Major restoration works commence at The Shackleton Gardens, Clonsilla

The development of a major tourism attraction in Dublin 15 has moved a step closer after Fingal County Council awarded contracts for the main restoration and reconstruction works at The Shackleton Garden in Beech Park, Clonsilla. The works are part of a €400,000 investment from Fingal County Council and Fáilte Ireland.

The gardens, which include an internationally famous plant collection, were acquired by the Council last year with a view to opening them to the public as an important visitor attraction in the Dublin 15 area.

The work will involve the rebuilding of large sections of the garden walls, upgrading of paths and the restoration of garden buildings. Workers will be on site in two weeks to begin the restoration and it will take approximately three months to complete.

The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, said: “The Shackleton Gardens have the potential to be a major visitor attraction in Dublin 15 and another addition to Fingal County Council’s growing portfolio of tourism assets. I warmly welcome the news that contracts have been signed and workers will shortly be on site to commence these major restoration works.”

Fingal County Council’s Interim Chief Executive, AnneMarie Farrelly said: “The restoration and rebuilding of The Shackleton Gardens will provide a fantastic recreational and tourist attraction for Dublin 15. The Gardens were once considered the best-walled gardens in the country, with a unique collection of plants, and I am delighted that the Council will be able to restore this amenity and open it to the public.”

The Council’s Parks and Operations staff are also working with a local volunteer group on the conservation and replanting of the plant collection which includes a wide range of herbaceous perennials, shrubs and specimen trees.

The Gardens, which are inside a 1.5-acre walled garden, are home to an important collection of herbaceous perennials, grown in large herbaceous borders.

During the 1980s, the gardens were included in The Good Gardens Guide and were awarded two stars. This is the highest accolade awarded by the Guide and reserved for the very best gardens in Britain and Ireland.

Senior Park’s Superintendent, Kevin Halpenny, added: “The restored Shackleton Gardens will represent an important and exciting addition to Fingal’s portfolio of heritage properties and historic gardens.”