KCC now owns or soon will own the entirety of the Donaghcumper House and estate. It plans to sell Donaghcumper House along with about 20% of the estate to the OPW, but will retain most of the 38.5-hectare (95-acre) site. KCC have no definitive plans as of yet for the site, but their press release has the following quote:
"It is expected that the lands could accommodate a new public parkland with potential opportunities for sports, recreation, amenity and biodiversity initiatives together with some community and mixed uses."
The OPW plan to restore the House and open it up to visitors.
April 2025
Kildare County Council held a public consultation event in Celbridge Library on Tuesday 8 April, as part of the Liffey Valley Park Phase One Feasibility Study funded under ORIS. Feedback from the public sought via an on-line survey. Options presented included a range of potential amenities for Donaghcumper including:
- Dog park
- Playground
- Walking and cycling routes
- Café
- Kick-about and fitness area.
Celbridge Community Council submitted a paper with its perspective and feedback.
January 2025
Kildare County Council was "awarded funding under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) to fund a feasibility study to assess and evaluate the potential to develop a section of the wider Liffey Valley Park on public lands." Donaghcumper House and lands are seen "as integral to the study." "Work on the feasibility study [...] has commenced, and will be completed in 2025." (Source: Minutes of the CL MD Meeting, January 2025, pg. 16 and pg. 21)
December 2024
The sale of Donaghcumper House plus approximately 7.5 hectares to the OPW was approved by the December 2024 Kildare Council Meeting. No additional conditions were attached to the sale by the Councillors. The OPW plan to restore the House and open it up to visitors.
November 2024
The sale of Donaghcumper House to a third party was discussed at the November 2024 Kildare Council Meeting.
Currently KCC are working through a Section 53 Notice procedure, where a government body that proposes to sell government owned land, in this case KCC, needs to inform the Land Development Agency. Once this is complete, KCC intends to bring the proposal to Councillors for approval, under Section 183 of the Local Government Act 2001.
October 2024
Work on the masterplan for Donaghcumper should commence in 2025. From the minutes of the October 2024 Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District Meeting:
"Council were intending to make a budget provision for 2025 to progress pre-feasibility studies/a masterplan. A review would need to take place in early 2025 to determine what staffing resources were available[…]"
July 2024
KCC announces the signing of contracts for the purchase of Donaghcumper House and the portion of the demesne not already in their possession. They have a buyer lined up for the House itself and while they are unable to name the interested party, there will be conditions attached regarding the restoration of the house. A masterplan will be needed before any development can take place.
Sources:
- KCC, "Kildare County Council signs contract for the purchase of Donaghcumper House & Lands", press release, 26 July 2024.
- Treasa Keegan, "Major Land Purchase raises hopes for Celbridge: Councillors Discuss Donaghcumper Development", podcast, 26 July 2024.
Will the landholding be used for emergency accommodation?
No. KCC have said that there are no plans for emergency accommodation in Donaghcumper.