Some 4½ years of work came to fruition yesterday with the official opening of Malahide Castle.
Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar marked “a new chapter” in the castle’s long history, and said the €10.5 million redevelopment was part of Fáilte Ireland’s “integrated approach” to Dublin city and its hinterland.
The Talbot family controlled the castle for eight centuries until the death of Milo Talbot in the mid-1970s. Afterwards it was sold to what was then Dublin County Council.
By 2008 Fingal County Council was spending €1 million a year on its maintenance, an “unsustainable” figure during an economic crisis, according to county architect Fionnuala May.
The subsequent investment programme included a new interpretive centre and refurbishments, along with a large retail area. The council estimates the development will attract 100,000 visitors a year and provide a boost to tourism in the surrounding areas.
However, local firms have expressed concern about the amount of free parking in the castle grounds, saying it has had a detrimental impact on businesses in the village.
