New Art Centre In Maganey Described As Being Located In An "Inspirational" Landscape

Friday, 24 July 2026 14:25

By Daniel Maher

The centre near Castledermot is preparing to open its doors in September of this year.

The new art centre in Crookett house in Maganey is being described as being located in a "noteworthy and inspirational" landscape.

Set within a restored 18th-century horse farm, the house also has a two-bedroom apartment and a dedicated pottery studio.

The centre near Castledermot is preparing to open its doors in September of this year.

The project began four years ago as a vision to create a living artistic community.

Speaking on Kildare Today, Fianna Fáil Councillor for Athy MD Veralouise Behan described the landscape in the area as noteworthy and beautiful:

"The landscape around here is particularly noteworthy and beautiful, between the views of the Wicklow hills, Killeshin hills and the Mount Leinster to the south.

It's quite an inspirational landscape, because we don't have racecourses or Mondello Park [in south Kildare], but what we do have in the very south is how beautiful it is, and a lot of people will remark on that with Kilkea castle, Castledermot and it's historic features along with the medieval site of Dunmanogue."

Cllr Behan also said that there's "huge scope" for continued tourist developments in south Kildare:

"There's huge scope here for continuing to develop our tourist strategy, because the landscape is beautiful, it can work against people sometimes in trying to get planning permission, creating negative visual impacts as the council would often cite in that regard, but on the other hand it is beautiful here."

The full interview can be heard below: