An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-24
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Shane Curley (FF), Cultural and Educational Panel

I raise the continued closure of Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara, south Galway. Dunguaire is one of the most recognisable castles in Ireland. It is an iconic landmark on the Wild Atlantic Way. It has enormous cultural and historical significance, as well as huge economic importance to Kinvara and south Galway, yet it has now been closed since 2023. What makes that situation particularly frustrating is that the tour buses still come. The tourists still fly over to Ireland to see Dunguaire Castle, but now they can only look in through the gates. It is a sorry sight to drive through the town and to see the people standing out, observing from the gates. It is frustrating. The absurdity of the situation has now attracted international attention, with The New York Times recently reporting on the castle's continued closure and the campaign to have it reopened. We spend millions of euro every year promoting Ireland internationally as a tourist destination. We rightly encourage visitors to come to the west of Ireland, to travel the Wild Atlantic Way and to experience our history and heritage, but what is needed now is a resolution. I am asking the Leader to arrange an urgent debate with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the future of Dunguaire Castle.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-24