Months ago, following the first announcement of Sunday 3 October as the 2010 date for National Trails Day, the club submitted a request to Coillte for permission to hold a ride-out in Ards Forest Park. Silence. Repeated attempts to confirm that the request had been received were greeted with… yes, silence.
A couple of weeks ago Coillte issued a press release encouraging all interested groups to log their intended activity for National Trails Day on their website. A follow-up phone call landed us at the desk of the person whose name was attached to the press release. He promptly took the details of the club’s request and promised that the forester at Ards would be in touch post haste. Since then? Silence. That was until Martina was able to provide direct contact details for Kevin McCarthy of Coillte in Donegal. He at least had the courtesy to contact us to deliver his emphatic “No!”.
Foresters don’t like horses and there’s also an awkward question of “mixed use” on any one day. Mixed use poses an insurance problem. Given that Ards is always open to the general public, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll ever agree to keep the walking and cycling enthusiasts locked out for a few hours while we are admitted to ride in the forest. Well, it was worth a try…
Pictured below: The view from Mongorry Hill on our 2009 National Trails Day ride-out in Mongorry Woods near Raphoe.
Letterkenny Riding Club 