Sir, - We would like to comment on the report by Lorna Siggins (May 27th). She says that Keep Ireland Open "staged a public protest on the beach last June. Intended as a peaceful demonstration, it backfired when local farmers held a counter-demonstration in support of Mr Bourke." (Mr Bourke is the landowner). Incidentally, the event took place in June 1997, not last year.
It was not a protest but a family outing to exercise the public's traditional rights of access to this beach which have been enjoyed by local and visitors from time immemorial. The several hundred people who attended came from all parts of Ireland (including Westport) and carried no placards. There was a demonstration by placard-carrying farmers some of whom were drafted in from outside the area. Far from "back-firing", we believe that the day was a great success and paved the way for the intervention by the Ombudsman.
Regarding the reference to lack of support by the Mountaineering Council of Ireland, no formal request for representation was made to any of our affiliates, including the MCI but members from most of our affiliated organisations, including the MCI, were present on the day.
What a message this saga sends to our visitors on top of recent cases of assaults by landowners on walkers! Many areas in Ireland are now "off limits" to the public. Bord Failte please note. - Yours, etc.,
Roger Garland, Chairman, KEEP IRELAND OPEN, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.