A NEW state-of-the-art “pleasure garden” with a price tag of €1.1 million has been rubber-stamped by the government to further enhance the major restoration and redevelopment of Killarney House, KillarneyToday.com can reveal.
The bumper contract for hard landscaping has been awarded to local contractor Ned O’Shea & Sons and work will commence in a matter of days.
The latest phase is part of an overall project to restore the historic town centre property to create a visitor centre for Killarney National Park and it will make a significant contribution to heritage and tourism.
A spokesperson for Ned O’Shea & Sons said securing this contract should protect the jobs of 10-15 of the firm’s existing staff as well as creating temporary employment for certain specialist skill sets that will be required.
It is estimated that the overall Killarney House and Gardens project will create in the region of 90 jobs.
Merge
Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Minister, Jimmy Deenihan, confirmed the imminent commencement of the next phase of works that will create spectacular new landscaped areas that will ultimately merge into the natural areas of the park and provide vistas linking the town to the surrounding mountains, woodland and lakes.
The contract will involve the removal of small woodland, selected trees and fencing, reinstatement of historic pathways, the provision of new stone paving and conservation repairs to the historic entrance gates.
It will also see the provision of new surface water drainage and associated site services, landscape and re-seeding works and the erection of new deer fencing and gates.
Built
These works will recreate an historically appropriate setting for the refurbished Killarney House which will include a newly built extension housing an interpretative centre, exhibition and cultural events space and a number of reception rooms that will be reinstated to accommodate original furniture currently in storage.
Minister Deenihan said what is particularly unique about the project is its close proximity to the town.
“When completed, Killarney House and Gardens is set to become one of the top attractions in the region and the additional tourism created by this project will greatly benefit the local economy and local long term job creation,” he told KillarneyToday.com.
