People's Picnic at Old Head of Kinsale

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Thursday August 07, 2008 11:56 by Denis Murphy - Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign c/o (086) 3004573

Protest denial of public access this Sunday

The Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign will be running a bus to the Old Head of Kinsale this Sunday, 10th August where the campaign will hold another of it's People's Picnics against the blocking off of public access from this beautiful West Cork headland.

BUS: Sunday, 10th Augst, 12.30pm sharp, departing outside Cork Opera House, Emmet Place.

Most of you are familiar with the story of the Old Head of Kinsale by now. The Old Head is one of Ireland's most beautiful scenic locations, a headland jutting out 1.5km into the Atlantic Ocean with breathtaking views along the coast in either directions. It is also a bird sanctuary, has Iron Age ruins, the ruins of an ancient castle and battlements and it is one of the best locations in Ireland for whale and dolphin watching. Rare flora and fauna are in abundance including Ireland's only native reptile, the vivaporous lizard. There is a famous lighthouse at the tip of the promontory and it is close to the site where the Lusitania was sunk by a German torpedo in 1915.

In 1987 an ultra-exclusive golf links course was built on the headland through a loophole int he planning laws. The owners of the golf course were supposed to allow public access through the headland but reneged on this and erected barbed wire, razor wire and CCTV cameras, while employing security personnel to keep the public out. They also operate a helicopter pad close to the bird sanctuary even though air traffic is supposed to respect an air exclusion zone 1km around the bird sanctuary.

The fight to reclaim public access has gone on ever since and the Free the Old Head of Kinsale campaign was formed to further that fight. It has held numerous protests in the format of People's Picnics outside the gates, and on occasions have ignored the barbed wire, climbed over it and entered the headland to pursue our traditional walk. The campaign is ongoing and a court case is pending.

Finally we would like to thank all those who attended the very successful fundraising gig held last night (6th August) at the Pav, Patrick Street. The venue was packed to capacity and a great night of music and craic was enjoyed. Many thanks especially to performers John Spillane and Mick Flannery who performed free of charge to the campaign. Thanks also to the venue and to Rory McCarthy who was MC for the night. The gig was also attended by former Lord Mayor of Dublin Tomás Mac Giolla and his wife May who have been at previous protests at the Old Head and came along last night to support the campaign while on a visit to Cork.

Don't forget - BUS leaves from outside the Opera House, Emmet Place, Cork at 12.30pm this Sunday. Come along and help free the Old Head