In what is being described as one of the most shocking attacks on public property in recent Irish history, over €500,000 worth of damage has been caused to the Office of Public Works’ (OPW) logistics base at Donaghcumper House, Celbridge. The incident, believed to be linked to the protracted dispute over access to the historic Castletown House, has left both staff and community members outraged.

Between April 22 and April 30, four OPW vehicles were overturned, several buildings were set alight, and four CCTV towers were destroyed with wires deliberately severed. The chaos escalated over the May Bank Holiday weekend, when one of the construction vehicles from the site was driven into the River Liffey. No injuries were reported, but the psychological toll on the staff is described as “severe and lasting.”

Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, condemned the attack: “This criminal damage to State property owned and managed by the OPW is shocking and unacceptable. Our priority is the safety and welfare of our staff who work tirelessly to protect Ireland’s national heritage.”

The site at Donaghcumper House serves as a key access point for OPW teams working on Castletown House, Ireland’s largest and arguably most architecturally significant Palladian-style estate. Tensions have mounted over the past 18 months due to public access restrictions stemming from a private land sale which cut off the main entrance to the site. While the OPW resumed partial operations on April 10, the wider row over full public access remains unresolved.

Community groups that had previously campaigned for better access to Castletown swiftly condemned the destruction. A statement from the Save Castletown Committee read: “We are shocked by the news of the arson attacks and want to make it absolutely clear—this violence has nothing to do with our movement. Our campaign has always been peaceful and respectful.”

Similarly, the Castletown Gate Protectors said they hoped those responsible would be caught and prosecuted. “This was not protest—it was sabotage,” a spokesperson said.

The political reaction has been just as forceful. Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North, Naoise Ó Cearúil, said, “This is an attack not only on the OPW but on the Irish State. It’s absolutely scandalous.” Sinn Féin’s Réada Cronin labelled the actions “disgraceful and deeply damaging to any efforts to find a resolution,” while Social Democrats councillor Nuala Killeen urged anyone with information to come forward and cooperate with Gardaí.

Gardaí have since launched a criminal investigation. No arrests have been made at the time of writing, but sources confirm that forensic examinations have been carried out on the site, and footage from partially damaged CCTV systems is being analysed. The OPW is also believed to be reviewing staff security and may relocate operations temporarily as a precaution.

There is deep concern within the heritage sector that such an incident could have long-term repercussions for conservation funding and the public’s relationship with State-run sites. One OPW worker, speaking anonymously, said: “We’ve never seen anything like this. It feels like someone is trying to send a message, but all they’ve done is destroy public resources.”

The destruction comes at a time when heritage access remains a national issue. Castletown House has been closed for most of the past year due to legal and logistical challenges related to that private land sale. Though the house reopened for limited operations recently, no long-term solution has been reached regarding public access and parking.

As the investigation continues, the message from officials is clear: violence will not speed up resolutions, and public services cannot function under threats or intimidation. While community frustration over Castletown’s access issues is well-documented, the line between protest and destruction has now been unmistakably crossed.

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