The birthplace of Charles Stewart Parnell will host a meeting of the Cabinet on June 7th as part of the Wicklow 400 celebrations. Avondale house is situated near Rathdrum and is surrounded by over 500 acres of woodland. The house was built in 1777 and the American Room is dedicated to Parnell’s Grandfather, Admiral Charles Stewart, who manned the USS Constitution during the 1812 war.

Cabinet meetings are not often held outside Dublin. The last one was held in Cork as part of the European City of Culture. County Wicklow has hosted government meetings before. Tinakilly House, Rathnew hosted a special government meeting and dinner in 1994 (cost : £1,045.17).

Fine Gael TD, Billy Timmins, was first to suggest the idea of having the government cabinet meeting in County Wicklow. He proposed the idea to the Taoiseach in the Dail and has welcomed the official announcement of the meeting.