Scaffolding at historic Kildare castle 'is there for as long as I can remember'

Scaffolding outside a historic castle has been there “for as long as I can remember” a Naas councillor has said.

Green Party politician Bob Quinn sought information about who is responsible for the scaffolding and “whether there are any ongoing associated costs or charges” associated with it.

He added: “I’m not willing to look at it for much longer.”

A Kildare County Council report pointed out that the castle is in the care of the Office of Public Works and KCC “does not incur any costs associated with scaffolding on the Jigginstown site.”

KCC official Eoghan Ryan said has contacted the OPW about the site.

At a council meeting in June 2019 councillors were told no timeline is available for the opening of the historic Jigginstown Castle, outside Naas, to the public.

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At that time the OPW was said to be “engaged in a long term project to stabilise and consolidate the physical fabric of the building and to preserve as much of the building fabric as is physically possible.”

Completed in 1637 at a cost of six thousand pounds, Jigginstown Castle was the brainchild of then Lord Deputy of Ireland Thomas Wentworth, who was executed in London in 1641.

It was built with the intention of becoming a royal palace prior to Wentworth being charged with treason.

Jigginstown Castle was never lived in and fell into decay. The castle is almost 100 metres long and has a series of cellars. The building has a first floor and two corridors.