COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

QUESTION NO 5.

QUESTION: Councillor W. Carey

To ask the Chief Executive if he can offer a report on the closure of Brú Chrónáin Round Tower Visitor centre and if he can ensure that continuity of service be a primary criteria when establishing a new management structure for the running of the premises.

REPLY:

Brú Chrónáin Round Tower Visitor Centre is operated under a management licence model where a commercial operator tenders for the right to operate at the Council owned facility. The centre is not staffed with Council employees. This operating model has been in place since the centre opened in 2017 and has ensured the centre has stayed open 7 days a week throughout the year except when public buildings and visitor attractions were mandated to remain closed during the Covid 19 global pandemic.  This continuity of service was a feature of the management licence model and the most recent operator kept the centre open since Covid 19. Unfortunately this operator ceased trading in December due to their own commercial situation.

The Council is anxious that the Round Tower Visitor Centre reopens as soon as possible and will work with all stakeholders to ensure this happens. The process to secure a new management licence holder is being advanced, with work on this process underway since before Christmas. The Council will use this time of temporary closure to undertake some essential maintenance within the visitor centre and to allow for the transition to a new operator. In the meantime, and within the spirit of maintaining the integral part Brú Chrónáin plays in the life of the community in Clondalkin, the Council will open the centre for a number of bespoke events and tours over the next few weeks which include two Tradfest events. The Council is aware of only one pre-booked tour that has been postponed, and the Council is working with the volunteer tour guiding group to facilitate this group at an appropriate time and, will work to facilitate school tours and others as the need arises.