Members of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) looked on at Uggool beach at the mouth of Killary Harbour yesterday as Keep Ireland Open (KIO) held its friendly protest over restricted public access to the controversial Mayo strand.
The strangest things on view were the firbolgs from Galway's Macnas troupe. At one point it appeared as if walkers were outnumbered by local farmers who turned out with tractors, trailers and cars in defence of the landowner, Mr Gerard Burke.
Uggool runs up to Mweelrea, Connacht's highest mountain. The route from the beach to the slopes, and round to the Killary fjord, had been a favourite for hill walkers.
Since 1989, however, access has been restricted by fencing erected by Mr Burke, and various attempts to resolve the issue have failed. The landowner has since built a road round the back of his farm and has applied for planning permission for houses.
The dispute took another twist in March 1997, when Mayo County Council said that, because the beach had been fenced off for five years, it was prevented from taking any action to restore access. The local authority pledged to acquire a new public right of way under the 1963 Planning Act.
However, it said it would have to undertake an initial search in the Land Registry Office to ascertain the identity of some 200 registered owners of commonage over which the right of way would extend.
Mr Austin Francis O'Malley, chairman of the Killeen branch of the IFA, said that yesterday's counter-protest was in support of Mr Burke's position.
"The man is totally within his rights. Farmers are always being blamed for everything these days, like pollution. Permission to walk across land is usually granted if people ask, but it shouldn't be taken as a right."