Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 July 2020
102. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a site (details supplied); the nature of the works being carried out at the castle; when the works will conclude; and when the castle will reopen to the public. [17487/20]
View answerBarryscourt Castle is located near the village of Carrigtwohill in Cork and is owned by the State, with the exception of a Dower House property there which is still retained by the Barryscourt Trust, the original owners of the property.
The Castle was discovered in recent years to have significant problems with damp penetration which caused the internal electricity system to become inherently unsafe. The visitor experience at the Castle had to be closed on an emergency basis while rehabilitation works were planned and a works project put in place. The project which has been ongoing since involves progressively drying the entire Castle structure and repointing all of the external walls to prevent future water ingress. This work has proved to be technically very challenging and has taken longer than was originally expected due to the discovery of additional works which needed to be performed last year to chimneys and roofs. It is planned, once the external work is complete, that the building will be rewired and a new heating system installed, clearing the way for a reopening to the public. Currently, it is expected that there will be two further seasons' work externally before the project is susbstantively completed, likely at the end of next year.
