The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys, has today (Thursday) announced that she has approved €250,000 in funding for upgrading works in Russborough House in Wicklow.
It follows a request from the Alfred Beit Foundation, which runs Russborough, to the Minister for a grant of €250,000 towards repairs at the house. Match funding has been secured from the Apollo Trust in the UK.
Speaking today Minister Humphreys said:
“More than 100,000 people have visited Russborough House and its parklands throughout 2016, and revenues at the House are also on the rise. Russborough is an important heritage site and tourist attraction for Co. Wicklow and I am pleased to be able to approve this grant of €250,000 for upgrading works at the House.
“This is the first time in a number of years, thanks to the improving economy, that my Department has been in a position to provide capital support towards the House. Russborough is itself emerging from a difficult financial situation, and I would like to pay tribute to the efforts made by the Alfred Beit Foundation to put the operations of the house on a more sustainable basis.
“I am pleased to see Russborough is planning ahead for the future with renewed confidence and I know the Foundation has an ambitious vision to develop the House as a centre for education in the arts. My officials and I will continue to work with the Foundation as these plans are developed.
“In December 2015, my Department published an Action Plan for the Sustainable Future of Irish Historic Houses in private ownership, such as Russborough, which includes a series of initiatives currently underway to help put these historic properties on a long term sustainable footing.
“Work continues across a range of actions with regard their core links with local communities, improved investment and fiscal incentives, better promotion via Fáilte Ireland programmes and developing a more collaborative public value approach.”