No date has been set at present for the reopening of Annes Grove Estate in Castletownroche, but works at the site are progressing well.
The Office of Public Works (OPW), who took over the 190 acre estate last year, remained tight lipped about when the gardens will open to the public, but said a number of refurbishments have taken place recently.
Hugh Carrigan, regional park superintendent with the OPW, said work on the estate and gardens will continue on a phased basis in the coming years.
“Work on the gardens will be undertaken on a phased basis, with the OPW recently having refurbishing the access road, car parking area and toilet facilities. Further works will be undertaken in 2017 on the gardens,” he said.
Mr Carrigan added it is likely that when Annes Grove does open, it will be on a phased basis ‘depending on site progress’.
In 2015 the OPW took over Doneraile Park and went on to accept Annes Grove from the Annesly family in 2016. While Annes Grove had an operational budget last year of €500,000, the OPW invested an extra €50,000 in Doneraile Court in 2016, on top of an operational budget of €407,000.
The funding was confirmed by Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW Sean Canney to Labour TD Sean Sherlock in his role as a member of the Oireachtas finance and public expenditure committee.
Deputy Sherlock said he is glad to see the funding being allocated to both of the sites, which promote North Cork as a tourist hub.
Annes Grove Gardens include wild meadows, riverside walks along the banks of the Awbeg, an ornamental walled garden, house and adjacent home-farm.
