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Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961

In short

This law, the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961, makes further provisions for the management and use of the Curragh of Kildare, repealing earlier acts from 1868 and 1870. It defines specific areas within the Curragh and outlines how they can be used by the Minister for Defence and other parties.

What it regulates

  • The vesting and use of different parts of the Curragh (Camp, Blue Lands, Green Lands) by the Minister for Defence.
  • The laying and maintenance of sewers, drains, cables, and pipes within the Curragh.
  • The taking of sand, gravel, and other materials from the Curragh for construction or maintenance purposes.
  • The grazing of sheep and the inclosure of parts of the Curragh.

Who it concerns

  • The Minister for Defence.
  • Members of the Defence Forces.
  • Persons with rights of common of pasture for sheep on the Curragh.
  • The public, regarding access to certain roads and inspection of the deposited map.
  • The council of the county of Kildare, concerning certain roads.

Key points

  • The Curragh, if not already, is vested in the Minister for Defence, subject to existing leases, tenancies, permissions, licences, rights of way, and common of pasture rights.
  • The Minister has exclusive use of the Camp for Defence Forces purposes, but a public road through it can only be closed or obstructed under specific conditions (e.g., riot or disturbance of peace).
  • The Blue Lands can be used by the Minister for Defence purposes, but permanent buildings cannot be erected.
  • The Green Lands can be used for military exercises, drill, recreation, temporary encampment in emergencies, and military aircraft landing/take-off, but Section 34 of the Defence Act, 1954, does not apply to them.
  • The Blue Lands and Green Lands may be stocked with sheep by those with common of pasture rights, but no such right exists over the Camp or certain leased parts of the Green Lands.
  • The Minister may permanently inclose parts of the Curragh, which would cease the common of pasture rights for sheep in those areas, but this requires a reduction in sheep numbers and consent from rights holders.
Legal text
Legal text

Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

  1. ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
  2. ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
  3. s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1961 Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961 Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 35 of 1961. CURRAGH OF KILDARE ACT, 1961. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Definitions. 2. Vesting of Curragh in Minister. 3. Use of Camp by Minister. 4. Use of Blue Lands by Minister. 5. Use of Green Lands by Minister. 6. The deposited map. 7. Laying of sewers, drains, cables and pipes. 8. Taking of sand, gravel and other materials from Curragh. 9. Exclusion of certain roads from the Act. 10. Grazing of sheep on Curragh. 11. Inclosure of part of Curragh. 12. Notice of inclosure of part of Curragh. 13. Temporary exclusion of sheep from parts of Curragh. 14. Preservation of continuing contracts. 15. Continuance of pending legal proceedings. 16. Bye-laws in relation to Curragh. 17. Repeals. 18. Expenses of the Minister. 19. Short title. Acts Referred to Curragh of Kildare Act, 1868 1868, c. 60 Curragh of Kildare Act, 1870 1870, c. 74 Defence Act, 1954 1954, No. 18 State Property Act, 1954 1954, No. 25 Number 35 of 1961. CURRAGH OF KILDARE ACT, 1961. AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION IN RELATION TO THE CURRAGH OF KILDARE AND ITS MANAGEMENT AND USE AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO REPEAL THE CURRAGH OF KILDARE ACT, 1868, AND PART OF THE CURRAGH OF KILDARE ACT, 1870. [11th August, 1961.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Definitions. 1.—In this Act— “the Act of 1868” means the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1868; “the Blue Lands” means the portion of the Curragh used, immediately before the passing of this Act, for providing rifle practice for members of the Defence Forces and for other military purposes and defined on the deposited map by being coloured blue; “the Camp” means the portions of the Curragh that, immediately before the passing of this Act, were occupied by, or adjoined an encampment or establishment of, the Defence Forces and are defined on the deposited map by being coloured brown; “the Curragh” means the tract of land situate in the county of Kildare and known as the Curragh of Kildare and defined on the deposited map by being enclosed by a dark green line; “the deposited map” means the map that was deposited by the Minister in the Ordnance Survey Office, Dublin, on the 7th day of July, 1961, is sealed with the Official Seal of the Minister, is signed by the Minister and has at the top thereof the words and figures “Deposited for the purposes of any Act of the Oireachtas passed in the year 1961, to make further provision in relation to the Curragh of Kildare and its management and use and for that purpose to repeal the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1868, and part of the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1870”; “the Green Lands” means the portion of the Curragh that does not include the Camp or Blue Lands and is defined on the deposited map by being coloured green; “the Minister” means the Minister for Defence. Vesting of Curragh in Minister. 2.—The Curragh, in so far as it is not already vested in the Minister, is hereby vested in the Minister subject to the leases, tenancies, permissions and licences in relation to any part of the Curragh in existence immediately before the passing of this Act and subject to the rights of way, rights of common of pasture and other rights affecting the Curragh specified in the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1870, and in existence immediately before the passing of this Act. Use of Camp by Minister. 3.—

(1)The Minister shall have the exclusive use of the Camp for the purposes of an encampment and establishment of the Defence Forces and for purposes ancillary thereto and for any other purposes for which the Minister may from time to time require it: provided that the public road through the Camp shown on the deposited map and marked thereon with the letters X and Y shall not be closed or obstructed except under and in accordance with subsection
(2)of this section or for purposes connected with its repair or maintenance.
(2)The officer in command of the portion of the Defence Forces stationed at the Camp may, if he so thinks fit, in case of actual or apprehended riot or disturbance of the peace, close the road referred to in subsection
(1)of this section to the public for such period as he thinks necessary in the circumstances or restrict or control in such manner, to such extent and for such period as he thinks necessary in the circumstances the user of the road. Use of Blue Lands by Minister. 4.—The Minister may use the Blue Lands for the purposes and in the manner specified in section 34 of the Defence Act, 1954 , subject to the limitation that he shall not erect, or authorise or procure the erection of, permanent buildings thereon. Use of Green Lands by Minister. 5.—
(1)The Minister may use the Green Lands, other than any portion thereof that is the subject of any grant, demise, licence or permission, for holding military exercises, for the purposes of providing exercise, drill and recreation for members of the Defence Forces, and for the purposes (in cases of emergency) of temporary encampment thereon and for any other like military purposes and for the landing and taking-off of military aircraft.
(2)Section 34 of the Defence Act, 1954 , shall not apply in relation to the Green Lands. The deposited map. 6.—
(1)As soon as may be after the passing of this Act the Minister shall cause a copy of the deposited map to be deposited in the Central Office of the High Court and the Circuit Court Office for the county of Kildare.
(2)The deposited map shall be retained in the Ordnance Survey Office, Dublin, and the copies of it deposited under subsection
(1)of this section in the offices referred to in that subsection shall be retained in those offices.
(3)The deposited map or copies of it and the copies deposited under subsection
(1)of this section shall be open for inspection free of charge in the offices in which they are deposited by any person at any time at which those offices respectively are open for the transaction of public business.
(4)The Director of Ordnance Survey shall prepare and supply to any person requesting it a copy of the deposited map or any particular part thereof and shall charge for the copy such sum as the Director may determine.
(5)Prima facie evidence of the deposited map or any specified part thereof may be given in any court or any legal proceedings by the production of a copy thereof purporting to be certified to be a copy by an officer of the Director of Ordnance Survey authorised in that behalf by the Director of Ordnance Survey, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of the officer or that he was in fact such officer or was so authorised. Laying of sewers, drains, cables and pipes. 7.—The Minister may from time to time— (
  1. a)lay, or authorise or procure the laying of, such sewers and drains under, on or over the ground at the Curragh and provide, or authorise or procure the provision of, such ancillary works under, on or over the ground atthe Curragh as he may consider necessary for the sewering and draining of the Curragh and the buildings thereon, (
  2. b)lay, or authorise or procure the laying of, such water pipes and electric, telegraphic, telephone and other cables and pipes under, on or over the ground at the Curragh and provide, or authorise or procure the provision of, such ancillary works under, on or over the ground at the Curragh as he may consider necessary, and (
  3. c)maintain and repair, or authorise or procure the maintenance and repair of any sewers, drains, cables, pipes and ancillary works laid or provided under this section or in existence at the Curragh immediately before the passing of this Act. Taking of sand, gravel and other materials from Curragh. 8.—The Minister may, for the purpose of the construction, maintenance or repair of any road in or in the vicinity of the Curragh or for the purpose of any power, duty or function of the Minister in relation to the Curragh, raise, take and carry away, or authorise (on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit to impose) or procure, the raising, taking, and carrying away of, any one or more of the following substances, namely, sand, gravel, stone, clay and turf, from the Curragh. Exclusion of certain roads from the Act. 9.—This Act (other than sections 2, 3 and 7 thereof) does not apply in relation to the roads in the Curragh that are for the time being maintained and repaired by or at the expense of the council of the county of Kildare, being, immediately before the passing of this Act, the roads coloured red on the deposited map. Grazing of sheep on Curragh. 10.—
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Blue Lands and the Green Lands may be stocked and depastured in common with sheep by the persons entitled from time to time to the rights of common of pasture affecting the Curragh that were specified in the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1870.
(2)No right of common of pasture subsists over or affects the Camp or those parts of the Green Lands that are immediately before the passing of this Act the subject of a lease, tenancy agreement or occupation licence. Inclosure of part of Curragh. 11.—
(1)Subject to subsection
(3)of this section, the Minister may inclose permanently, or authorise or procure the permanent inclosure of, any part or parts of the Curragh and, if the Minister considers it necessary for the purpose of such inclosure, the Minister may fence, or authorise or procure the fencing of, the part or parts inclosed.
(2)Where any part of the Curragh is inclosed under subsection
(1)of this section, the rights of common of pasture in respect of sheep affecting the Curragh shall, upon such inclosure, cease to affect that part of the Curragh.
(3)(
  1. a)Where it is proposed to inclose permanently any part of the Curragh under this section, the Minister shall, before the inclosure is effected, procure, either by extinguishment, alteration or modification of any one or more of the rights of common of pasture in respect of sheep affecting the Curragh, such reduction in the number of sheep in respect of which those rights may be exercised as is, in the opinion of the Minister, sufficient to ensure that adequate grazing on the Curragh will be afforded after the inclosure has been effected to the number then remaining. (
  2. b)A right of common of pasture shall not be extinguished, altered or modified under this subsection without the consent of the person to whom the right belongs. Notice of inclosure of part of Curragh. 12.—Where it is proposed to inclose part of the Curragh permanently under this Act, the Minister shall, not less than twenty-one days before the date on which the inclosure will come into operation, publish, or procure the publication of, a notice in at least one newspaper circulating in the county of Kildare stating that it is proposed to inclose part of the Curragh, specifying the part to be inclosed and the date on which the inclosure will come into operation. Temporary exclusion of sheep from parts of Curragh. 13.—Whenever, in pursuance of section 11 of the State Property Act, 1954 , the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, permits any part of the Curragh to be used temporarily by the public generally or any particular class or section of the public or the members of any group, society, or other organisation for the purposes of a carnival, exhibition, display, competition, race or other function, he may exclude, or procure or authorise the exclusion of, sheep by such means, including the erection of temporary fences, as the Minister thinks appropriate from that part of the Curragh during the period of such use. Preservation of continuing contracts. 14.—(
  3. a)Every contract or agreement in writing relating to the Curragh or any part thereof or any buildings or structures thereon, and (
  4. b)every lease, tenancy, licence or permission of any kind in relation to the Curragh or any part thereof or any buildings or structures thereon, not fully executed or completed immediately before the passing of this Act and to which the Minister, the Minister for Finance, the Ranger (within the meaning of the Act of 1868) or the Deputy Ranger (within the meaning of the Act of 1868) is a party or to which any other person is, by virtue of the Act of 1868, a party shall, notwithstanding the repeal of the Act of 1868, continue in force on and after the passing of this Act but any such contract, agreement, lease, tenancy, licence or permission to which the Minister is not a party shall be construed and have effect as if the name of the Minister were substituted therein for the name of the Minister for Finance, the Ranger, the Deputy Ranger or that other person, as the case may be, and the contract, agreement, lease, tenancy, licence or permission shall be enforceable by or against the Minister accordingly. Continuance of pending legal proceedings. 15.—No action, suit or proceedings pending immediately before the passing of this Act in any court or tribunal relating to— (
  5. a)the Curragh or any part thereof or any building or structure thereon, or (
  6. b)a right of way or of common of pasture or other right affecting the Curragh or any part thereof, or (
  7. c)any lease, tenancy, licence, permission, contract or agreement of any kind in relation to the Curragh or any part thereof, or any building or structure thereon, and to which the Minister, the Minister for Finance, the Ranger (within the meaning of the Act of 1868) or the Deputy Ranger (within the meaning of the Act of 1868) is a party shall abate or be discontinued or prejudicially affected by reason of the repeal of the Act of 1868, and in every such action, suit or proceedings aforesaid to which the Minister is not a party, the Minister shall on the passing of this Act become and be a party in the place of the Minister for Finance, the Ranger or the Deputy Ranger, as the case may be, and such action, suit or proceedings, as the case may be, shall be continued between the Minister and the other parties thereto accordingly. Bye-laws in relation to Curragh. 16.—
(1)The Minister may make such bye-laws as he thinks fit in relation to the Curragh and the use and management thereof.
(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection
(1)of this section, bye-laws under that subsection may make provision in relation to the Curragh with respect to all or any of the following matters: (
  1. a)the prevention of trespass by animals, (
  2. b)the prevention of the unauthorised raising, taking or carrying away of sand, gravel, stone, clay, turf or any other substance, (
  3. c)the prevention of the passage of vehicles other than on the public roads, (
  4. d)the prevention of damage to or interference with any notice, post, railing, chain, fence or fitting or property of any kind, (
  5. e)the marking of sheep and the prevention of the grazing of sheep not marked in the manner and with the marks prescribed by, and otherwise in accordance with, the bye-laws, (
  6. f)the prevention of encroachment or nuisance or acts or omissions likely to cause damage or injury to property or persons.
(3)A person who contravenes a bye-law under this section that is stated to be a penal bye-law shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds for each day or part of a day during which the offence was continued and not exceeding one hundred pounds in all.
(4)The bye-laws made on the 4th day of December, 1868, under the Act of 1868, shall, notwithstanding the repeal of that Act, continue in force until the coming into operation of bye-laws in relation to the Curragh made by the Minister under this section or, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, under the State Property Act, 1954 , and the bye-laws made under the Act of 1868 may be enforced by the Minister and the penalties provided thereunder may be recovered by summary proceedings in the District Court.
(5)Every bye-law under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the bye-law is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the bye-law is laid before it, the bye-law shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything done thereunder. Repeals. 17.—The Act of 1868 and sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1870, are hereby repealed. Expenses of the Minister. 18.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be defrayed out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. Short title. 19.—This Act may be cited as the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

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