Roscrea Castle, which dates back to the 13th century, has reopened to the visiting public for a new tourist season.
It follows extensive works to upgrade the 13th century castle and make it safe, along with its grounds and gardens - including a restored Georgian mansion.
The improvement works were carried out by the OPW over a three-year period and cost just short of €900,000.
The castle is located in the heart of one of Ireland's oldest towns, a pivotal geographic location where three counties meet.
It is a place of heritage and ancient ecclesiastical significance, and originally formed around the seventh century monastery of St. Crónán.
Roscrea Castle is a stone motte castle, originally built in 1280 as a castle and tower by the King of England.
It has had a chequered ownership over the centuries, having been claimed by the Bishop of Killaloe and the Butlers of Ormond, before being stormed by Owen Roe O'Neill during the Cromwellian conquests.
Within its courtyard grounds lies Damer House, an elegant three-storey Georgian dwelling with nine bay windows which was built by merchant John Damer in the early 18th century; it is one of the few examples of pre-Palladian architecture left in Ireland.
The house retains many of its period features, with one of its rooms furnished in the period style, and contains a restored, finely carved timber staircase.
Last year, the OPW completed a three-year programme of repairs and upgrades at Roscrea Castle and Damer House.
The castle was closed 2019, as significant repairs were needed to ensure the ongoing safety of the building, including upgraded lighting, improved fire safety and other ancillary works.
Those works included upgrading all electrical ducting, cabling, lighting and emergency lighting, and sockets throughout the Gate Tower, supervisors' and guides' offices, operational staff depot quarters and courtyards.
New distribution boards were installed as well as the introduction of a new CCTV security system.
The OPW says that the addition of the new lighting and heating features have greatly improved comfort levels for both staff and visitors.
Upgrades to Damer House included substantial work to the north and east façade. All the window boxes and sashes were worked on, as were stone jambs, window cills, keystones and lintels, with eroded sandstone surrounds having been repaired to stop the ingress large quantities water into the fabric of the house.
Roscrea Castle gardens and courtyard formally opens for the visitor and tours today as a new tourist season begins, and forms part of a heritage walk through the town which includes the Round Tower, the Black Mills, and a Franciscan Abbey with a Romanesque doorway.
