Old Head of Kinsale revisited

cork | rights and freedoms | news report Monday July 26, 2004 14:09 by Red Hugh O'Donnell - Free the Old Head of Kinsale

Exclusive Golf Links still denying access to ancient right of way

Protesters from the Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign paid a surprise visit to the West Cork headland yesterday (Sunday) to renew their demand for the right of public access to this historic place of beauty.

For several years the owners of an exclusive Golf Course, built at the Old Head of Kinsale despite its historic and tourist importance, have denied the public the right to walk on the headland. For generations - centuries even - local people and visitors have enjoyed the breath-taking scenery of the Old Head of Kinsale.

The Old Head offers spectacular views of the West Cork coastline and is Ireland's premier location for whale and dolphin watching. It also has important flora and fauna and is the site of an Iron Age fort and the medieval De Courceys Castle.

Since time immemorial people have enjoyed walking on the Old Head of Kinsale and up to recent times it has been a popular spot for hill walkers, nature lovers, rock fishers, bird watchers and cetacean watchers.

The Free the Old Head of Kinsale campaign and many people from Kinsale and throughout Ireland (and beyond) have disputed the denial of public access and over the last three years have staged numerous protests and "People's Picnics" at the Old Head.

The entrance to the headland is closed by the Old Head Golflinks where multi-billionaires and their hangers-on hang out.
CCTV cameras, barbed wire and high fences block the way, with security personnel just in case a dreaded hill walker might try and get in.

Yesterday about a dozen members of the Free the Old Head Campaign paid a surprise visit and set up camp outside the gates. There we witnessed dozens of tourists being turned away, some of them having driven forty or fifty miles to see the Old Head of Kinsale only to find an entrance more akin to Israel's new security wall.

Yesterday we met Germans, Americans, English, Poles, Latvians and Australians who were incensed at the privatisation of this superb beauty spot (not to mention dozens of Irish people).

The Free the Old Head of Kinsale campaign will hold its first 'official' People's Picnic of the year on August 22nd next. Watch Indymedia and local press / billboards for details of transport.