STATELY HOME FIRE:RUSSBOROUGH HOUSE, the stately home in Co Wicklow that was badly damaged by fire last Sunday, is likely to open as planned next month.
The flames destroyed much of the roof of the house’s west wing but did not affect the main house, the part of the building that is open to the public.
Russborough House’s chief executive, Eric Blatchford, said he was confident the damaged roof could be secured so that the house and its grounds could open to the public on Mother’s Day, on March 14th. He added that, contrary to some reports, the cost of rebuilding was unlikely to run into millions of euro.
The wing, which was being redeveloped as short-let apartments, was empty when the fire broke out in the roof, at about 9pm on Sunday. The wing had been cleared to allow for the renovation and for a film shoot by Steven Soderbergh, who is making part of Knockoutin Ireland.
The results of an investigation into the fire will not be known until the end of the week, but Blatchford said arson had been ruled out.
The house, which is near the town of Blessington, attracts 30,000 visitors a year. It is due to open each Sunday in March and April and fully in May for the summer season.
