A COUNCILLOR WHO has disputed the Duke of Devonshire's ownership of Youghal Harbour has welcomed an offer by the duke to resolve the issue by entering into talks with Youghal Town Council.
Independent Cllr Ollie Casey said he believed the Duke of Devonshire was genuine in his offer.
Cllr Casey said he expects such discussions to take place within a matter of weeks.
"I don't want to speculate or prejudge any outcome but I welcome the duke's offer and I would expect that the council will receive an invite in the near future to hold talks with him and that's very welcome," said Cllr Casey, who first raised the issue 18 years ago.
Cllr Casey was speaking following an RTÉ Radio 1 documentary broadcast last night entitled Fishing the Blackwater in which the 12th Duke of Devonshire, Peregrine Andrew Mornay Cavendish, offered to meet Youghal Town Council officials.
"I think as far as the ownership of the Blackwater, particularly in the harbour, the best thing that could possibly happen . . . is that we should sit down with the people in Youghal, the officials . . . there are a number of issues which we would love to resolve," said the duke.
"I would welcome an approach from the council to come and discuss it with us . . . If there is to be discussions about the river, particularly in Youghal, then let's have those discussions and it may be that we can come to some sensible agreement for the benefit of everybody."
The duke owns Lismore Castle and some 8,000 surrounding acres as well as fishing rights on 20 miles of the River Blackwater.
He told RTÉ producer Liam O'Brien that he didn't know why any of his ancestors hadn't undertaken such an initiative in the past.
"It may be that we should now turn over a new leaf and see what we can do talking to them and I'm sure something good will come out of that," he told Mr O'Brien during an interview at Pratt's Gentlemen's Club in Westminster.
The duke is one of the richest men in Britain, with an estate estimated to be worth more than £500 million (€630 million). He is a close friend of Prince Charles and hosted a visit by the prince to Lismore in 2004.
