Simon Harris, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, today (11 June 2015) signed the contract for the provision of a new Visitor facility at Kilmainham Courthouse in Dublin. The facility will, when it completed in early 2016, provide modern facilities for the approx 335,000 visitors who visit the site each year.

"I am delighted to be signing this contract today with PJ Hegarty and Sons for the new Visitor facilities at Kilmainham", the Minister said today at Kilmainham Gaol as he signed the contract with Mr. Liam Bennett, Senior Director of PJ Hegarty and Sons. "I am particularly happy that the contract has been won by a local firm, based nearby at Davitt Road in Inchicore and I would hope that many local people will be able to benefit from the investment the Government is providing in the area through this project."

The Kilmainham project has been assisted by the Government with a grant of €5m and is one of the 7 "Permanent Reminders" projects supported by the Government as part of their 2016 Commemorations Programme.

Minister Humphreys said "I am delighted that such good progress is being made on the redevelopment of this iconic building, which is one of the major capital projects being progressed as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. The Kilmainham site is so closely associated with the Rising, as the location where the 1916 Leaders were executed. Once they are completed next year, the new facilities here at Kilmainham will enhance what is already one of Dublin's favourite tourist locations. I would like to commend Minister Harris and the OPW team for their work on this exciting project."

Minister Harris also took the opportunity to welcome the recent award from Trip Advisor who have named Kilmainham Gaol as the No. 1 in 2015 Travellers Choice Awards for Landmarks. "This shows the huge popularity and the success of the Kilmainham Gaol site among visitors all over the world" the Minister said. "I am delighted to see that despite the fact that Kilmainham is such a busy place and the difficulties that are sometimes caused by the limited nature of the buildings have not impacted on the popularity of the site. Clearly, visitors the world over have realised that Kilmainham is a very special place and are continuing to come here in ever increasing numbers. This Award reflects the visitor experience and I am very happy that when the new development in the Courthouse is in place, we will be able to guarantee an even better experience for visitors to the site."

Ends

Images from the event will be available from www.maxwellphotography.ie

Notes to Editors:

The former Kilmainham Courthouse occupies a site immediately adjacent to Kilmainham Gaol and has been vacant since July 2008. The works involve the adaptation of Kilmainham Courthouse building for visitor use; this is a unique opportunity to create additional space to deal with visitors and to provide ancillary curatorial, exhibition, research and welfare facilities. Kilmainham Gaol is a very significant site associated with key events in Irish history and, in particular, the 1916 Rising.

On completion of the entire project, Kilmainham Gaol and the new Courthouse Visitor facility will host one of the early official events associated with the 1916 Commemorations with a wreath-laying event on Easter Sunday, 27th March 2016.

The contract for this phase of the works has been awarded to PJ Hegarty and Sons.

Further details on Kilmainham Gaol can be found at www.heritageireland.ie