Calls for protection of historical landmark in this Kildare town

A Fine Gael councillor has called for the protection of the Fair Green in Kilcock, Co Kildare, in light of the development of the DART+ project.

Cllr Tim Durkan put forward his motion at a recent meeting of Clane Maynooth Municipal District, held on Friday, May 1 2026.

Cllr Durkan motioned: “That the council acknowledges the historical significance of the Fair Green, Kilcock and works towards adding it to a protected monuments and or structures list.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Durkan said he would first like to point out that he is “fully” supportive of DART+ and fought hard to bring the service to Kilcock.

Now it was coming to the town with a significant depot it would bring employment to the area, he said, “but there are small little issues that need to be addressed.”

The Fair Green in Kilcock was once such issue, Cllr Durkan said, adding he was “delighted” to see it is on a protected structures list, as specified in a council report.

The people of Kilcock “absolutely” want DART+ to come to the town, he said, but equally they do not wish to see the Fair Green destroyed.

Cllr Durkan reiterated his support for DART+, but said a mechanism was needed whereby the ring fort in Kilcock and the Fair Green were protected.

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Cllr Angela Feeney, supporting the motion, said that Irish Rail were “very good” in their consultation process for DART+, and said they were very responsive to a number of queries she personally had on the project.

“They are aware of a lot of the issues, (so) I would be hopeful that they'd listen to the people”, she said.

Cllr Feeney said a number of questions from the consultation process went forward that week, and she would be hopeful that Irish Rail would “listen to the voice of the people.”

A report issued by Kildare County Council stated: “It should be noted that KD005-030: Cross - Market cross (Fairgreen Kilcock) is included on the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) and refers to a small, rectangular, granite (sic) cross base with a broad mortice in its upper surface, traditionally used as a coffin-resting stone.

“The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) is a statutory, comprehensive list of Irish archaeological sites and monuments protected under the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.

“Furthermore, the Water Pump is also included on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) Ref 11802036.”