In The News
The campaign has been building since summer 2026, and it’s being noticed — at home, abroad, and on the floor of the Dáil.
EMAILS ASKING FOR THE CASTLE TO BE OPENED HAVE BEEN SENT FROM OVER 55 COUNTRIEs
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam.
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Vietnam.
The campaign so far
Over 8,100 QR-code scans
55 countries and 445 cities, from Auckland to Rio, Taipei to Seattle
Over 3,100 emails sent to decision-makers
Four mentions in the Dáil and three in the Seanad
Ongoing support from local representatives and media
Coverage
Irish Central - September 2026
Kinvara returns to Dunguaire Castle's chained gates three years after closure
Read the article here
New York Times - September 2026
Irish Castle Keeps a Piece of a Times Reporter’s Past
Download the pdf here
Irish Independent
Campaigners call on Galway council to buy land by Dunguaire Castle - ‘It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity’
Read the article here
Galway Advertiser - September
Campaigners urge Galway County Council and Government to secure 2.7-acre site
Read the article here
Nuacht TG4
Imní ar ghrúpa pobail i gCinn Mhara i gCo na Gaillimhe go bhfuil Caisleán Dhún Guaire ar an mbaile i mbaol
Watch here
Galway Bay FM- September 2026
Campaigners urges council or State to buy lands beside closed Dunguaire Castle'
Listen to the broadcast here
New York Times - August 2026
You Can Photograph This Pretty Irish Castle. You Just Can’t Go In.by Dan Barry
Read the article here
Download the pdf here
Galway Live- August 2026
New York Times highlights closed Galway tourist attraction branded 'national disgrace'
Read the article here
Irish Independent - August 2026
Further coverage of discussions with the OPW.
Read the article here
Galway Live - July 2026
Ran the story that the Government has given its clearest indicator yet about the future of Dunguiare, but as yet no concrete steps have been taken.
Read the article here
IrishCentral - June 2026
The American-Irish outlet covered the closure in detail, drawing the contrast between the €60 million approved for new council offices and the roughly €2 million needed to reopen the castle.
Read the article here
The Clare Champion - 2025 and 2026
Ran the story more than once, from “Deadlock at Dunguaire” to a recent piece describing the closed castle at the gateway to the Burren as an embarrassment, noting thousands of petition signatures.
Read the article here
Connacht Tribune - June 2026
Reported the Council CEO confirming that formal funding requests had so far been unsuccessful, and that work continues to secure the castle’s future.
Read the article here
Galway Bay FM
Covered councillors’ warnings that the closure is a major blow to local tourism and jobs.
Listen to the segment here
Whats been promised
Galway County Council has advised councillors that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, together with the Office of Public Works, is now exploring the acquisition of title to Dunguaire Castle.
That’s genuine progress, and we welcome it. But an exploration isn’t a plan. There’s no timeline and no commitment yet. What turns this into a reopening is a clear, public plan with real dates, and that’s what we’ll keep asking for.
Raised in the Dáil
The closure has been raised directly in Dáil Éireann, including by Deputy Louis O’Hara, who has pressed the Government on why funding was found for Clare’s castles and asked for the same to be done for Dunguaire.