Old Head of Kinsale - protest at Courthouse during hearing

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday February 06, 2003 16:18 by Sean O Seafraidh - Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign

Members of the Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign staged a demonstration outside Kinsale Town Hall this morning (Thursday) during a sitting of Kinsale District Court.

The protest was to coincide with a hearing against James McBarron of the Free the Old Head campaign who is charged with damaging the fence.

For several years public access to this beauty spot has been denied by the owners of an exclusive Golf Club which was built on the Old Head of Kinsale in 1997.

The campaigners have been fighting for the restoration of full public access to the Old Head of Kinsale which has been an amenity enjoyed by citizens for centuries and has been a popular place for hillwalking, rock-fishing and many other leisure pursuits.

The access issue is currently before the Supreme Court as the local authority are contesting the closure of the headland by the golf club and its owners the O'Connor Brothers (Ashbourne Holdings).

James McBarron (centre, top photo) is strongly contesting the claim by gardai that he interfered with the fence and was granted Free Legal Aid at this mornings protest.