Kildare County Council Have Signed A Contract To Purchase Donaghcumper House And Lands

Friday, 26 July 2024 10:43

By Hannah Kelly

Donaghcumper House via National Library of Ireland

It is expected the lands could accommodate a new public parkland

Kildare County Council have this morning announced that it has signed a contract for the purchase of Donaghcumper House in Celbridge, with approximately 26.3 hectares of adjoining lands.

The Council currently own 12.3 hectares of land on the south side of the River Liffey adjoining the Donaghcumper landholding.

The purchase of these additional lands at Donaghcumper will re-unite the landholding into the Council’s ownership.

Kildare County Council have also said this purchase is part of a longer-term vision to establish the River Liffey Amenity Park and corridor and it is a step towards the County Development Plan objective to protect the special landscape character associated with the historic country estates and houses of Castletown, Donaghcumper and St. Wolstans.

In due course, and following the expected close of sale, Kildare County Council will prepare a masterplan for the Donaghcumper lands in consultation with the public and local stakeholders.

It is expected that the lands could accommodate a new public parkland with potential opportunities for sports, recreation, amenity, biodiversity initiatives together with some community and mixed uses.

Multiple councillors have welcomed the announcement, with the Mayor of Kildare and Fine Gael Cllr Joe Neville saying: "The purchase of the Donaghcumper Estate provides us with a unique opportunity to provide facilities that will be enjoyed by communities in Celbridge and the surrounding areas for generations to come".

Mayor of the Celbridge-Leixlip LEA and Fianna Fail Cllr Bernard Caldwell also welcomed the purchase of Donaghcumper House: "We now look forward to seeing the project progress to public consultation, so that the views of the local community and stakeholders inform the future plans for this important community space.”