Major Kildare heritage attraction and many others nationwide free for kids this summer

Some of Ireland's most popular heritage sites and attractions will be free for children to enter this summer following a move from the Office if Public Works.

A raft of venues across the country will come in under the new scheme, which is one of the first actions by the new OPW Minister, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran. One of the sites that comes in under the new scheme is Castletown House in Celbridge, which is  a Palladian country house built in 1722 for William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. It formed the centrepiece of a 550-acre estate and now boasts markets, family fun days and cultural events.

"We have some wonderful places to visit like Clonmacnoise, Kilkenny Castle, Newgrange and the Rock of Cashel," said Mr Moran.

"I want every child to have an opportunity to visit them with their families during the summer holidays and up to the end of the year."

Children under the age of 12 will be able to enter numerous venues, including locations near Kildare such as Kilkenny Castle, Clonmacnoise, Newgrange and the Botanic Gardens in Dublin.