New York Times highlights closed Galway tourist attraction branded 'national disgrace'
‘A sign on the entrance gate suggests that Ireland, known as the land of 100,000 welcomes, might have to reduce that number by at least one: castle and grounds closed to the public’
Just one month after it was branded “a national disgrace for being closed” by one of the campaigners trying to save it - a closed Galway tourist attraction has been highlighted by one of the biggest publications in the world.
One of The New York Times’ longest reporters and columnists Dan Barry was baffled when he landed in scenic Kinvara only to find that its main draw for tourists was closed and has been for some years now.
Dunguaire Castle has been locked into an ongoing battle for three years with Fran O’Reilly of the Save Kinvara Castle campaign, saying last month that hundreds of tourists still arrive every week, “wondering how such a beautiful and historically significant castle can be left to deteriorate”.
It has been closed to the public since 2023 as result of a funding dispute that has never been resolved.
The Shannon Airport Group owns the castle, but in 2021, as its heritage division stepped back from tourism, the group moved to transfer several castles to local authorities.
Penned best by Barry, whose in depth report you can find here, who says: “A sign on the entrance gate suggests that Ireland, known as the land of 100,000 welcomes, might have to reduce that number by at least one: ‘castle and grounds closed to the public’.”
It has received fresh hopes of reopening though.
The community campaign to reopen the Castle has renewed its call for a firm, published plan to bring one of the West’s best-known landmarks back into public use, after the Office of Public Works confirmed in writing that it would maintain and manage the castle if ownership passes to the state.
The confirmation, in correspondence from the OPW, states that the OPW is 'actively engaging with relevant stakeholders' and that any acquisition of Dunguaire Castle is ultimately a decision for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
But the letter confirms that if that decision is taken, the OPW would then be responsible for the site’s conservation and management into the future.
The campaigners describe it as the clearest signal yet that a route back to reopening exists.
They marked that moment last month with the launch of a new website, SaveKinvaraCastle.com, and a short film highlighting the castle and its closure – urging the public to keep the pressure on until a concrete plan is published.
Fran previously said: "The volume of emails from around the world in little more than a month is testament to the strength of feeling and the international interest in this place," he said.
"It is a national disgrace that local people and visitors alike continue to be met with such neglect at one of our most prominent and much-loved landmarks. After three years, this situation is no longer disappointing. It is an embarrassment,” he added.
Clare County Council took on Bunratty Castle and Limerick took on King John’s Castle, both of which transferred successfully and remain open to the public.
The transfer of Dunguaire Castle to Galway County Council did not complete, and in 2023 the gates were locked.
Galway County Council has stated it will take on the castle, but only with a Government funding commitment. It has confirmed that its formal requests for capital funding have so far been unsuccessful.
Those fighting to see the castle reopened say that, with every passing season, the cost of inaction grows. They say the utters are beginning to fail, and weeds and ivy are taking hold and damaging the fabric of the building.
The campaigners warn that the longer the castle stays shut, the more expensive it becomes to reopen, and the more likely it is to slide into serious disrepair.
The campaign has welcomed the OPW’s confirmation as a meaningful step, while stressing that engagement is not the same as a decision.
“We welcome the confirmation from the Office of Public Works, and we take it as a genuine step forward," said Eamonn Coy of Kinvara Community Council.
"But we have now had statement after statement about ‘engagement’ and ‘discussions’ involving various Government departments, Fáilte Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and now the OPW, and still the castle remains closed.
"We have to believe that our representatives, nationally and locally, are genuine in their efforts to reopen this important heritage site. What we need now is for that to be turned into a clear, public plan, with real dates and milestones,” he added.
The campaign has drawn support from Ireland and around the world. To date it has generated more than 1,500 emails to decision-makers.
And its QR code, which opens a ready-written email to key figures including Galway County Council, Fáilte Ireland, the Shannon Airport Group and East Galway Oireachtas members, has been scanned over 4,500 times by people from 49 countries and 322 cities, from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro and Taipei to Seattle. The closure has also been raised three times in Dáil Éireann.
Members of the public are being asked to visit SaveKinvaraCastle.com and scan the campaign QR code to send their own email, calling on decision-makers to work together to reopen the gates of Dunguaire Castle.