The 426-acre area outside Portlaoise is considered one of the most important historical, tourist, environmental and cultural sites in the midlands. The Heath is an area of open grassland and heather, with scattered furze. It has been grazed for centuries, mainly by sheep, and is currently home to a 130-member golf club, a GAA club and a primary school. The Minister's comments have left local people confused and angry. Our family goes back generations in the area and have always grazed our animals on the Heath.
Locals tell of ducks, geese, sheep, cattle and goats once being a regular sight grazing on there.
The local GAA club and golf club pay an annual licence fee to the OPW for use of the grounds. They can't sell the Heath. If they do, anyone buying it will have to acknowledge the grazing rights on it. The Heath is littered with right-ofways. It would make sense for some Department to put money into developing recreational facilities or extending the golf course.