:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/EJDBH2Y6URUV74GH7ATNTKJAXA.jpg)
The gates of Dublin's Phoenix Park at Ashtown and Castleknock will be closed for a number of days next week and the week after in order to facilitate the rehanging of historical gates.
The gates were removed at the time of the visit of Pope Francis who celebrated an open air Mass in the park in August 2018.
At that time the OPW decided to refurbish and repaint the gates and repair the pillars. But the project has been delayed several times due to Covid-19 restrictions.
In an update on Thursday the OPW said the gate restoration project is now at the stage where no further works can take place without closing the Ashtown and Castleknock gates to ensure the safety of the people working on the project and to complete the works as quickly as possible.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/MHYEZHOXMS7TYP6LDY4IJWXYKE.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/U2VKUVG52HRL662SP6QSJ5DIDM.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/KHG3RIYOVOOMZXD5XGI2WUPKTI.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/CZXTITSSTDXSUQHVVADU73WDMQ.jpg)
The outstanding works include masonry work to the piers at each of the two locations, the installation of historic granite bollards, both inside and outside each gate, and rehanging the restored gates.
Ashtown Gate will close from 11pm on Tuesday, June 29 to 7am on Monday, July 5.
Castleknock Gate will close From 7am on Wednesday, July 7 to 7am on Monday, July 12.
Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.
If the works are completed quicker than expected, the gates will reopen sooner, the OPW said.