MORE than 150 people took part in yesterday's annual "Save Mullaghmore" walk in Co Clare, skirting around the folded limestone mountain which has become a symbol of the struggle for the Burren.
The walk took place in crisp, dry weather with only a light flurry of snow towards the end, according to a spokesman for the Burren Action Group, which has been leading a seven year campaign against building at Mullaghmore.
Mr Trevor Sargent, the Green Party's sole TD, was one of the walkers on the 10 mile "pilgrimage" around Mullaghmore, where the Office of Public Works still plans to build a visitor centre.
Because of icy roads in the Midlands, Mr Sargent arrived too late to make his speech at the start of the walk, in which he condemned the Government for treating the Heritage Council with contempt by ignoring its objections.
The council, whose members include Prof Emer Colleran, a long time opponent of any visitor centre near Mullaghmore, has called on Clare County Council to refuse permission for a scaleddown "entry point" at the site.
"The mood on the walk was upbeat, though there was also a feeling of sadness that we are going into our seventh year of this campaign," said the BAG spokesman. "We needed to get the word out that the fight goes on."
He said the BAG's stance had not changed since 1990. It wanted any new visitor facility for the Burren located in one of the villages on the edge of the national park and not right at the heart of it, as the OPW was proposing.
"Every major environmental group, as well as the Heritage Council, is saying to the powers that be that this would be utterly wrong. Are all of these going to be dismissed and pushed under the carpet as we carry on as before?"
The spokesman said he hoped this year's walk could be the last, but added that the BAG was already gearing up to take the case of Mullaghmore to An Bord Pleanala and beyond. "Still, it's a great way to get out and about."
