Barbed wire penance on "Holy Mountain"

Westport based hillwaker Michael Murphy told the KIO press conference that Mayo County Council is to institute enforcement proceedings against those who who have erected a fence at Durless on the 'Western Way' walking route as planning permission for the fencing should have been sought.

The approach road at Skelp/Crott Mountain on the start of the popular east ridge approach to Croagh Patrick and on the Tochar Phadraig route has also been heavily wired off on both sides and barbed wire now runs north and south all the way down to Owenwee Bog.

Mr. Murphy claimed that eastern approach to the mountain is now almost completely cut off and there is more wiring along the old Demesne wall below the crest of Crott Mountain.

AFFIDAVIT

Referring to the Durless area, a townland on the south side of the west ridge approach to Croagh Patrick, Mr. Murphy said there is now two miles or so of fencing sealing off this approach, the Western Way walking route has been closed and the waymarks thrown away.

"At our request", Mr. Murphy continued, "the Council says it will now institute enforcement proceedings as planning permission for this fencing should have been sought".

SUB-DIVIDE

But instead: "Vicious barbed wire-fencing is now everywhere, new stretches appearing almost every day across formerly open commonage. Attempts are now being made to subdivide and grab this land, depriving citizens of their heritage to walk across the open hills of their native land".

Mr. Murphy continued: "Sheep farmers, both existing ones and the many new arrivals into sheep farming, are being egged on by the two main farming organisations to subdivide and fence off the commonages in their areas.

"This land is already badly degraded from overgrazing- another ill -advised policy emanating from the EU and pushed beyond all reason by advisers in IFA and ICMSA".