Reduced opening days at Glenveagh Castle due to staff shortages

A staff shortage at Glenveagh National Park has led to reduced opening days. 

Glenveagh Castle, which is located at Glenveagh National Park, is closed on Fridays and Mondays and cannot accommodate visitors. The park, which is situated at the base of the Derryveagh Mountains, is the second largest in Ireland and an intrinsic part of Donegal’s tourism industry. 

The issue was raised in the Dáil by Senator Manus Boyle: “Approximately 200,000 people visit the castle every year and it is a vital part of the tourism plan for the national park. The problem is a lack of staff. We need more staff and this has been going on for the last eight months. It is a serious issue. The staff there are working diligently under challenging circumstances and are really keeping the park going. 

Senator Boyle highlighted that the issue began in September 2024 and “nothing has been done. We really need the Minister to try to get a handle on this. It is an essential part of Donegal tourism and anything we can get to Donegal, we are more than happy with. We are very proud of it.

An Cathaoirleach, Verona Murphy, replied with “Like an All-Ireland final, perhaps?” Senator Boyle responded, addressing the tolls that Donegal fans will have to pay ahead of the All-Ireland final and continued saying: “We need to move beyond words, so I am asking the Minister for Enterprise to bring forward budget 2026 proposals that include a temporary PRSI rebate for lower-paid staff, a review of commercial rates and real reform of public procurement to make it accessible to SMEs. 

“If we continue down the current path, it will be death by a 1,000 cuts and we will look back and wonder why we let our economy bleed while we all watched.”

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Currently, the Wicklow Mountains are the largest of Ireland’s six completed national parks, followed by Glenveagh, Wild Nephin, Killarney, Connemara and The Burren National Park respectively. However, Kerry Seas, which is a marine park being created in Kerry, will be the country’s largest national park. Boyne Valley National Park is also under construction in County Meath.