'A major investment': New fire station officially opens in North Kildare

In a positive move for North Kildare, a brand-new fire station has officially opened up in Maynooth.

Kildare County Council (KCC) has said that it welcomed the official opening of the new Maynooth Fire Station on Thursday, April 16 last by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD (Fianna Fáil) and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD (Fianna Fáil).

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Previously, KCC acquired the site, which originally formed part of the wider Mullen Park housing development.

The project was delivered in a 12-month build programme at a cost of €4.4 million. It was substantially completed in August 2025 and has been operational since October 2025. 

LIST OF FEATURES

According to KCC, the new station has a staff of 12 and operates three main vehicles: a fire appliance, a water tanker and a hydraulic platform. 

In addition, a new fire appliance is currently being built and will be assigned to Maynooth once it is delivered.

Furthermore, KCC explained that crews at the station now have a dedicated training space and a training tower, enabling more training locally than was possible at the previous station, where Maynooth University was used for ladder training.

As for energy-saving features, KCC said that the facility includes: an air-to-water heating system, solar panels and high levels of insulation, as well as an underground rainwater collection tank for pump operator training.

Moreover, staff welfare facilities include individual personal changing spaces and single-occupancy shower areas. 

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'A MODERN AND SUSTAINABLE BASE'
 
Speaking at the official opening, Minister Browne said that the new station is 'a major investment in the safety and resilience of Kildare North'.

"Our firefighters respond to a myriad of emergency incidents and by providing Maynooth fire brigade with this state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facility, we are ensuring they have a modern and sustainable base from which to perform their essential work," he added. "This is an exemplar project, showcasing inclusive design, featuring modern accessible and gender-neutral facilities that will help Maynooth fire brigade to reflect the community they serve now and into the future."

Minister Lawless also weighed in with his thoughts on the new station: "This modern, purpose-built facility ensures our emergency services have the space, equipment, and training capacity they need to serve a growing community."

The TD, who is also a former Mayor of Naas, further said that the development also reflects the government's commitment 'to supporting frontline responders with high-quality, sustainable workplaces that enable them to perform at their very best'.

Lastly, the Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Fianna Fáil councillor Carmel Kelly, described the official opening of Maynooth Fire Station as 'a proud moment for [both] KCC and the wider Maynooth community'.

The station was delivered by an architect-led design team appointed following tenders received in January 2022: Vincent Hannon and Associates (Architect); Tobin Consulting Engineers (Civil and Structural); Delap and Waller Consulting Engineers (Mechanical and Electrical); and Tom McNamara Quantity Surveyors. The main contractor was ML Quinn Construction. 

The former Maynooth Fire Station site has been transferred to KCC's Community Directorate. 

Pictured from left to right: Firefighter Jason Lynch; Joe Neville, TD (Fine Gael); Cathaoirleach / Mayor of the County of Kildare, Cllr Carmel Kelly (Fianna Fáil); Niall O’Riordan, Acting Chief Fire Officer of KCC; Minister for Further Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD (Fianna Fáil); Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD (Fianna Fáil); Annette Aspell, Deputy Chief Executive of KCC; Naoise Ó Cearúil, TD (Fianna Fáil); Station Officer Robbie Morris, Station Officer; and Firefighter Vivian Pieterse. Photograph supplied by KCC. Photograph credit: Celtic Photography

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