Once-famous Cork 'gig' castle closed to public 'for too long'

The OPW closed the castle for work in 2015

The late Meat Loaf is one of many big-name acts to have played to thousands of adoring fans in the grounds of the magnificent castle in Conna. File photo: AP/Kai-Uwe Knoth

It was once the venue for major concerts, especially during the 1980s and 90s when big-name acts such as Smokey, the Sultans of Ping and the late Meat Loaf played to thousands of adoring fans in the grounds of a medieval castle in northeast Co. Cork.

Those heady days are gone, but not even the locals are able to access the magnificent castle in Conna because it’s taking the Office of Public Works (OPW) so long to carry out work on it.