Madam, - On a recent weekend my daughter and I paid one of our periodic visits to the Burren, where we were reminded once again of the contrast between the counter-productive rhetoric of some spokesmen for farming organisations when it comes to questions of access, and the courteous hospitality of individual farmers.
While searching for a route on to a hillside we were readily granted permission by the owner of that hill to pass through his farmyard. He accompanied us part of the way, opening and closing gates, and pointing out places of interest on the slopes.
Such kindness is what we have come to cherish during decades of hill-walking in many parts of Ireland, the main difference on this occasion being our host's insightful exposition of the intricacies of REPS and Special Areas of Conservation.
We would like to thank those many hill-farmers who, over the years, have welcomed us on their properties despite their occasional unhappy experience with insensitive visitors. - Yours, etc,
PADDY O'LEARY, Ballinabarney, Redcross, Co Wicklow.