Minister O'Donovan visits Reginald’s Tower and Garda Divisional HQ in Waterford as well as the sites of flood relief works in Dungarvan and Dungarvan Castle

Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr. Patrick O’Donovan, T.D., today visited Ireland’s oldest civic building, Reginald’s Tower, in Waterford. This stone tower has been in continuous use for over 800 years and began life as a stronghold and later a prison throughout the thirteenth century. It is a National Monument managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and now houses an exhibition on the city’s Viking heritage curated jointly by Waterford Treasures and National Monument Services.

Following his tour of the heritage site, Minister O’Donovan said:

“I am delighted that despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic, the OPW has been able to carry out much-needed works in recent months here in Reginald’s Tower. I know that OPW staff are working to find suitable facilities for the guiding team so that Reginald’s Tower and the nearby French Church can open again to visitors soon, putting two key visitor attractions in Waterford’s Viking triangle on the map again for tourists and local visitors alike.”

The works included a complete electrical and fire and security upgrade as well as improved universal access for the visitor, upgrading of guides facilities and some enhancements to elements of the exhibition.

Minister O’Donovan also met with Garda Chief Superintendent Padraig Dunne at the Waterford Divisional Garda Headquarters to reiterate the OPW’s readiness to initiate the works required once the project receives approval from An Garda Síochána.

From Waterford, Minister O’Donovan then travelled on to Dungarvan where he met Waterford Council and OPW Engineers and Senator John Cummins to discuss local flood mitigation projects the Council wishes to progress.

The OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme provides funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing up to €750,000 each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas.

Minister O’Donovan said:

“Since the Scheme’s inception in 2009, the OPW has approved funding for 14 applications from Waterford County Council totalling €1,046,360 in support to the local authority. This funding has enabled Waterford County Council to carry out necessary flood mitigation works in numerous locations along its coast and rivers. It will be vital, too, for future projects that are required in the area such as a Coastal Flooding and Erosion Risk Management Monitoring Survey for Dungarvan and the Cunnigar.”

He concluded his visit of the town at Dungarvan Castle, which dates back to the early thirteenth century and the Anglo-Norman settlement in Ireland and is a National Monument in State ownership. This polygonal shell keep – a rare building type in Ireland – holds within its walls a military barracks dating from the first half of the eighteenth century where the OPW has installed visitor facilities and an Audio Visual presentation. Minister O’Donovan was pleased to note that the Waterford Greenway had enhanced Dungarvan’s reputation as a destination for cyclists and expressed his hope that it would bring more visitors to Dungarvan Castle in future.

-ENDS-

For more information please contact the OPW press office at pressoffice@opw.ie

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