Three years after closure, Dunguaire Castle remains locked

More than 300 locals, tourists and Transition Year students gathered at Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara on 30 September to mark the third anniversary of its closure.

The 16th‑century tower house has been inaccessible since September 2023 following the dissolution of Shannon Development. While most of Shannon Development’s tourist assets, such as Bunratty Castle, were transferred to Clare County Council, Dunguaire Castle’s transfer to Galway County Council has not yet occurred.

Galway County Council is understood to be seeking €5 million in Government funding to cover the repair and maintenance costs required to take on the castle, which remains legally owned by the Shannon Airport Group.

Kinvara Heritage Group and Kinvara Community Council lodged a formal complaint with the council under Sections 58–60 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, urging an urgent inspection and action to prevent further deterioration. They highlighted water ingress and a lack of preventative maintenance since the closure.

Des O’Reilly, honorary secretary of Kinvara Community Council, said the law must apply equally to all owners of protected structures and called for immediate inspection and enforcement of statutory protections.

A Galway County Council spokesperson confirmed the authority is “actively engaged” in resolving the ownership dispute and securing funding for essential safety and structural works, aiming to reopen Dunguaire as a year‑round attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Source: Clare Champion. Photo: Woody Willis / Pexels.