Wicklow Gaol on course to reopen this summer

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

Wicklow County Council has confirmed they are working to reopen Wicklow Gaol over the summer months.

The amenity closed its doors last year to facilitate essential renovations and upgrades that will help to ensure that the gaol remains a key tourism and heritage attraction in the county.

As the contract with the current operator, Wicklow Historic Gaol CLG, under the guidance of Wicklow Enterprise Park, came to an end, council officials have commissioned a Conservation Management Plan that will inform a schedule of improvement works at the site. Initial efforts will address leaks and essential repairs, along with some external maintenance.

During the local authority’s January monthly meeting, officials confirmed they have been engaged in a procurement process to select a new operator to manage the building, who will aim to update the current exhibition and create new themed events for seasonal activities such as Halloween and Christmas.

The plan also involves maximising food and drink opportunities, as well as retail options and Wicklow County Council hopes to see the Gaol used more by the local community for festivals and events.

Following a question from Cllr Paul O’Brien, director of services Helena Dennehy indicated they are on schedule to reopen the gaol by the busy tourist season.

“We had gone out for a tender operator in the autumn, that wasn't successful so we ended up going out to tender a second time. Good news, we had six tenders the second time. We're now at stage two of that process, The three that came through to stage two are being assessed.

“In relation to the gaol, there's lots of work going on in the background. It might not be evident, that it is closed at the moment, but there is so much work going on. There's a lot of tidying up, a lot of vegetation management, and a lot of stuff to be done before any new operator can come in there.

"We do hope to have the new tender operator in place for the summer season. That is still our intention. But there is awful lot of work going on in the background to reflect that as well.” she added.

Council chief executive Emer O’Gorman has said the short break allows officials “to give extra focus and attention to the gaol and have it ready to maximise its various opportunities to the benefit of the community, the town and the county”.