Sir, - You published a lovely photograph in your Weekend section of June 14th. It was from Tamasin Day-Lewis's West of Ireland Summers. and showed Tamasin's daughter dancing with delight on Uggool Strand. Let not your readers imagine that they can share her joy. If they try to go on that beach they will be turned off it.
You have published several articles, and many readers' letters, about this Louisburgh problem.
The story is simple. An ancient right-of-way gives lawful access from the end of the tarred road, on what we call the White Strand, to Uggool Strand and the whole glorious north shore of Killary Harbour. The track crosses the fringe of a sheep-ranch whose landlord has blocked the area off with a sharp fence from below the tide-mark to the high slope of Muilrea mountain, claiming that the beach too is his.
I am no lawyer, but this must be wrong. Mayo County Council has said for years that it would "soon" be making an agreement for access to the Killary beaches and cliffs, an important potential tourist attraction. Nothing gets done. Your picture showed a forbidden pleasure.
Another picture in Tamasin's book was taken on my land. There is no right-of-way, but visitors are welcome if they keep to the paths, respect the sheep and do not pick the flowers. - Yours, etc.,
Tully Lodge,
Louisburgh,
Co Mayo.