In the rolling hills of north Wicklow, where mist clings to ancient stone walls and the whispers of centuries-old travelers linger on the breeze, a monumental legal saga has unfolded, captivating hearts and challenging Ireland’s relationship with its storied landscapes.

The Wicklow walkers legal battle centers on Niall Lenoach and Noel Barry, stalwarts of the Enniskerry Walking Association (EWA), who have spent 21 years defending public access to the Old Coach Road—a historic trail near Enniskerry village, believed to trace back to 1760.

Their adversary, local landowner Joseph Walker, has barricaded this path, sparking a landmark dispute that has reshaped the nation’s discourse on right-of-way laws.

Now, burdened with nearly €40,000 in court costs, the duo’s fight is bolstered by a vibrant new guide book, Walks Around Enniskerry and the Glencree Valley, crafted to rally funds and reignite passion for Ireland’s trails

Origins of a Movement: The Enniskerry Walking Association’s Mission

Nestled at the foot of the Wicklow Mountains, Enniskerry is a haven for those drawn to Ireland’s wild beauty—its emerald valleys, cascading waterfalls, and rugged peaks.

In 2004, Niall Lenoach, a schoolteacher and historian with a deep reverence for local lore, founded the Enniskerry Walking Association alongside Noel Barry, a dedicated secretary whose love for the outdoors matched Niall’s scholarly passion.

The EWA’s mission was clear: promote walking in north Wicklow, preserve historic routes, and lobby authorities to keep paths open for all. For years, they led Tuesday evening strolls in spring and summer, and Saturday morning treks in autumn and winter, fostering a community bound by the rhythm of boots on earth.

Their harmony was disrupted in 2008 when Joseph Walker, whose family has owned the 140-acre Annacrivey estate since 1945, restricted access to the Old Coach Road—a path the EWA championed as a public right-of-way, etched into 18th-century maps and referenced in Wicklow County Council records.

Walker’s barriers, both physical and legal, ignited a firestorm. Claiming the path crossed private land, he filed a High Court action against Lenoach and Barry, alleging trespass and slander of title, accusing their advocacy of clouding his property’s legal standing.

The High Court Showdown: A Blow to Public Access

In 2012, the High Court delivered a seismic verdict. Mr. Justice MacMenamin ruled against the walkers, declaring the Old Coach Road devoid of public right-of-way status.

The EWA’s evidence—oral histories, weathered Ordnance Survey maps, and community testimonies—faltered against Ireland’s antiquated legal framework, which demands near-irrefutable proof of historical use.

The judge acknowledged the case’s intensity, noting it had “got out of hand,” but his ruling applied solely to Lenoach and Barry, leaving the door ajar for future claims.

The decision sent shockwaves through Ireland’s rambling community, signaling that unwritten rights, long assumed sacrosanct, could be erased with a single gavel’s fall.

The Uphill Climb: Appeals and a Supreme Court Defeat

Unyielding, Lenoach and Barry escalated their fight to the Court of Appeal in 2018. The three-judge panel offered a nuanced ruling: while upholding the High Court’s decision, they clarified that the failure to prove a right-of-way did not negate its potential existence, nor preclude future challenges.

Yet, the victory was pyrrhic, as legal costs soared into the tens of thousands, threatening to crush the retirees’ resolve.

In a final gambit, the duo appealed to the Supreme Court in 2019, arguing that the lower courts had set an unattainable evidentiary standard, rooted in feudal laws ill-suited to modern Ireland.

Barrister Siobhan Gaffney, a right-of-way expert, echoed their plea, warning that such standards render proof “virtually impossible” for grassroots advocates.

The Supreme Court, however, declined to hear the case in March 2019, leaving Lenoach and Barry to face a staggering €90,000 legal bill by July 2023. After negotiations, this was reduced to €38,452.96—a sum still described as “ruinous” by Niall, now in his late 60s.

In a poignant reflection, Niall told the Irish Independent: “This has gone on for 21 years. It’s unbelievable, it’s half a lifetime. It was a hugely damaging case, because all over the country now, as a result of the ruling against us, people can block off anywhere. Cemeteries, mountains, lakes, everywhere has been blocked off. They can just say: ‘Well, okay, take us to court and see if you can afford it.’” His words underscore a chilling ripple effect: from Donegal’s cliffs to Kerry’s lakes, landowners have seized on the precedent, erecting barriers that choke public access to Ireland’s natural and cultural heritage.

A Beacon of Hope: The Guide Book That Fuels the Fight

Amid the shadow of defeat, the Enniskerry community rallied. Over two years, the EWA orchestrated a tireless fundraising campaign—charity hikes, local concerts, and crowdfunding pleas—raising €15,760 to chip away at the debt, leaving €22,240 outstanding.

The turning point arrived on October 18, 2025, with the launch of Walks Around Enniskerry and the Glencree Valley, a breathtaking guide book penned by local historian Kevin Warner, with contributions from Jenny Derbyshire, Yanny Petters, Carl Strickland, Eddie Swaine, and Joe Wilson.

This 200-page masterpiece, launched at Enniskerry Library with Sinn Féin TD John Brady and Green Party Councillor Erika Doyle in attendance, maps 18 trails of varying lengths and difficulties, weaving through the horseshoe of hills encircling Enniskerry.

From gentle village loops to rugged ascents, many routes are EWA favorites, honed over decades of Tuesday and Saturday treks.

Richly illustrated with maps and vivid photography, the book invites hikers to explore Powerscourt’s cascades, Glencree’s monastic ruins, and vistas rivaling the Wicklow Way. Available at Enniskerry’s Village Store and Nature and Wicklow Town’s Bridge Street Books, every sale funnels proceeds to clear the walkers’ debt.

“It’s still a long battle,” Niall admits, his voice tinged with resolve. “But this book is a testament to our community’s spirit. It’s not just about us—it’s about ensuring these paths remain open for generations.” The launch, attended by over 100 locals, was a defiant celebration of resilience, with Brady hailing the EWA as “guardians of our heritage.”

A National Crisis: The Fight for Ireland’s Public Paths

The Wicklow walkers legal battle transcends Enniskerry, exposing a systemic flaw in Ireland’s legal tapestry.

Unlike Scotland’s Land Reform Act, which codifies a right to roam, Ireland’s laws hinge on proving historical use—a daunting task when records are scarce or contested.

The 2012 ruling has emboldened landowners nationwide, with blockades sprouting at sacred sites, coastal cliffs, and mountain trails. As Niall warns, “It’s not always down in writing that people have a right of access. They’ve always assumed they had a right, because it’s always been there. But it can be just taken away like that.”

This case has galvanized advocacy groups like Keep Ireland Open, which estimate over 1,000 paths face similar threats. The ripple effect is profound: rural tourism, a €2 billion industry, suffers as walkers are deterred, while communities lose access to cultural touchstones—cemeteries, holy wells, and ancient routes.

Proposals for legislative reform, including a national trails registry, gain traction, but progress is slow, leaving grassroots heroes like Lenoach and Barry to bear the financial and emotional toll.

Conclusion: A Trailblazing Legacy for Ireland’s Future

The Wicklow walkers legal battle is more than a courtroom drama—it’s a testament to the unyielding spirit of Niall Lenoach, Noel Barry, and the Enniskerry Walking Association.

Their 21-year odyssey to save the Old Coach Road reverberates as a rallying cry for every Irish citizen who cherishes the right to roam.

With Walks Around Enniskerry and the Glencree Valley, the community channels grief into action, inviting hikers to tread these paths and fund a fight that transcends one valley. As Wicklow’s hills echo with footsteps, the question looms: Will Ireland rise to protect its ancient trails, or let them fade into history?

Support the cause by purchasing the guide book at Bridge Street Books or Enniskerry’s Village Store. Join the EWA’s Tuesday or Saturday walks, and share your trail stories in the comments below. What path would you fight for?