Another beautiful sunny day and another small victory for the campaign to free the Old Head of Kinsale. Sunday August 26th the latest day of action on the Old head started with a bus being loaded on the Grand Parade in Cork city. Lots of people of all nationalities, French, Bretons, English, Canadians, Americans etc. including a contingent of 4 from the Czech Republic. We were truly the blowins that someone complained of on radio the previous Friday. But we welcomed the international solidarity afterall we want the Old head free for everyone not just the rich "blowins" curently allowed in (you must be non resident in Ireland 8 months of the year to attain membership of the Old head golf club).
The bus stopped briefly in Kinsale town itself giving all an opportunity to stretch their legs marching through the town. Reaching the Old Head the place was alive with people and the crowds just grew and grew. Lots of new faces, more family groups, pensioners to prams. A horseman appear at the top of the hill and approached the gate he admonished us from horseback like a lord of the manor of old much to the mirth of the gathering throng. He approached the gate to offer his support to the golf course and was refused entry. He then trotted up the hill along the public road closed to protesters transport by the Gardai.
At 3 o'clock we stormed the walls. After about eight people had got over the gates were pushed open by another group and all humanity spilled in. What a laugh. What a gathering, the commoners reclaiming their walk once more. Again we were photographed by the Gardai and golf course heavies, tailed to the Old head lighthouse where the now traditional meeting took place. Annoyed at being corralled on the road and the golf course owners' counter offensive in the media it was decide to return to the gates by way of the fairways. Baffled, bemused and sometimes frustrated golfers stopped in their tracks to allow the throng pass.
We laugh and danced, yes there was a serious bout of dancing to fiddling playing at a sign on the route out. A sign that says hope you enjoyed your stay do come again. We did and we will. Yet another victory for direct action.
Resolved at the people picnic meeting that we return once more on Sunday September 30th for a further walk.
One man on todays walk related how he had walked the old head as a young child in 1917. Now beat that.
James McBarron
For the background and details of previous protests including
photos see
http://struggle.ws/wsm/cork.html