Sir, - News reports on Sunday and Monday referred to hill-walkers being out in the countryside despite appeals from the Government. The Irish Ramblers Club, the biggest hill-walking club in the country, has cancelled all activities since March 1st. Our club is one of over 100 member-clubs of the Mountaineeering Council of Ireland, an umbrella body representing over 6,000 climbers, hill-walkers and ramblers north and south of the border.
The MCI has issued guidelines to its member clubs instructing them to stay out of the countryside until further notice; a similar appeal has been made to other recreational users. All responsible hill-walkers must condemn the activities of those on the hills at this time.
Staff of the National Park and the Wicklow Countryside Wardens have stated that those on the hills last weekend were for the most part not regular hill-walkers. - Yours, etc.,
Sheila Kane, President, Irish Ramblers Club, Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin 5.