COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

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

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor F. Timmons

That this Area Committee requests a full discussion and review of the running and management structure of Brú Chrónáin (Round Towers Visitor's centre) aside from the food offering that involves local elected members. We also request a headed item (three times a year) is brought to this committee with regular updates so elected members can feed into the running of the centre. We recognise Brú Chrónáin as a jewel in the Crown of Clondalkin and we want to explore and develop further tourism potential and ideas for our area.

REPORT:

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 facility. Such a model ensures that an entity in the area of food preparation, hospitality, and retail sector, manages the building. Staff facilities, changing room, and office space are limited and allocated to those involved in delivering the service. 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, 52 weeks a 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 working towards ensuring that the Round Tower Visitor Centre reopens as soon as possible and is working with all stakeholders to ensure this happens. The Council appreciates the understanding given by the public and others as it works through the process to secure a new management licence holder. Work on this process began immediately the previous operator ceased trading two weeks before Christmas. The Council has now selected a preferred operator and is in negotiations with said operator to arrange a soft launch of the service within the next few weeks, pending contract negotiations.

Councillors will be aware that quarterly meetings with the operator, council management, tour guides, and the Chair of the Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas ACM have been a feature of the operation model over the past number of years. These meetings explore the tourism potential of the offering and often include details of a commercial nature. The Chair of the ACM often brings forward items of interest from the area committee to these meetings. Information about the centre is often shared through the answering of questions and the addressing of Motions when made. 

The Council would be happy to accommodate the idea of bringing regular reports to the Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development SPC as well as the Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas ACM.