Letter to the editor of the Irish Times Aug 2019
Sir,
Keep Ireland Open note that the new owners of Luggala Estate are making encouraging noises about keeping the Estate open to the public as it has been for many years. However, it has to be born in mind that in Garech be Brun’s time the Estate was open on a “grace and favour basis” only. It must be said that the law on access to the countryside in Ireland, which is much more restrictive than virtually every EU country, allows property owners to close off their property at any time, without notice and without having to give any reason. In your article you mention that the Estate was sold at a considerable discount. This begs the question as to why the Estate, with its enormous recreational value, was not acquired by the State and added to the Wicklow National Park. It seems germane to ask why the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been starved of cash by successive Governments whereas there always seems to have plenty of money for the likes of the FAI and horse racing interests.