireland. The original structure on the site was accredited to an Anglo-Norman lord called Roger de Peppard in 1207.
James Butler, the 4th Earl of Ormond, and known as the ‘White Earl’ died in the castle on August 23, 1452. He was with King Henry V during the French wars and was made Lord Lieutenant as a result.