Farmers fields - whats the story

Found myself in farmer's fields on a few solo spins lately. Hopped in on purpose to take shortcuts that I'd seen other people do on strava. Said feck it, I'll chance my arm and see what happens. Didn't bump in to anybody except for a few cows scuttling about. Just wondering whats the story with doing this. Is it cool in the daytime but not at night? Whats the best excuse to roll out if cornered by an angry farmer, pretend to be lost and deny all knowledge of epic? Does anyone ask the farmers for permission, would it be silly to come clean and say you'd like to pass through once a week on a training spin or whatever.

The two shortcuts, i'll bet some people probably know already...one was getting in to the hellfire from the oldcourt road near the lidl. Went a bit off course in the field and ended up next to big ruin of a castle (not the hellfire!) 20 odd years living in tallaght and didn't know this thing existed. if that field is off limits, its a shame cause the ruin looked good from what i could see in the dark. the other field was last week, coming off seehan down to the resovoirs, a rocky trail pops you into a farmyard, gate was open, pedalled through and on my way.

The castle is known as Carty's Castle I have often come down that way from hell fire never had any problems and the same exiting often from Sehan by the farm yard have always got a wave or hello from the owners .
the two routes are used a by some IMBRC members who live in the area plus walkers with out issues
Would have concerns about night time use as most house holders have security concerns a real threat in both areas check the barking dogs
best way to deny not being in epic no club gear
if challenged ? sure may be just be somebody looking for a chat or directions
enjoy
T

Just say you know Terry O'Neill and you'll be grand :-)

Farmers yard from seehaun is ok to go through once all the gates are closed and you dismount your bike. The farmer there is polite so it's nice to keep on his good side


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The farmer along what used to be the green mile on the Tuesday spin isn't so understanding, bit of a cnut! Tried to run me over with his atv one time.

That was the same guy who's fences were being cut/broken down by walkers a few years ago, so he tried to stop them walking in his back garden, which is understandable I guess!!

So then the walkers came back in force and lead a protest walk over his land lead by a guy playing the Bagpipes marching along... True story!

I guess he's a bit sensitive about people on his land, though I think the walkers claimed it was a right of way... Must look up the story, I think someone posted it on here...

I never had any issue with farmers on either of them trails but I wouldnt ride the trail from the hellfire to Lidl alone at night unless you were into a bit off mma mixed in with your training spin, I ran into the cast of Snatch out lamping the one time I rode it at night, pretty sure I got a K.O.M on strava on my way up.

There was a big messy court case about that at the time and the farmer won (his name is Mr Walker - how ironic) so its not a right of way. I met him there once when I was on the bike and he was friendly enough once I got chatting to him but he doesn't allow people to go through there as it then sets a precedence which can be claimed as a right of way then which is what the walkers that he doesn't get on with did. I've been through other times on the sly though!

I can't add to whats already been said but the basic principals are:

there is no right to access land in Ireland - there is no right to roam. This means that, in the absence of permission, you are trespassing. In my experience, farmers are generally relaxed enough about access, even when you haven't asked, so long as you are not knocking down walls/fences or worrying their animals.

The same goes for commonage land - despite the name, commonage does not mean that there are no private owners. Commonage land is a remnant of a very old land management system whereby a group of families own the land in common and they have identifiable rights to graze a certain number of animals on the land. There is no automatic right to access to commonage land though in practice you could have gotten permission off of any of the owners.

Finally, if you find out that the 'farmer' in question is called Slazenger its probably best to apologise profusely and continue along your way.

My experience has been that farmers are ok about access if the group is small and it is best to stay away from the farm yard and house unless you know that its ok, as is the case with Sehan - imagine you found a group of lads in your garden.

If you want the legal detail: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en...n_ireland.html

In terms of the legal end of things - I know a number of the Departments are keenly watching the 'I fell and hurt my knee' case and want loads of money. If the appeal is unsuccessful there is a high risk of farmers taking a very hard-line approach to land access.

Yea that sounds right...