COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM / TEMPLEOGUE / FIRHOUSE / BOHERNABREENA AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
QUESTION NO.8
QUESTION: Councillor L.Guéret
To ask the Chief Executive if there are any current plans or future plans for the building of or development of an existing site for a Heritage or Interpretive Centre in the Rathfarnham Village Area to reflect the wealth of historical aspects of the Rathfarnham area, to include people of historical and political interest, artists and buildings of architectural interest.
REPLY:
The Council are presently in the process of implementing the County’s Development Plan, Local Area Plans and Tourism Strategy, which includes the delivery of a new mixed use hospitality tourism facility at Rathfarnham Stables, the Dublin Mountains Visitor Centre, the 12th Lock masterplan, a series of greenways and the Heritage Centre in Tallaght to name but a few.
There are no plans for the development of a heritage centre for the Rathfarnham area. Notwithstanding this, the Council are putting significant investment in the Rathfarnham area, with the development of the Rathfarnham Stables project, which will support existing tourism facilities in the area, helping to raise the profile of this important location in the County. The Rathfarnham area is well served with tourism destinations of historical significance with Rathfarnham Castle and the Pearse Museum helping to bring the political, heritage and cultural history of the area to life for visitors and residents of the area. This has been supported by the development of a heritage and rebellion trail app, which was launched by the Council in 2023. In addition, the development of the heritage centre in Tallaght will also raise the profile of the overall County with regard to its significance from a heritage perspective.