Petition aims to stop 1,058 home development in Dundalk
A local petition is calling on Louth County Council and other bodies to not allow a proposed development of 1,058 homes beside Cú Chulainn’s Castle in Dundalk
Plans for a Large-scale Residential Development (LRD) or 1,058 homes on lands beside Cú Chulainn's Castle in Dundalk are being opposed locally, with a petition raised in recent days, calling for Cú Chulainn’s castle and the surrounding areas to be protected from large-scale residential development.
Grandspect Limited applied to Louth County Council for planning permission in November 2025 for the development at Castletown Road, Dundalk, seeking a 10-year permission at a site of c. 38.89ha (96.1 acres), bounded generally by the Castletown Road/R934 to the north, Mount Avenue and Cú Chulainn’s Castle to the east, Greyacre Road to the west, and existing agricultural lands to the south within the Townlands of Newtownbalregan, Castletown, and Farrandreg, at Mount Avenue, Castletown.
Cú Chulainn’s Castle is a protected structure, listed in Louth County Council's Record of Protected Structures, RPS ref: LH00701. Cú Chulainn’s Castle is not within the application site or ownership.
The proposed development comprises 1,058 dwellings, consisting of 765 houses, 150 duplex units, and 143 apartment units. The 765 houses comprise 10 two-bedroom bungalows; 34 two-bedroom, two-storey houses; 547 three-bedroom, two-storey houses; and 174 four-bedroom, two-storey houses.
The application includes plans for a local centre, comprising three retail units, a community/medical unit, and the provision of a stand-alone childcare facility in a two storey building.
Two new vehicular entrances are proposed to serve the development forming new junctions at Castletown Road/R934 and Mount Avenue respectively.
The development includes plans for a of public open space of c. 5.1Ha (12.6 acres) within the residential development, including provision of a playing pitch; provision of a Heritage Park on the lands surrounding Cú Chulainn’s Castle to the east, and incorporates a Standing Stone, listed in Louth County Council's Record of Protected Structures as a protected structure, RPS ref: LH00700, within the Heritage Park.
A decision is due on the application by 22 July 2026, with submissions due by 1 July.
A petition seeking to “protect Cú Chulainn’s Castle and surrounding landscape” was created by Nicola Bishop in recent days, and has already received over 780 signatures.
The petition calls on: “ Louth County Council, the National Monuments Service, and all relevant planning authorities to protect Cúchulainn’s Castle and the surrounding landscape from large-scale residential development.”
It says that: “The proposed construction of over 1,000 homes beside the site risks permanently damaging the visual character, heritage value, and archaeological integrity of the area.
“There are also longstanding local accounts of possible underground tunnels and archaeological features beneath the castle grounds that warrant further professional investigation before any development proceeds.
“Instead of intensive development, we believe the site should be preserved and enhanced as a protected heritage area, including:
- “Formal heritage protection for the castle and surrounding lands;
- “Archaeological excavation and investigation;
- “Preservation of the surrounding landscape;
- “Development of a visitor and educational centre celebrating the legend of Cúchulainn and the history of the region.
“This site is part of the identity and history of Dundalk. Once its surrounding landscape is lost, it can never truly be restored.
“ We respectfully urge the relevant authorities to reconsider any proposed development plans and prioritise the protection and preservation of this unique heritage site.”
The petition can be found at uplift.ie.