Hellfire Project Conservation Works at Massy’s Wood Commence

Hellfire, the transformative project in the Dublin Mountains which will offer a range of exciting amenities and activities for visitors of all ages reaches a key milestone as conservation works officially commence on Tuesday 17th September.

Led by South Dublin County Council and supported by Coillte, Hellfire will transform the area into a captivating destination for leisure, tourism, and cultural experiences. Previously referred to as the “Dublin Mountain Visitor Centre Project”, the project has been named “Hellfire” following extensive consultation with key stakeholders.

Key Features of Hellfire will include:

• Visitor Centre: A state-of-the-art facility providing information, exhibitions, and a café.
• Treetop Canopy Walk: An immersive accessible experience that takes visitors high above the forest canopy, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
• Hellfire Club Restoration: Restoration and conservation of the historic Hellfire Club ruins
• Massy's Estate: Exploration of the historic Massy's Estate, including its woodlands and trails.
• Provision of new walks and trails and improvements to existing walks/trails.
• Road improvements and construction of a new footpath
• Increase in the capacity and size of the existing Hellfire Wood parking area.
• Conservation works to architectural and archaeological heritage features on the site.

Conservation works

The conservation works begin Tuesday morning (17th September) and it is envisaged that these will continue over a period of three months. These sensitive works will take place across the area encompassing Massy’s Wood and its walled garden. Visitors will still be able to access the Hellfire Club, Massy’s Wood, and the walks and trails in the area during the works. However, it may be necessary to temporarily restrict public access to the walled garden for health and safety reasons. Such closures shall only be for the minimum period of time needed to complete the works at that location and the public is kindly asked to adhere to all health and safety notices on site.

Speaking about Hellfire and the conservation works, South Dublin County Council Mayor Cllr Baby Pereppadan, said:

“South Dublin County Council’s Tourism Strategy 2024-2029 reflects the Council’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of South Dublin as a vibrant and sustainable tourist destination, of which, Hellfire is identified as a major initiative to support tourism development in the County. The planned investment in major projects such as Hellfire, demonstrates our aim to create sustainable experiences that resonate with visitors, while also preserving the natural beauty and the cultural and historic heritage of the area. I am excited about Hellfire’s potential and the benefits that will accrue for the local community and visitors alike.

“The conservation works beginning reinforce the Council’s commitment to safeguarding the area’s natural beauty while making it accessible to all. These works will focus on protecting the existing structures in Massy’s Wood, in particular its walled garden, which is an integral part of the historical fabric of the area. The Hellfire Project prioritises sustainability, ensuring that the natural beauty of the Dublin Mountains is protected during all works and in this instance, best practice conservation principles will be sensitively applied whilst also continuing to enable the public to both access and enjoy the beauty of the Massy Woods area.

South Dublin County Council Chief Executive, Colm Ward added:

“Hellfire represents an important gateway to the Dublin Mountains, offering visitors a place of orientation and interpretation, informing them about the geography, archaeology and history of the area, particularly around Montpelier Hill, Massy’s Wood, and, of course, the Hellfire Club itself.

The conversation work at Massy’s Wood is an important milestone in safeguarding the historic character of the area and bringing it to life for the local community, visitors and generations to come. In delivering the Hellfire Project and enhancing the area’s facilities, these conversation works will support the area’s cultural identity and increase awareness of its rich history and heritage value. We look forward to these conservation works getting underway and when complete, are enjoyed by all visitors to the Dublin Mountains.’’

Mark Carlin, MD of Coillte Forest stated:

"Coillte is delighted to support Hellfire and the conservation works at Massy’s Wood. It aligns with Coillte’s ambition to balance and deliver the multiple benefits of forests for climate, nature, wood and people by creating and enhancing sustainable, accessible, and enjoyable outdoor experiences. Not only will the conversation works greatly add to the visitor experience in the unique setting of the Dublin Mountains landscape, but they also represent a celebration of the area’s historic past and safeguard it for future generations to come.’’

Hellfire biodiversity enhancement will continue over the coming months with the removal of invasive species and trail improvements as well as carrying out ongoing monitoring and maintenance across the project area. A suite of trails of various length, degree of accessibility and difficulty class (accessible, easy, moderate or strenuous) and character, will be provided by retaining and upgrading existing roads and paths and developing new sections in places. Further information will be communicated in advance of commencement.

For further information on the Hellfire project, please visit www.hellfiredublinmountains.ie or contact us on econdev@sdublincoco.ie

Note a summary of the conservation works for Massey’s Wood and its walled garden include:

• Surviving walls and planting relating to the landscape design by the White family, Ninian Niven and Richard Turner are to be preserved as part of the conservation repairs;
• Repairs to be carried out using lime mortar and specialist conservation masonry repair techniques;
• Fallen bricks and stones left around the wall bases to be retrieved and used for consolidating and repairing the walls;
• Encroaching ivy, invasive species and shrubs to be removed to access the walls and avoid risking further loss of historic fabric;
• Surviving decorative stone to the grotto are to be left in place and consolidated with matching stone;
• Rough racking and stone pinning of exposed wall heads where the walls are uneven;
• Consolidation of low-level voids and breaches to the walls at low level will allow the existing routes through the walled garden to be rationalised;
• Repairs to wall heads and arches;
• Loose or missing joints are to be raked out, pinned and pointed; and
• Removal of invasive species in the walled garden.