Madam, - Living as we do in an age of selfish access-deniers and even more selfish developers, what a pleasure it was to read (March 28th) of the sale to the State for a song of 1,600 acres of scenic Wicklow upland by the Hon Garech Browne.
Mr Browne has long been feted by Irish and visiting walkers for his generosity in allowing them to cross his land freely and enjoy its unique views.
The 1,600 acres he has sold will unify a hitherto fragmented Wicklow Mountains National Park. If the acreage and sale price of €1.725 million you report are correct, then the cost per acre is barely over €1,000, a pittance in the context of the scandalous land prices of recent years.
Credit is due also to Minister Roche for pushing through this important acquisition.
- Yours, etc, MARTIN JOYCE, Editor,Walking World Ireland magazine, Dublin 6.