Fine Gael TD and Minister of State, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and the Gaeltacht Affairs of €500,000 funding for upgrading works in Russborough House, Blessington.
“I am pleased to have received confirmation from my Fine Gael colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys, that funding of €250,000 has been made available by her Department for upgrade works at Russburough House in Blessington, and this amount has been matched by The Apollo Charitable Trust, a UK arts charity.
“Russborough attracts in access of one hundred thousand visitors to the area each year. We need to ensure the house and the surrounding parkland is safeguarded for future generations. I have been working alongside Minister Humphreys to secure this much needed funding for Russborough House.
“Russborough is a major tourist attraction in west Wicklow with a world famous art collection. The Beit Foundation has great vision for the future of Russborough, developing the House as a centre for education and the arts. This is the first time in a number of years that funding has been made available to Russborough House.
“The planned extension to Blessington Greenway will see increased tourism in the area and add value to the local economy. The house is in the ownership of the Beit Foundation and I must commend them on their efforts to plan ahead and secure a future for Russborough house.”