The Office of Public Works is responsible for the management, conservation and presentation of approximately 780 heritage sites. Of this number, 70 are presented to the public with a guide service. A number of sites such as Kilmainham Gaol, the Rock of Cashel and Kilkenny Castle are open to visitors all year round, while others such as Dunmore Cave and Jerpoint Abbey have reduced winter hours. Many sites are open only for the summer season. A core staff of 94 permanent guides is augmented by approximately 200 guides who return as required for the high season. Temporary seasonal guides are recruited each year to complete the number of staff required to run the visitor service element of OPW Heritage Services. In 2011, pay amounted to €9,596,918 for a total of 432 guides.
Site
|
Pay Expenditure 2011
|
No of guides
|
Ardfert Cathedral
|
€69,927.62
|
2
|
Athenry Castle
|
€55,996.12
|
4
|
Aughnanure Castle
|
€69,932.77
|
5
|
Ballyhack Castle
|
€17,756.66
|
2
|
Barryscourt Castle
|
€42,950.59
|
4
|
Battle of the Boyne
|
€318,429.15
|
10
|
Botanic Gardens *
|
€426,090.52
|
6
|
Boyle Abbey
|
€43,542.07
|
3
|
Brú na Bóinne
|
€494,484.04
|
17
|
Cahir Castle
|
€245,833.94
|
10
|
Carrowmore Megalithic Centre
|
€91,899.74
|
4
|
Casino Marino
|
€68,174.27
|
7
|
Castletown
|
€134,294.54
|
10
|
Céide Fields
|
€151,897.59
|
6
|
Charles Fort
|
€210,663.97
|
10
|
Clonmacnoise
|
€311,834.69
|
15
|
Corlea Bog
|
€72,302.66
|
3
|
Derrynane House
|
€54,218.80
|
5
|
Desmond Castle
|
€48,658.66
|
2
|
Desmond Hall
|
€25,337.23
|
3
|
Donegal Castle
|
€127,327.76
|
6
|
Dún Aonghusa
|
€215,961.48
|
11
|
Dungarvan Castle
|
€30,502.54
|
3
|
Dunmore Cave
|
€199,940.03
|
9
|
Emo Court *
|
€63,304.31
|
5
|
Ennis Friary
|
€37,488.84
|
5
|
Farmleigh
|
€54,776.58
|
4
|
Ferns Castle
|
€49,065.69
|
5
|
Gallarus
|
€15,108.83
|
3
|
Glebe House & Gallery *
|
€201,892.67
|
8
|
Glendalough Centre
|
€307,289.12
|
9
|
Hill of Tara
|
€43,402.07
|
3
|
Ilnacullin-Garnish
|
€31,638.77
|
3
|
Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir*
|
€84,595.92
|
7
|
Jerpoint Abbey
|
€142,236.96
|
7
|
JFK Arboretum*
|
€54,435.20
|
3
|
Kilkenny Castle
|
€676,769.49
|
25
|
Kilmacurragh
|
€57,003.40
|
3
|
Kilmainham Gaol
|
€571,558.28
|
24
|
Knowth Passage Grave
|
€135,867.16
|
See Brú na Bóinne
|
Listowel Castle
|
€26,957.61
|
3
|
Loughcrew
|
€35,372.77
|
2
|
Main Guard
|
€62,327.28
|
4
|
Maynooth Castle
|
€35,714.90
|
3
|
Newgrange
|
€273,699.52
|
See Brú na Bóinne
|
New Mills Corn & Flax Mills
|
€31,224.04
|
3
|
Old Mellifont
|
€60,370.34
|
3
|
Ormond Castle
|
€57,552.60
|
6
|
Parkes Castle
|
€65,539.08
|
5
|
Pearse Museum & St. Enda's Park*
|
€338,427.39
|
7
|
Phoenix Park Visitor Centre*
|
€134,595.34
|
6
|
Portumna Castle
|
€99,398.35
|
6
|
Rathfarnham Castle *
|
€122,784.46
|
7
|
Reginald's Tower
|
€121,825.48
|
6
|
Rock of Cashel
|
€496,829.58
|
23
|
Roscrea Castle Grounds
|
€78,216.21
|
5
|
Ross Castle
|
€223,771.34
|
6
|
Scattery Island
|
€16,619.37
|
1
|
Skelligs
|
€90,765.61
|
5
|
Sligo Abbey
|
€71,451.57
|
5
|
St. Audoens
|
€75,364.60
|
10
|
St. Mary's Abbey
|
€15,763.07
|
See Casino
|
St. Mary's Gowran
|
€25,863.82
|
2
|
Swiss Cottage
|
€116,583.95
|
6
|
Teach an Phiarsaigh
|
€29,860.88
|
3
|
Tintern Abbey
|
€52,746.58
|
7
|
Trim Castle
|
€138,746.31
|
10
|
Dublin Castle
|
€644,155.93
|
16
|
TOTAL
|
€9,596,918.71
|
432
|