Dún na Sí re-opens to public after temporary closure

One of Westmeath's most popular tourist attractions, the Dún na Sí Amenity and Heritage Park in Moate, re-opened to the public over the weekend after an insurance issue forced the temporary closure of the facility throughout last week.

The re-opening was announced in a post on their Facebook page, with patrons being advised that the Park will remain open from 12 noon to 3pm (weather depending) all this week before it officially closes for the season on Sunday next, October 31.

As reported in the Westmeath Independent last week, Dún na Sí was forced to close its doors to the public throughout last week when their insurance cover was withdrawn with minimal notice.

A notice posted on the Dún na Sí website on October 20 last stated that “due to circumstances beyond our control, the Amenity and Heritage Park is closed at the moment.”

Chair of the Board of Dún na Sí, Mr. Declan Ganley, confirmed to the Westmeath Independent that the company was left with “no choice” but to close its doors when their insurance cover was “pulled” with minimal notice.

Mr. Ganley said the company were working "round the clock" in an effort to source another insurance underwriter, and were hopeful at the time of being able to re-open the Moate tourist facility "within a week."

The original Dún na Sí Centre opened in 1985, and joined forces with the Midlands Amenity Park Association in 2015 to create the current Amenity and Heritage Park on a 27 acre parkland site in Moate.

Dún na Sí is one of Westmeath’s, and the Midlands, most popular visitor attractions. Earlier this year, the facility was awarded €126,000 under the Government’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

The funding is to be used to renew a large section of outdoor infrastructure in the Park, including the repair, replacement and development of the outdoor path system, equipment and toilet faciliti