Charles Fort, Doneraile Court House, Garnish Island, Fota Arboretum – Reopen today after #COVID lockdown eases

26 April 2021
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is pleased to announce that a total of 97 OPW parks and heritage sites with outdoor spaces will be open to the public within the existing travel restrictions either from today, 26 April, or later this week. Like the over 30 OPW gardens and parklands that had remained open and accessible to locals throughout lockdown this year, the additional sites opening their grounds will continue to provide important amenities for citizens’ health and wellbeing.

File photo from June 2019 to show Doneraile Court. The stately home and grounds in North County Cork.
Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran TD, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, cut the ribbon in the presence of Cllr Christopher O’Sullivan, Mayor of the County of Cork and David Stanton TD, Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, right, along with dignitaries, OPW officials and local councillors, at the opening of Doneraile Court in Doneraile, Co Cork.
Picture: David Keane.

Sites that are reopening from today include the outdoor spaces of Kells Priory, Trim Castle and Nenagh Castle as well as Loughcrew Cairns. Later in the week, the gardens at Doneraile Court (29 April) and Garnish Island (30 April) will reopen.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, said:

“I am delighted that the steady progress we have made over the past months has allowed the easing of restrictions on outdoor visitor attractions from today. As a result, many additional outdoor OPW heritage sites and parks will be open for people to explore and enjoy locally. They provide much-needed recreational amenities.”

Minister O’Donovan added:

“I would like to ask members of the public to be mindful of existing Covid-19 guidelines during visits and to help us maintain the beauty of our parks and scenic locations by heeding the message of our “Love This Place, Leave No Trace” campaign. While the OPW’s staff are working hard to maintain the parks, gardens and heritage grounds in our care to a high standard so that they can be enjoyed by all visitors, we need your cooperation to keep these places litter-free.”

The OPW has been part of the joint initiative Love This Place, Leave No Trace since its launch by the Government of Ireland in partnership with Leave No Trace Ireland last summer. The campaign aims to promote responsible outdoor recreation practices that will ensure a healthier and sustainable future for all and calls on everyone to take care of the outdoors. There has been a notable increase in littering throughout the country over the past weekend, and areas affected include OPW heritage sites.

Where it has been safe to do so, toilet facilities have also reopened at OPW heritage sites, but their availability is dependent on local arrangements at each site and subject to ongoing review.

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