Additional staff member sought for Mayo museum grounds

A request has been made for an extra staff member to be employed for the upkeep of the grounds at Turlough Park, home of the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life.

The total cost for the upkeep of the grounds at Turlough House, including planting of flowers, painting of seats, glass cutting and wages, varies from year to year, depending on the works scheduled, but it works out at approximately €185,000.

This funding is recouped by Mayo County Council from the Office of Public Works every year. It includes the wages of two council staff assigned full-time to Turlough Park grounds maintenance works - a horticulturist and a general operative.

The details were set out following a query from Councillor Michael Kilcoyne about how the grounds are funded.

He suggested that another grounds person was needed and asked the council to seek funding for an additional staff member.

It's a beautiful place, he said, but he felt more can be done with it.