Sir, – I have just returned from a week trying to wander in the west of Ireland. The impression I have brought home is that Mayo has been tarmacked over and what’s not yet slathered in the black stuff is “private land” and inaccessible.
Using a Tailte Éireann Discovery map, I attempted to walk roads to nowhere – yellow and grey roads that end in a field on a headland. Some ended in unwelcoming gates, others were impassable with brambles and nettles.
When I asked locals who was responsible for keeping these lovely ancient green boreens open, I was firmly told, “that would be private land” – in other words: “keep off.”
Your vehicular roads, even those waymarked as “loops”, are unusable on foot, due to reckless driving speeds.
The welcome I received from Jennifer Johnston is something I will never forget
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I would suggest taking a leaf out of the English book and save taxpayers’ money, lay off the tarmac and let a few potholes develop – they are a sure-fire way to make drivers slow down. It will save pedestrians’ lives and maybe a few more will get out of their cars, stay fitter and save on medical bills too. – Yours, etc,
SUSANNAH CLEMENCE,
Somerset,
England.
