Talking of Killarney, I observed that the toll of 6d. is still exacted from visitors entering Muckross estate, now a national park. Killarney abounds in notices of such tolls, but this is the only case known to me where it is levied on entry to public property.
I was reminded of a friend's story of his experience some years ago when he took a Sunday afternoon stroll from the town to the Muckross Demesne.
Several groups entered before him, and several followed behind. On entering he espied a notice-board to the left of the gateway, and he paused to read a rather lengthy exhortation to refrain from vandalism during his visit. While thus engaged he was approached by an attendant from a gate-lodge opposite who requested payment of an admission charge of sixpence. My friend paid up, and received a ticket in acknowledgement. There followed the customary conversational exchange regarding weather conditions, and during its course my friend observed with some surprise that several groups had, and were, passing in without being asked to pay the levy of 6d. He asked the attendant for enlightenment, and was informed that the other persons were "natives", and that it was not customary to charge "natives".
"And why," he then asked the attendant, "do you think that I am not native?"
"Faith, sir," said that worthy, "in all my years here I never yet saw one of the locals read that notice!"
My friend tells me that ever since he has carefully avoided even a passing glance at the notice-boards in Killarney district!
The Irish Times, September 21st, 1940.