South Dublin County Council select McHugh Group for Rathfarnham Castle Project

South Dublin County Council has announced that after an extensive tender process they have partnered with the McHugh Group for project that will ‘provide a top-class retail/hospitality offering at Rathfarnham Castle Courtyard and Stables.’

The project aims to deliver a 1,400 square metre retail/hospitality unit adjacent to Rathfarnham Castle.

The McHugh group will work with South Dublin County Council (SDCC) and appointed design teams to develop the facility from design phase to delivery of daily operations.

The proposed vision will be inspired by three key pillars, Retail, Hospitality and Community.

The extensive hospitality offering will consist of a premium day time café and evening casual dining venue.

Retail will consist of a boutique garden centre and lifestyle, offering premium deli and gourmet food, whilst additional aspects of the project will include a versatile space for community uses such as Yoga, Pilates, Art classes and local events.

Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Cllr. Alan Edge said, “I am delighted to see the Castle Stables and Courtyard at Rathfarnham project progressing. I believe this project will provide a vibrant and valuable social space for the residents of Rathfarnham and visitors alike.

“This development will enhance the attraction of Rathfarnham, and will sit alongside some beautiful existing sites in the area such as Rathfarnham Castle, and Pearse Museum.

“This project is a shining example of the investment South Dublin County Council are making to comprehensively increase the attraction of the County, for all who live, work in and visit South Dublin County.”

Diarmuid McHugh, Managing Director of McHugh Group said ‘We are delighted to be partnering with SDCC in this amazing community initiative. Our team prides itself in always putting our customer first and we are really looking forward to making ourselves an integral part of the Rathfarnham Community.”

Pictured are Diarmuid McHugh, Gerry McHugh, Cathal McHugh.
Picture by Shane O’Neill, SON Photographic

McHugh Group has been in business in the retail and hospitality space for over 60 years and currently own and successfully operate 11 individual businesses including restaurants (one each in Portmarnock, and Raheny), cafes, supermarkets and garden centres.

They employ over 250 people and pride themselves on exceptionally high standards and intrinsic links with the communities in which they trade. These values frame their purpose which is ‘To Delight Customers while Enhancing Our Communities”.

In a statement, South Dublin County Council said:

“This engagement is the latest in a series of recent announcements with regard to developing the visitor economy in South Dublin County.

“This project will coincide with the Council’s current investment in other key projects underway across the county such as the delivery of the Dodder and Grand Canal Greenways, a new heritage centre in Tallaght, the 12th Lock masterplan, Corkagh Park enhancements, the Canal Loop project, the development of a visitor and interpretive centre in the Dublin mountains, as well as the completion of Tallaght Stadium bringing it to 10,000-seater capacity, a new public transport interchange, and major public realm enhancement in Lucan to facilitate the village’s Destination Towns designation.

“These projects, together with the now completed Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin represent a structured investment in enhancing the vibrancy and attraction of South Dublin County.

“The objective of South Dublin County Council is to build on these projects, identify new opportunities for the County, and ensure such development contributes to making South Dublin a better place for the community and for visitors.”

As part of project planning and development, public consultation will take place to allow for comprehensive public input into the vision of the project.