Andy "The Bull" McSharry

Andy McSharry
NationalityIrish
Other names"the Bull"
OccupationFarmer
Known forCampaigning against hill walkers

Andy "the Bull" McSharry is an Irish sheep farmer from County Sligo who came to national attention after a seventeen-year campaign during which he objected to casual walkers trespassing on his land, a dispute which inspired other farmers to object to similar treatment. The dispute began in 1992 and concluded in 2009.

McSharry lives on a 225-acre (0.91 km2) farm in Gleniff, near Ben Bulben in North County Sligo.[1][2][3] He is married and has family.[1] He is known for wearing an Indiana Jones-type broad-brimmed hat[4] and he refers to himself as "the Bull", a reference to the character in John B. Keane's play The Field.[1][2][5] Fine Gael's spokesperson on Arts, Sports and Tourism Jimmy Deenihan once said of McSharry: “John B would have loved to have met you”.[6] The farmer has often been seen driving around on an all-terrain vehicle to ensure his land is not invaded.[5]

The dispute began when McSharry's lands were included in a guidebook distributed to walkers despite him not having authorised this.[2] The route through his lands was taken out of the book; however walkers still wandered onto his lands even when he posted "Keep Out" notices.[2] The publicity raised by McSharry prompted other farmers to also defend their lands.[2]

In 2003, he was convicted of issuing threats to hillwalkers the previous year and, upon refusal to pay a €300 fine, was sent to prison for two weeks in January the following year.[2][5][7][8] He had even considered going on hunger strike, saying the publicity generated by the case was attracting even more curious people onto his lands and that half a dozen people had even trampled down part of his fence.[1] During an interview on his sentencing he said: “There is no way farmers can give away land to strangers. We must get our share. There is no free inch or no free land in the country”.[2] Two hundred farmers, including President of the Irish Farmers' Association John Dillon, protested at his sentencing and gathered outside the gates of Loughan House open prison in County Cavan to welcome him as he was released from his confinement.[7][9][10][11] In an interview with Farm Week on RTÉ Radio 1 after his release he said: "There is no way in hell I will let walkers through my land for nothing".[12]

A report sent to Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív later in January 2004 suggested the establishment of a national council to deal with land ownership and access rights.[13] Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers' Association in February 2004, McSharry compared the group Keep Ireland Open to the Mafia, saying: "These people want a slice of everyone's action for nothing".[14] A "peace deal" was offered in October 2004 as a "goodwill gesture" where walkers could access lands for one day.[15]

The dispute came to an end in September 2009 with Minister Ó Cuív visiting to publicly shake hands with McSharry and launch a new mountain walk at his home in Gleniff.[3][8] No money exchanged hands.[3][5]

McSharry's story was documented in the RTÉ television series Léargas.[16]

  1. ^ a b c d Michael Brennan (17 June 2003). "Farmer considers hunger strike over €300 fine for intimidating walkers". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 7 January 2005. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Richard Oakley (3 September 2006). "Farmers are demanding €5 per metre of land they open up to ramblers. Can they be serious". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 24 September 2009.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ a b c "Dispute over "The Bull Mc Sharry's" land at an end". Ocean FM. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "IT'S A HAT TRICK". Sligo Weekender. 10 April 2007. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  5. ^ a b c d Anita Guidera (22 September 2009). "Hills alive as 17-year walker row resolved". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Bull meets county man of John B". Sligo Weekender. 26 September 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2009. ...known nationally for his strong stance on the hill walking issue...[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ a b "Farmer unbowed after spell in jail". The Irish Times. 20 January 2004. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Sligo IFA distance themselves from demonstrators". Ocean FM. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ Sean Mac Connell (12 January 2004). "Protest at prison over jailing of farmer". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  10. ^ "Protest at Cavan jail over Sligo farmer". RTÉ. 10 January 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  11. ^ "Farmers protest over hillwalking". Sunday Tribune. 11 January 2004. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  12. ^ Sean Mac Connell (17 January 2004). "'There is no free inch,' says jailed Sligo farmer". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  13. ^ Sean Mac Connell (26 January 2004). "Call for national council on land access". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  14. ^ Sean Mac Connell (7 February 2004). "Farmer says walking group is like 'the Mafia'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  15. ^ Joe Humphreys (4 October 2004). "Walkers get temporary access to Sligo land". The Irish Times. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  16. ^ "Léargas". RTÉ. Retrieved 24 September 2009.