Sir, – Keep Ireland Open welcomes Brian Hutton's excellent article "Can Ireland walk tall with Wild Atlantic route?" (March 26th).
Sadly the answer to this question is an emphatic “No”.
Access for walkers where private land has to be traversed, with rare exceptions such as the Sheep’s Head Peninsula in West Cork, is abysmal. This means that large swathes of the Irish countryside are inaccessible to people whether they be local or tourists. For several important reasons, this must change. Walking and other physical activity is good for people’s health. As Ireland has become a largely urban society there is a greater need for responsible access to the countryside, a fact born out by the popularity of greenways. Tourists from other European countries expect much greater access for walkers and many are disappointed by what they find in Ireland. As Hutton’s article makes clear, increasing access brings with it very considerable economic benefits, frequently to remote parts which could benefit from an economic boost. No doubt that is the reason for the vocal campaign to get a greenway opened between Westport and Louisburgh in Co Mayo.
A walking trail along the Wild Atlantic Way is an excellent idea. The obstacles to this are huge. Several examples demonstrate this. Getting the South Kerry Greenway approved required a Supreme Court decision. The blocked access to Fenit Island in north Kerry required a 15-year campaign by local people, leading to a Circuit Court decision last January to order the removal of the blockage. The long-established path to the viewing point for the Pollet Sea Arch in Lough Swilly, Co Donegal, was blocked, leading to a situation where, at considerable cost, Donegal County Council has to pay rent for an alternative route which is permissive only and could be withdrawn. Even on our famous pilgrimage peak, Croagh Patrick, access is permissive rather than assured. In theory at least, access could be withdrawn, even though public money has recently been spent upgrading the track to the summit.
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These cases point to why Keep Ireland Open is of the firm view that legislation is urgently required to establish access and rights of way. The British Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 is a guide for what might be suitable legislation for this country. If all farmers and landowners had the enlightened view of the West Cork farmer cited in your article, this mightn’t be necessary. However, as my examples demonstrate, this is not the situation generally; hence the need for legislation. – Yours, etc,
ROBERT DOWDS,
Chairman,
Keep Ireland Open,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.