Ardee Castle Refurbishment Moves Forward as Tender Process Receives Green Light
Ardee News and Sport — The long-awaited refurbishment of Ardee Castle has taken a major step forward, as the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) has granted approval to begin the tendering process. The project, part-funded under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, will be live on eTenders starting the week of September 23, 2024.
Local councillor Dolores Minogue expressed her excitement about this milestone, telling Ardee Post, “I am delighted to see that the tendering process for Ardee Castle has finally reached this stage. The people of Ardee and Mid-Louth have been waiting a long time for this, and I will continue to work with Louth County Council to ensure the restoration is completed and the doors to this fantastic building are opened soon.”
The proposed works will include relocating the main entrance to an adjoining building on Castle Street to provide universal access, constructing a rear extension with a stairwell, lift, and services core, and completing the interior refurbishment of the castle. The entire site falls within the Ardee Architectural Conservation Area, as designated in the Louth County Council Development Plan 2021-2027.
Louth County Council has concluded from its preliminary examinations that the project does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment and that there are no significant effects on European sites, making way for the development to proceed without environmental hurdles.
The restoration of Ardee Castle is seen as a critical project for preserving the area’s heritage and enhancing the community’s access to one of its most historic landmarks.
Ardee Castle is significant for being the largest fortified medieval Tower House in Ireland. This castle’s location on the main street of the Anglo-Norman town of Ardee suggests it’s use not just as a residence but also for defense of the town.
The Castle was built in the 15th century by John St. Leger and served as a stronghold for the defence of the Pale. In 1641 Sir Phelim O’Neil took possession of the town and set up the Irish Army headquaters, but the town and castle were retaken by the English Forces under the command of Sir Henry Tichborne that same year and a garrison was then placed.
The Marquess of Ormond issued orders to the garrison to destroy the town prior to Cromwell’s arrival but these orders were not carried out and the town fell to Cromwell. James II and William of Orange stayed, at different times, in the castle prior to the Battle of the Boyne. In 1805 the castle was handed over to the Louth Grand Jury and converted into a courthouse and prison.