Latest news with #Celbridge
Irish Times
18 hours ago
- Irish Times
Three arrested over criminal damage at Castletown House
Gardaí have arrested a man and two juveniles in Kildare in connection with criminal damage at Castletown House. The three males were arrested on Friday morning by gardaí attached to Kildare North. The arrests took place following a search operation at a number of residential properties in Kildare. The three arrests relate to a number of separate incidents of criminal damage at Castletown House between April 22nd to May 4th, 2025 . READ MORE Over the May bank holiday weekend, vandals entered a temporary Office of Public Works (OPW) depot at Donaghcumper House, overlooking the river Liffey in Celbridge, Co Kildare . They first cut the wires to the house's CCTV units, then overturned four vehicles and dumped a cherrypicker into the river. 'The estimated cost of the damage is believed to be in the region of €400,000," a Garda spokesperson said on Friday. Donaghcumper House was bought by Kildare County Council earlier this year with a view to creating a linear park along the Liffey, but it was bolted up and out of bounds to the public last week, with security at the gate. The OPW was using it as a temporary depot in advance of the proposed reopening later this month of Castletown House, which has been at the centre of a major dispute over right-of-way access. The three males, one adult male aged in his 30s and two juveniles, are currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Garda stations in Kildare.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Castletown House campaigners being sued by companies in row over gates and fencing ‘blocking' key access route
Companies being sued by a community group over new gates allegedly blocking public access to a period house and its estate are now suing the organisation. Last month Save Castletown Committee CLG brought a High Court action over gates and connected fencing erected by the owners of a 235-acre parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House in Celbridge, Co Kildare. Campaigners say the gates and fencing are blocking public vehicular access to the house and grounds via a road known as Gay's Avenue. Celio Properties Ltd, Kilross Properties Ltd, Liffey Bridge Homes Ltd and Springwood Properties Ltd acquired the parcel of land in April 2023. READ MORE The rest of the estate – including the lands where the 18th century house is situated – is owned by the Office of Public Works. Late last month the companies brought separate High Court proceedings against Save Castletown Committee and two of its directors, Fintan Monaghan and Treasa Keegan. The companies have taken the proceedings against Mr Monaghan and Ms Keegan personally and in their capacities as representatives of the committee, court documents have stated. In its proceedings, Save Castletown Committee is seeking an order requiring the companies to remove the gates and fencing. The committee, with an address at Woodview, Castletown, Celbridge, says the gates and fencing are an development, as planning permission was not obtained. But in the companies' proceedings, they argue the committee has 'wrongfully asserted' that their lands are subject to a public right of way and a public right of access. The companies, with registered addresses at Millennium Park, Naas, Co Kildare, and Turnings, Straffan, Co Kildare, are seeking orders restraining the defendants from making a claim of public right of way in respect of their lands within the Castletown House demesne. The defendants say that establishing this public right of way is necessary to their argument in the unauthorised development proceedings. Both sets of proceedings return to court next week. In a sworn statement filed in the unauthorised development proceedings, Mr Monaghan said the public had previously 'enjoyed habitual access' to Castletown House via Gay's Avenue. This access has been blocked by the newly erected gates, he said. He said that the ongoing blocking of access to Castletown House at Gay's Avenue was having a 'severe impact' on the local community. Mr Monaghan said his group's purpose was to promote public access to the Castletown House estate and the reunification of the historic demesne lands. '[Save Castletown House] believes that Castletown lands are of vital historical, cultural and ecological significance for the community of Celbridge and Leixlip, and therefore considers that they should be in state ownership for the use and benefit of the people of the area and for the State as a whole,' he said.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Castletown House activists sued by companies over alleged public right of way claim
A set of related companies, sued by a community group over the erection of gates allegedly blocking public access to a period house and its estate in Co Kildare, have brought separate High Court proceedings against the group and its directors. Last month, Save Castletown Committee CLG brought a High Court action claiming gates and connected fencing, erected by the owners of a 235-acre parcel of land within the historic demesne of Castletown House in Celbridge, are blocking public vehicular access to the house and grounds via a road known as Gay's Avenue. Advertisement Celio Properties Ltd, Kilross Properties Ltd, Liffey Bridge Homes Ltd and Springwood Properties Ltd acquired the parcel of land in April 2023. The rest of the estate - including the lands where the 18th-century house is situated - is owned by the Office of Public Works. Late last month, the companies brought separate proceedings against Save Castletown Committee, and two of its directors, Fintan Monaghan and Treasa Keegan. The companies have taken the proceedings against Mr Monaghan and Ms Keegan in their personal capacities, and in their capacities as representatives of the committee, according to court documents. In its proceedings, Save Castletown Committee, who is represented by FP Logue solicitors, is seeking an order requiring the companies to remove the gates and fencing. The committee, with an address at Woodview, Castletown, Celbridge, says planning permission was not obtained. Advertisement In their proceedings, the companies claim the committee has 'wrongfully asserted' that their lands are subject to a public right of way and a public right of access. The companies, with registered addresses at Millenium Park, Naas, Co Kildare and Turnings, Straffan, Co Kildare, are seeking orders restraining the defendants from making a claim of public right of way in respect of their lands within the Castletown House demesne. They say that establishing this public right of way is necessary to their argument in the unauthorised development proceedings. Both sets of proceedings return to court next week. Advertisement Ireland Legal challenge over alleged unauthorised gates bl... Read More In a sworn statement filed in the unauthorised development proceedings, Mr Monaghan says the public has previously 'enjoyed habitual access' to Castletown House via Gay's Avenue. This access has been blocked by the newly erected gates, he claims. Mr Monaghan says that the ongoing blocking of access to Castletown House at Gay's Avenue is having a 'severe impact' on the local community. Mr Monaghan says his group's purpose is to promote public access to the Castletown House estate, and the reunification of the historic demesne lands. '[Save Castletown House] believes that Castletown lands are of vital historical, cultural, and ecological significance for the community of Celbridge and Leixlip, and therefore considers that they should be in State ownership for the use and benefit of the people of the area and for the State as a whole,' he says.
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Locals block OPW vehicles at Castletown House as dispute over access continues
Locals stopped essential service vehicles entering Castletown House estate in Celbridge, Co Kildare on Monday as the long-running dispute over public access to the site shows no sign of abating. On Monday morning Office of Public Works (OPW) staff attempted to use motorised buggies to accompany the vehicles from the Celbridge gate entrance along Lime Avenue, a path leading to the house used by locals and protesters, who claim it is not suitable for vehicles. Locals from the Save Castletown Gate Protectors (SCGP) group said the use of the route by service vehicles would make it unsafe for vulnerable pedestrians and people who use wheelchairs. Gardaí were also present at the scene of Monday's stand-off. READ MORE The dispute over access to Castletown House has been ongoing for 20 months. The house was acquired by the State in the 1990s and sits on a large estate that is popular with local walkers. The house, one of the most architecturally significant Palladian-style country homes in Ireland, was closed in 2023 in a dispute over a right of access to its lands. On the estate a 235-acre parcel of land that stretches from the M4 entrance to the house, was bought by a developer Kilross Properties in April 2023. The gate to Castletown House at Celbridge, Co Kildare. Photograph: Stephen Farrell The M4 entrance and nearby car park were closed to the public and to the OPW. OPW staff returned to Castletown House on April 10th for the first time in two years, with a goal of opening the house to the public at the end of May. Local representatives joined protesters at Monday's peaceful stand-off. They included Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly and Fianna Fáil TD Naoise Ó Cearúil, and councillors Rupert Heather (Lab), Nuala Killeen and Claire O'Rourke (both Social Democrats). [ Vandals cause €500,000 worth of damage to OPW site used to access Castletown House Opens in new window ] The OPW want four to five essential services vehicles to drive daily along Lime Avenue accompanied by a buggy. They announced this plan on social media on Friday. The State's property management agency said the use of the avenue is safe, citing a health and safety report carried out in 2024. Protesters from the SCGP group have proposed that any essential service vehicles are accompanied on foot by an OPW staff member. The OPW said this would be too costly, at €10,000 a year – a figure disputed by protesters. Locals want the entrance at the M4 Dublin to Galway motorway and nearby car park reopened to the public, which would also allow for ease of access for essential services vehicles. [ Challenge brought over alleged unauthorised erection of gates blocking access to Castletown House Opens in new window ] 'Lime Avenue is not the solution,' said Miriam Flynn, a member of the SCGP group. 'The solution required is for the Minister to do what's necessary for there to be access via the M4 entrance.' The OPW said it was developing an application for planning permission, which will be made this summer, for a visitor car park in the Kildare Innovation Centre. Ms Flynn criticised the delay in applying for this planning permission. Local woman Monica Joy, a member of the SCGP group, expressed frustration that local residents do not have proper access to the house and its grounds. 'If you take a drive around Celbridge, there are no amenities. There is no investment for communities even though huge numbers of houses have been built,' she said.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Meet the Irishman playing at the Club World Cup against Bayern, Benfica and Boca
Dylan Connolly knows he's not supposed to have days like these, not as an amateur footballer who has to shoehorn training sessions into his busy working life. But sometimes you just strike it lucky and today the Celbridge lad has arrived in America to take on some of the world's biggest teams in the FIFA Club World Cup. From Celbridge in Co Kildare, the 25-year-old will be the sole Irish competitor in the expanded tournament that now incorporates 32-teams. He plays for New Zealand's most successful club, Auckland City, and the amateur side have been drawn in the same group as Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Benfica. Champions League winners PSG, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Porto are among the other heavyweight clubs involved in the tournament. 'It's absolutely bonkers, and still hard to believe,' Connolly told Mirror Sport as he ramps up preparations for Auckland's opener against Bayern Munich on June 15. The Bundesliga champions are bringing their catalogue of stars to America and right-back Connolly will be part of a defence tasked with keeping Harry Kane quiet. 'It's one of those things that as you're saying it now, it still doesn't sound real,' said Connolly when asked about trying to do a job on the England international. Veteran striker Edinson Cavani - once of Manchester United - is still punishing defences for Boca Juniors, the giants of Argentina and Diego Maradona's old club. And it won't be lost on Connolly that Greece international Vangelis Pavlidis led the way for Benfica this season after smashing 19 league goals in 34 games in Portugal's top flight. Connolly said: 'Don't get me wrong, we're going to try our best as we've prepared so well and put so much into it. We want to give the best account of ourselves as possible. But we also have to consider that these are some of the very best players in world football. The experience and opportunity to share a field with them is every amateur footballer's dream. 'You're watching their games on TV at the weekend going 'wow, I could be on the pitch with them in a few weeks'. Not many amateur players get to say that, especially in a competitive game that both sides are going to take seriously. That makes it even more special. It's not a charity game or a friendly match, it's a big game in a big competition. ' Last year, Mirror Sport caught up with Connolly when he was playing in the Oceania Champions League in Tonga, for a club based in the Cook Islands called Tupapa Maraerenga. In April of this year, he returned to the Oceania Champions League with his new club Auckland City and ended up winning it outright in the Solomon Islands. Football has taken Connolly to some far flung destinations since leaving these shores, where he played U17 League of Ireland football for Shelbourne and Drogheda United. At senior level, he represented Lucan United in the Leinster Senior League and his younger brother, Aaron Connolly, is one of Athlone Town's key players. From Ireland to tournaments in Spain, and New Zealand via the Cook Islands and Tonga, Connolly is now in America for games in Cincinnati, Orlando and Nashville. And in September, it looks like he will be off to Africa to play in a FIFA Intercontinental Cup qualifier as the African Champions League winners are due to play Auckland City. 'It's unbelievable but as an amateur footballer you always have that wish growing up as a kid that you will play in something like this,' he said of the Club World Cup. 'I turned 25 last week and you think that opportunity is over and that you've missed the boat on the professional scene. So to have something like this, while still being an amateur, is just incredible and scarcely believable. 'I just want to contribute to the team, give it a go and make it something to remember. If you could go back a few years when I decided to move to New Zealand and told me this would happen in a couple of years, I'd have said you were crazy. This doesn't happen to people, so I know it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.' The entire New Zealand league is amateur but as they settle into their Tennessee base, Auckland City will shed that mindset and adopt the most professional of approaches. They have two warm-up matches pencilled in and will then fly to and from their group games against Bayern Munich in Cincinnati (June 15), Benfica in Orlando (June 20) and Boca in Nashville (JUne 24). Connolly admits it's a world removed from the day-to-day grind of amateur football in New Zealand's top flight, where you juggle work demands with the beautiful game. What's certain is that the galaxy of stars on display at Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors didn't have to book time off work to play in this Club World Cup. That is their job and Connolly said: 'I'm a physiotherapist and I work as a contractor in a sports clinic. I also work as a football coach with a private academy. That's almost turning into another full-time job at the minute. A lot of my life is taken over by football and I'm either training, coaching or doing physio with athletes. It's really busy and I've tried to cut down on work this year because of football but it's difficult as you have to earn a living.' Connolly continued: 'All of our players are in different positions, depending on the jobs they have. I'm lucky that I work for myself as a contractor. I can take time off and with the football coaching we have other coaches that can come in and I can oversee that from abroad. 'Some of the lads are in university and have had to get special exemptions from exams to travel to America. Other lads working in jobs are taking annual leave and unpaid leave which is crazy as I doubt too many players are asking for time off work to go to the Club World Cup. 'But if you ask any other amateur footballer in the world if they would do it, of course they would. We're definitely not complaining but it's just a different world to what the professional players are facing. The best thing about the sport is that anything can happen and you just have to go out there with that attitude. On the day, it will be hard to avoid the big names but we'll be going out to follow a game plan, give it 100% and whatever happens, happens.' And Connolly added: 'We'll get what we deserve to get, but for the next couple of weeks it's about getting the head down and trying to give the best account of ourselves. Will an amateur team ever play in this competition again? I'm not sure, so we have to go and grab it, enjoy it and live the experience.'
