Sean Keating Garden/Park, Rathfarnham Castle Park, Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Declared ExemptPlanning application ED25/0063
Dublin - South Dublin County Council
Proposed Development
Ballyboden Tidy Towns clg (BBTT) have submitted under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, an application to request a declaration as to whether specific works carried out at the Seán Keating Garden (sometimes referred to as the Seán Keating Park), located within the curtilage of Rathfarnham Castle, constitutes exempted development. The area in question lies adjacent to Rathfarnham Castle, a National Monument in State care, and a Protected Structure; and is also situated adjacent to an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA); and forms part of the landscape character of Rathfarnham Castle. It is our understanding that the following works were carried out without the benefit of planning permission: 1. Formation of a public garden/amenity park, including land grading, introduction of ornamental planting, and structured landscaping. 2. Installation of paved surfaces, hard landscaping, and fixed boundary treatments or kerbing. 3. Construction of an artificial pond and associated infrastructure. 4. Placement of street furniture, signage, and public amenities such as benches and bins. 5. Possible alterations to existing curtilage walls, access routes, or gates.
View the full application file on the council's planning portal →Application Timeline
Application received
21 Jul 2025
Decision due
18 Aug 2025
Decision: Declared Exempt
18 Aug 2025
Appeal submitted
15 Sept 2025
Appeal decided: Declared Exempt
8 Jan 2026
Application Details
- Location
- Sean Keating Garden/Park, Rathfarnham Castle Park, Rathfarnham Castle, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
- Applicant
- N/A
- Application Type
- Declaration of Exemption Sect. 5
- Planning Authority
- South Dublin County Council
- Site Area
- 486.283917320609 ha
Timeline
- Registration Date
- 21 July 2025
- Status
- Appeal decided
- Decision
- Declared Exempt
- Decision Date
- 18 August 2025
An Coimisiún Pleanála Appeal
- Appeal Reference
- acp-323659-25
- Status
- Appeal decided
- Decision
- Declared Exempt
- Submitted
- 15 September 2025
- Decided
- 8 January 2026
Location
Planning Applications Nearby
What the council has granted and refused around this site is the best guide to how a similar application will fare.
Erect a 6.6 X 1.9 X 2.5m high stainless steel and glass bus shelter with 2 illuminated display panels - outbound from Dublin, adjacent to visitors entrance to Rathfarnham Castle (location no. 7873).
Rathfarnham Road, Dublin 14
(1) Timber fence constructed on top of existing southeast front boundary wall approx height 1.74m; (2) timber fence constructed off face of existing rear boundary walls on southeast and partially to northeast approx height 2.36m, on northwest and partially to northeast approx height 2.66m.
"Manhattan", 1 Castleview, Castleside Drive, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Single storey 8 sq. m. extension to the rear of the existing dwelling,
3, Castleview, Castledrive, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Solar panels to the front of main roof.
3, Castleview, Castleside Drive, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Demolition of existing single storey flat roof extension (floor area 30.5sq.m.) to rear of existing single storey (floor area 81.3sq.m.) and replacement with a two storey extension (floor area 330.4sq.m.) to rear comprising of living, bedroom, and sanitary accommodation together with the removal of internal walls (whilst maintaining structural support for existing chimney breast), removal of existing roof window to rear roof surface and installation of 6 no. Velux conservation type roof windows to side and rear roof surfaces, single storey lean-to boiler room extension (floor area 4sq.m.) to side and all associated site works; Rathfarnham Castle Lodge is a Protected Structure - Map Reference No. 212. Complaince with condition 7.
Rathfarnham Castle Lodge, corner of Rathfarnham Road, & Castleside Drive, Dublin 14.
To provide 4 number new timber frame windows to 3 Main Street, Rathfarnham Village to match the existing geometry of windows to ground floor of number 3 Main Street and the existing geometry of windows to adjacent three other properties at numbers 1, 2 and 4. To provide a new six panel timber front door to 3 Main Street to match existing doors at numbers 1 and 2.
3, Main Street, Rathfarnham Village, Dublin 14
Works to re-instate door in front elevation and alter internal layout, within the Architectural Conservation Area of Rathfarnham Village.
6-7, Main Street, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.
Removal of existing ATM and replacement with newer model.
AIB Bank, 5/6, Main Street, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Two new public plazas and a pedestrian crossing as follows: (1) New plaza and pedestrian crossing comprising alterations and improvements to paving, kerbing, car-parking, trees, public lighting, bollards, bus stop, dual-carriageway median strip and right-turn lane at Rathfarnham Road, between the dual carriageway and the existing forecourt, tearooms and former stables of Rathfarnham Castle, and between the junctions of Butterfield Avenue and Rathfarnham Road and Castleside Drive and Rathfarnham Road, in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Works to include: - New paving layouts and upgraded kerbing - New trees, public lights and bollards - Revised off-street car-parking spaces - Re-location of the existing bus stop on the west side of Rathfarnham Road opposite the public car park - Re-location of the exit from the existing car-park - Re-location and redesign of the road crossing for pedestrians - Alterations to the dual-carriageway median strip and right-turn lane The site is not within the Rathfarnham Architectural Conservation Area. The works are proposed on a site which is protected under the Planning and Development Acts being within the curtilage of Rathfarnham Castle, Map Ref No. 221 on the Record of Protected Structures. The site is also protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2004. No works are proposed by this project to Rathfarnham Castle itself, a National Monument and Protected Structure. (2) New plaza at the castellated entrance to the old Graveyard replacing existing planted area and comprising alterations and improvements to paving, kerbing, trees, benches, feature stone wall, public lighting, bollards and junction, at Rathfarnham Road, between the junctions of Village Green and Rathfarnham Road and Main Street and Rathfarnham Road, in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14. Works to include: - Removing planting for new trees, paving layout and upgraded kerbing - New benches and feature stone wall - New public lights and bollards - Reduced radius at junction between Main Street and Rathfarnham Road Part of the site is within the Rathfarnham Architectural Conservation Area. The site of the Old Graveyard and Medieval Church is a Recorded Monument under the National Monuments Acts 1930 – 2004, (Ref DU022 – 013001 and DU022 – 013002) . No works are proposed by this project to the Old Graveyard and Medieval Church. Drawings of the proposed works will be on public display at: South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24 (between the hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00am - 4.30pm on Friday) and on http://www.sdcc.ie/ during the period from 23rd January 2015 to 6th March 2015. Submissions or observations with respect to this matter dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated may be made in writing to: The County Architect, Architectural Services Department, South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24. The latest date for the receipt of submissions or observations is 4.30pm on 20th March 2015. http://www.sdublincoco.ie/index.aspx?pageid=939&pid=31799
Rathfarnham Road, Dublin 14
Change of use to residential usage and retention of replacement roof structure to Dovecote.
12A, Crannagh Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
Planning a project of your own?
Find out in two minutes whether you need planning permission. It's free, and based on the exempted development regulations.
Do I Need Permission?