Walk the walk
 Ramblers in Ireland
will soon be able to wander anywhere in the countryside as a new agreement
between government and farmers nears completion.
Although Ireland has considerably more open land than England it doesn’t
have nearly as many rights of ways or bridleways.
However the new agreement would see farmers being paid ¤1,000 and
would see rural Ireland opened up.
The Countryside Walkways Scheme could potentially involve 5,000 landowners
in creating 2,000km of linear and looped walks throughout the country
next year.
A comprehensive network of walking routes in Ireland would be overseen
and promoted by Fáilte Ireland drawing in a new and potentially
lucrative tourist trade in rural areas.
The number of overseas holidaymakers enjoying walking breaks in Ireland
is estimated at 168,000 a year although that figure is believed to be
in decline. This is completely against the trend in overall tourist figures
— and believed to be linked to problems of access to rambling routes.
Many paths are open to hikers, but are mostly in disrepair — poorly
sign-posted and badly fenced.
Farmers’ fears over litigation due to accidents have largely been
allayed. Under the Irish Farmers’ Association, local authorities
would indemnify the farmer against such claims.
In 2003 a Donegal landowner was ordered to pay more than ¤84,400
to a woman who was injured after falling down a cliff. The award was later
overturned by the Supreme Court who found that the woman should have assumed
there was a degree of risk when she ventured to the edge of the cliff.
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