It’s hoped that people will be able to access the inside of Rattoo Round Tower by Heritage Week in August.
Kerry Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly raised the issue in the Dáil yesterday, and said there is huge frustration in Ballyduff that the historic site has been closed for repairs for 15 years.
Rattoo Round Tower is the only surviving complete round tower in Kerry, and is believed to date back to the 13th century.
Deputy Daly told the Dáil the former ecclesiastical complex once hosted an abbey, church, hospital, and a school of music.
He called on the Office of Public Works to get repair works completed and to get the tower open.
Minister of State Frank Feighan responded on behalf of Minister for the OPW, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran.
He said there are hopes the tower can be accessed internally by Heritage Week, the 15th to 23rd August, with an interpretive signage to tell visitors about its history.
