28 February 2015

Simon Harris TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (28 February 2015) welcomed the continuation of a pilot programme of Irish Sign Language interpreted tours at Kilkenny Castle.

Speaking ahead of today's launch at Kilkenny Castle Minister Harris said: "I am very pleased that my office, the OPW, in partnership with the Centre for Deaf Studies in TCD, will welcome members of the Deaf Community with an interpretation service at the Castle today. It comes as no surprise that both tours are completely booked as Kilkenny Castle attracted almost 300,000 visitors last year, from both at home and abroad and the tour will be enjoyed by all".

The programme commenced at Dublin Castle in January and continued at Farmleigh with more sites planned during the Spring 2015.

The Minister added: "It gives me great pleasure to confirm the initiative my Office is currently developing whereby sign language interpretation will be available at our Heritage sites on tablets to enhance the visitor experience for the Deaf Community in Ireland. Kilkenny Castle has been chosen to pilot this initiative in Spring of this year and I look forward to the roll-out of this service to all appropriate sites in our care".

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For further information please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer – mobile 087 9475552 or email colette.davis@opw.ie

Notes to Editors:

Free signed tours available to members of the deaf and hard of hearing community at 1pm and 3.30pm.

The pilot programme is being run in conjunction with the Centre for Deaf Studies, Trinity College Dublin and more information can be found on www.tcd.ie/slscs/cds/

Further sites will be identified and publicised on the following:

http://www.opw.ie/, http://www.heritageireland.ie/ and @opwireland