Avondale House and Forest Park in Wicklow, Ireland, is to undergo an €8m (US$9.2m, £7m) redevelopment, which will see it turned into a visitor attraction.

Avondale House is widely regarded as the birthplace of Irish forestry and was once the home of Irish nationalist politician Charles Stewart Parnell, who was an instrumental political force in William Gladstone’s British government of the 1880s.

Irish tourism body Fáilte Ireland is providing around €6.1m (US$7m, £5.3m) to the project, which is expected to complete in 2021.

"The exciting redevelopment of Avondale House and Forest Park, supported by significant Government funding, presents exciting opportunities for businesses and communities in Wicklow and across Ireland’s Ancient East to benefit from the additional visitors that will be drawn to this major new attraction," said Irish minister of state for tourism Brendan Griffin.

"In terms of accommodation, food and transport facilities, I encourage communities and tourism enterprises across the region to be ready to take advantage when the redeveloped Avondale House and Forest Park opens in 2021."

Paul Kelly, CEO of Fáilte Ireland, added: "We are confident that the redeveloped Avondale House and Forest Park will attract a sizeable number of overseas visitors and domestic tourists ensuring Wicklow and the entire region benefits."

The house and its grounds were built in the 1700s by Samuel Hayes, a baron who introduced a number of then-exotic tree species into Ireland and stretches across 500 acres.