Carnalway access situation hardens

A public protest meeting to be held at Carnalway Bridge on the evening of Thursday August 4 will be aiming to show the strength of opposition to the recent blocking of the way by a local landowner to a traditional swimming and fishing area.

Brannockstown and Carnalway residents are hoping to get the support of Naas and Newbridge people, who have also been regular users of the area over generations.

"I was taught to swim there, and there are people in their eighties who remember using the riverbank from the time they were children," says Steve Schwer, who chaired a special meeting of the Brannockstown Village Committee on Tuesday night, to discuss the issue.

A wooden barrier was recently erected by the landowner, blocking off a stile at the bridge used by families and fishermen to access the bank of the Liffey downstream of the bridge.



A large 'Private Property' sign was added last weekend, but disappeared within days.

"Feelings are running very high here," another local person, who asked not to be named, told the Diary, and recalled when a previous owner built a high wooden fence some years ago, it was burned down.

That particular owner, after strong representations, relented from his attempt to block the riverbank and instead fenced his land leaving a reasonable walking and sitting area. He also planted screening trees inside the fence, which some locals say was a clear recognition of the old right of way.

The meeting on Tuesday night heard legal advice which said there is an established right of way on the property, and the Committee has resolved to fight the closure through the courts if necessary.

"It isn't just for ourselves in Brannockstown, but for the people of the wider region in this part of the county," Steve Schwer says. "This is a tradition here. So much so that when the original stile was demolished years ago in a crash on the bridge, the County Council insisted that it be reinstated in the rebuilding of the wall."

The Council has been notified of the closure, and local people have been told that the landowner is being 'written to'.

And the Diary is aware that the landowner has offered to open the area to the public on Sundays during the summer, but not on any other day. This has been deemed unacceptable locally.

The Kilcullen Trout & Salmon Anglers Association, which has the fishing rights in the area, is also understood to have had an emergency meeting on the matter.

Members of the local community have emphasised to the Diary that they neither want nor would they condone any illegal action in relation to the barrier.

But, as is reported above -- and also is indicated by the quick removal of the 'Private Property' sign -- 'feelings are running high'.

Brian Byrne.