Castletown House
Sir, – In 2013, I was a volunteer at the Big House Festival held over three days at Castletown House. It was a magical event, a celebration of all that was great about heritage, culture, music, drama, art and community in Ireland. The management of the house at the time stated that, in creating the concept for the festival, they wanted to fill the chasm they felt existed between the people of the town and “the big house”.
I listened to Minister Kevin “Boxer” Moran on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today (May 16th). Having been born into Celbridge and lived a childhood in Castletown in the 1970s and 1980s, it was heartbreaking to hear the State itself further driving a wedge into the chasm reopened between the community and “the big house”.
While giving the staff of the Office of Public Works his “100 per cent” backing, the Minister failed to give credit to the tireless work of all community groups established since that time, as they strive to protect the integrity and heritage of Castletown.
The State, through the OPW, has lost its long-established M4 vehicular access to their own land, and its car park, through poor management, ill-judged procurement decisions, and errors of omission in failing to secure retention of it.
Narratives advanced to the contrary, that attempt to scapegoat community groups, merely divert attention from the OPW’s failure to manage State property, and its purse, efficiently. The Minister and his team need to focus their expertise, effort and attention on strategic actions to regain the M4 access and utilise the collective expertise of community representatives.
Contemporary landlords of the property of Irish citizens must appreciate, their role is no longer to dominate but to collaborate and communicate. – Yours, etc,
JILL BARRETT,
Rocklands,
Celbridge,
Co Kildare