Old Head Of Kinsale in News Today

Monday December 16, 2002 13:12

by Shuttin Sionnain!

From FOIE Website / Indo

Club officials believe that if unrestricted public access rights be enforced, the golf operation could not survive the insurance implications and the disruption to its core golfing trade.

THE millionaire developer of Ireland's most exclusive golf course has said that he wouldn't proceed again with the award-winning €15m venture.

John O'Connor, founder of the Old Head of Kinsale Golf Club spoke as a landmark Supreme Court hearing this week on public access demands to the course could redefine Irish private property rights.

Hailed by Links magazine as "the most spectacular course on earth" and by Japanese golf bible, Golf Digest, as "a course in a million", the Old Head's only real rivals now are Scotland's famous St Andrew's and Carnoustie. Yet Ashbourne Holdings boss and Old Head of Kinsale Golf Club President, Mr O'Connor, described the last five years as "a total nightmare" with repeated planning and legal clashes over right of way disputes.

Now, instead of symbolising a proud Irish tourism success story, the Old Head finds itself destined for the Supreme Court this week - after having spent the previous five years fighting planning battles and High Court challenges, first with Cork County Council and now An Bord Pleanala.

"If we lose the Supreme Court hearing then the outcome for us is simple. In the words of Mr Justice Kearns in the High Court, it would make the golf course inoperable," Mr O'Connor said.

At issue is how much access the public should have to the course and the scenic headland. The local authority wants year round supervised access to the headland - but the golf course founders appealed that ruling to the High Court.

The High Court ruled in favour of the golf course but that is now being appealed to the High Court by the council and An Bord Pleanala.

Club officials believe that if unrestricted public access rights be enforced, the golf operation could not survive the insurance implications and the disruption to its core golfing trade.

The looming Supreme Court hearing reflects a legal battle that has been waged up and down Britain for the past two decades - the balance of private property rights with the so-called rights of the rambler. The Old Head course was developed on 40 acres of a spectacular headland jutting straight into the Atlantic. Both ramblers and An Bord Pleanala are adamant that public access through the golf course to the Old Head itself must be guaranteed.

Workers Party official, Ted Tynan, said ordinary people will not be denied access to one of the country's great natural beauty spots.

But John O'Connor disagrees: "When we took over this land, it was covered in gorse and heather so high than you couldn't walk on it," he explained.

Ashbourne Holdings purchased it in 1989 for just £220,000. Now, after a €15m investment, the site has been transformed and 98pc of the course's clientele in 2000 to 2001 came from abroad.