MINISTER Paul Kehoe is delighted that €140,000 funding has been secured to staff Colclough Walled Garden at Tintern Abbey from the POBAL Community Services Programme 2012-2013.
Speaking after receiving the news from Hook Tourism:
“I have been working very closely with Hook Tourism on this particular project and this funding will allow them to make a massive step forward. The money will go directly to recruiting two full-time and two part-time staff to continue the restoration and give tours of the garden when it opens next spring”.
Minister Paul Kehoe commended all those involved in the project since it started last year.
“An enormous amount of work has been done by Alan Ryan, David Neville and Ann Wall of Hook Tourism, they have been supported by over 30 local volunteers, Wexford Local Development and the OPW. There has already been an amazing transformation on the site since the restoration began; the local community has actively uncovered another asset for Wexford tourism”.
The Government Chief Whip & Minister of State Paul Kehoe explained the project’s background:
“Hook Tourism signed a five-year license with the owners of the site Coillte Teoranta last year to restore the site. The Colclough family handed the property over to the state in 1969. It’s estimated to be about 200 years old and considered an excellent example of a Georgian walled garden”.
“I recently visited the site with Brian Hayes, Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, and he was very impressed with the work that had been carried out to date, so I am very pleased that Minister Phil Hogan has signed off on the funding for the staff”.
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