A WEST Donegal councillor has called on the National Parks and Wildlife Service to take immediate steps to fully reopen tours of Glenveagh Castle seven days a week.

Staffing shortages have forced the castle to close two days a week, on Mondays and Fridays.

A spokesperson for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which oversees the castle, said the closure is due to “limited resources”.

Sinn Féin councillor, John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh stressed that west Donegal relies heavily on tourism.

“To have one of our leading attractions closed two days a week because of staffing issues shows a lack of commitment to the region,” he said.

“Glenveagh National Park is one of west Donegal’s greatest tourist attractions, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year.

“Tours of the castle are a key part of that experience, and its limited opening hours are a huge disappointment for those who travel from across Ireland and abroad to visit.”

He said visitors leaving with a negative experience is having “knock-on impacts for the local economy and for west Donegal’s reputation as a destination”.

The Gaoth Dobhair based councillor’s comments follow confirmation that there are currently no plans to fully reopen the castle. This was revealed in response to a Parliamentary Question submitted by his party colleague, Deputy Pearse Doherty.

“This is simply not good enough,” said Cllr Ó Fearraigh.

“The National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Government must get their act together and ensure tours of Glenveagh Castle are reopened seven days a week without delay.

“The staff who are there are doing an excellent job, but they need to be supported with the resources to deliver the service visitors expect of a national park”.