Dear Members & Supporters,

I’m sending this email / letter to keep you updated about Keep Ireland Open and to wish you a happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Many thanks for your continuing support of Keep Ireland Open. Sadly there continues to be a pressing need for legislation to protect and extend rights for way for walkers and other recreational users as access is still not enshrined in law as in other countries.

Our principal focus in 2023 was in lobbying politicians with a view to bringing legislation that ensures the right to access our countryside before the Dáil and Seanad. KIO welcomes the amendments to the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1995 that came into effect on 31 July 2023. These amendments re-balance the duty of care owed by occupiers to entrants (visitors, recreational users, and trespassers) and brings Ireland’s claims and personal responsibility culture more in line with other EU Member States. We will redouble our lobbying activity in 2024 as local and European election campaigns get underway.  

Once again we would appeal to you to renew your membership subscription or make a donation via the Keep Ireland Open website –www.keepirelandopen.org.

Fundraising Appeal for 2 Brave Walkers.

In 2003 a landowner blocked off a route on the Old Coach Road near Enniskerry to walkers. Noel Barry and Niall Lenoach of the Enniskerry Walkers Association challenged this in court, in part, because the route was shown as a public road on maps back as far as 1760. Sadly, and, in my view, unjustly they lost the case in the Supreme Court and they are personally saddled with a bill of €38,452.96.

As Chairperson of Keep Ireland Open I am urging members to make a contribution to their expenses if at all possible. I am making a personal donation myself.

To make a donation please use the IBAN provided.

Enniskerry Walkers Association. IBAN: IE49AIBK93340608771042 (BIC: AIBKIE2D)

Every good wish for Christmas and the New Year,

Robert Dowds, Chair,

Keep Ireland Open, Tel. 087-6520360.