Farmers can block our access to the countryside because the law is lacking

It was reported in the Mayo News that disaffected farmers threatened to block the path up Croagh Patrick, because of a row with the Department of Agriculture about commonage-based grants.

The centuries-old path is across commonage and it has never been declared a legal right of way. No doubt that will be a shock to many people but we have been trying to get the message across that all access can be closed and that the law in Ireland will do nothing to prevent this. Most Irish people think that Croagh Patrick, or at least the ancient,much-used pilgrimage route to its summit, is untouchable. Not so.

This is a perfect illustration of why this and all other tracks need to be listed, declared rights-of-way and protected by legislation. The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) got windy and dissociated itself from the threats to close the mountain. Ironic that, given their continuous attempts to block better protection for public access. The core issue remains the same: nothing is protected because, without legislation, the power remains firmly in the hands of the landowners.