The Castleknock Tidy Towns Committee has asked us to share information about Elm Lodge in Castleknock Village.
This building is situated within Castleknock’s Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) on the junction of Castleknock Road and College Road (on the corner opposite Myo’s). This property had been vacant and boarded up
for many years and is a prominent eyesore in a highly visible central location. The stone wall of the property contains the village pump / protected structure to mark the site of St Brigid’s Holy
Well.
The property was bought by a developer but we understand that due to a title defect, they were unable to close the purchase of the property last year. And so it has returned to the market for sale again.
The Tidy Towns Committee feels very strongly that the property should be purchased by Fingal County Council, restored sympathetically and put to good use serving the people of Castleknock and surrounding areas (in line with current zoning).
As it stands, Castleknock has a serious lack of community facilities. Another community centre/ space is badly needed to facilitate a Men’s Shed and other groups (new Irish communities, young people, older adults) who cannot get space within the existing local community centres
currently.
The purchase of Elm Lodge would facilitate the provision of centralised community infrastructure in circumstances where land-zoned CI is very scarce. Given the heritage significance of this location, coupled with the existing zoning, it makes sense for it to be in the ownership of the Council.
The property sale is being managed by DNG, Castleknock and the asking price is €549,000.
The committee are asking members of the Castleknock Community to write individually or from community groups to Robert Burns to support of this plan. Just a few lines would be sufficient.
The important person to contact is: robert.burns@fingal.ie
Robert Burns, Director of Service for Housing and Community Development, FCC
Then local county councillors are:
Howard.Mahony@cllrs.fingal.ie Mayor of Fingal
Ted.Leddy@cllrs.fingal.ie
john.walsh@cllrs.fingal.ie
Siobhan.Shovlin@cllrs.fingal.ie
pamela.conroy@cllrs.fingal.ie
Politicians but please encourage only one line, which will be sufficient to show support:
LeoConstituency@taoiseach.gov.ie
NOTE: Make sure everyone uses the bcc button in the TO: area at the top of their email so no one can see anyone else’s email address. Otherwise it’s a breach of GDPR.
Please read the full text of Ms. Eveleyn Pender’s letter to Mr. Burns here. Letter to Robert Burns_Feb ’23