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WATCH: Local community activist interviewed on Nationwide last night

Michael G Phelan

Cullahill was featured on RTE’s Nationwide programme last night, which remembered the John Murray show countryside walks that took place there three years ago.

Ballacolla man and chairman of South Laois Tourism, Michael G Phelan, was interviewed about the walking trails in south Laois.

“Everyone has bought into the walks in this part of the world and there’s now 16 different trials in South Laois.”

Good working relationships 

Michael credited the good relationship between local farmers and organisers as the reason why the walks are so successful.

“There is a good relationship with the farmers and community behind the walks and this has evolved through people having respect for the land. When farmers open up their lands to the wider community, people seem to respect it,” he said.

Michael was joined on the show by local farmer Vincent O’Brien.

Vincent opened open his land for the walks and wanted to encourage other farmers to do the same.

“Rural Ireland needs people in rural Ireland. If the walkways are kept to the edge of the field the fields aren’t damaged. If the walks create one or two jobs then that’s a family that can stay in the area.”

Michael is involved with many projects in the local area, including the Woodenbridge Paddlers, Ballacolla’s Donkey Derby day and walks along the MacGiollaphadraig way.

He added that there are styles put up for walkers so that farmers don’t have to worry about gates being left open.

Broadcasting great John Murray highlighted the great co-operation between all those in Cullahill as being needed in the rest of the country. ”

He said, “Parts of the country where there is no co-operation between landowners and local communities, these places are losing out. Surely the difficulties can be ironed out so people can get the benefit of walking the highways and byways off the roads of Ireland.”

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