Solution needed - Illegal fires

It’s just over a year since, in these very columns, a dangerous and illegal fire near Killarney’s National Park that threatened houses and Loughquittane National School was discussed.

We called for a change in culture, one that would bring an end to this destructive vandalism at the very height of the breeding season for birds and so many wild animals. But yesterday, just like clockwork, the fires — or arsonists — struck again. Kerry’s fire brigades fought hill fires that should never have been set and that should not be tolerated.

These fires are — usually — set to accelerate new growth and make the hill more valuable for sheep farmers. As often as not, the land involved is commonage so we all have skin in this fight. All arguments about protecting the environment, breeding animals, and the threat arson poses to one of our national parks have fallen on deaf ears.

One solution, a pretty radical one, would be to ban all sheep from areas where the illegal fires are set. Let us hope we are not forced to consider that extreme but potentially effective option.