A Letter from the Chair

A Letter from the Chair

 

Sean Byrne, Chairman, Wicklow Uplands Council

 

Wicklow Uplands Council is now 20 years in existence so perhaps this is a good time to reflect on where we have come from, how and why we came into existence, to remind ourselves of our original mission and consider if we still live up to this responsibility.

From very humble beginnings in 1995 and from a small and dedicated group of people, the emergence of the Uplands Council was conceived. The following is a snap-shot of the circumstances which resulted in the formation of the organisation.

In the early 1990’s communities suffered similar difficulties to those experienced all over the country today, compounded by a lack of communication from various state-supported institutions during a time when consultation with local people was not considered necessary.

At that time in Wicklow, it was a fledgling National Park Authority imposing conditions and structures in one of the most scenic landscapes in Ireland.  This and the prospect of management changes to our mountain areas as a Category II National Park with absolutely no interaction or communication with the people and communities affected by such ambitious plans.

Rightly or wrongly, this was seen as a major threat to traditional farm practices, recreational activities and future planning, an infringement of existing rights and a way of life enjoyed for generations. The uncertainty of how new regulation and legislation would affect people who lived, worked and took their recreation in the same mountain areas caused serious concern and anxiety to communities and individuals alike.

At the time there were various groups and organisations representing different interests which were sometimes completely at odds with each other, all individually trying to communicate with Government agencies to present a case for their members.  Representations were not co-ordinated and varying interests often conflicted with one another which further served to deepen what was becoming a divisive situation.  What was needed was an umbrella body or mechanism to bring all the stakeholder interests together. This was a big ask, considering the diversity of the groups involved which included:

The Irish Farmers Association, Cheviot Sheep Owners Association, commercial dairy farmers, Farmers and Property Owners’ Association,  National Association of Regional Game Clubs, local gun and sporting clubs, An Taisce, Wicklow Environmental Group, Mountaineering Council of Ireland, large private estates, commercial shooting estates, angling clubs, outdoor adventure centres, motor sport interests, walking clubs, mountain bike enthusiasts, community groups, medium and small sized businesses and tourism services and suppliers.

I must acknowledge the efforts of a number of key people whose initiative and determination helped to resolve some of the difficulties and frustration suffered by so many.  It was the foresight of the late Professor Adrian Phillips who initiated a study visit of interested parties in Wicklow to Newcastle, Co Down to study the structure of the Mourne Heritage Trust which was set up in 1980 to address similar issues in the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  This led to the setting up of a Steering Group led through several months of very difficult discussions by former Chairman Dermot Hand. Others involved in those original discussions that I must pay tribute to are Jim Healy, Director of the Leader II Programme, who provided all secretarial and office assistance, David Rowe, Murtagh O’Keefe, Saive Coffey, Johnny Power, Frank Nuttall and David Hermon.  Those and others, who have remained involved over the years, successfully established the Wicklow Uplands Council.

I thank all involved then and over this past 20 years for working to establish and maintain the role of Wicklow Uplands Council in effectively representing the issues of our members and progressing so many successful projects with small resources.  I thank our funders, The Heritage Council, and in particular CEO Michael Starrett, who has supported us from the very start, in addition to Wicklow County Council and businessman Denis O’Brien.  I also wish to thank our member organisations and individual members, our Board of Directors past and present, former Chairmen, Dermot Hand, Declan O’Neill and Phillip Geoghegan, former CEO Colin Murphy who was an institution in himself steering us through those early and difficult days and our present staff, Cara Heraty, Margaret Murphy and Lenka Mulligan.

I am privileged to look forward to my role as Chair of the Wicklow Uplands Council which is a unique organisation in the Republic of Ireland.

 

Author: Sean Byrne, Chairman, Wicklow Uplands Council