More than 2,000 sign petition urging State to buy 1,500 acres in Wicklow as auction nears

By hu, The Wicklow People

Interest from Middle East has raised alarm bells that conservation area could go into foreign ownership

A 1,527 acre Aghavannagh Mountain holding going to auction that incorporates the summit of Lugnaquilla.

Political pressure is intensifying on the government to intervene in the sale of a major upland holding in the Wicklow Mountains, including the summit of Leinster’s highest peak, as Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady warns that the State risks losing a “priceless” landscape to private international ownership.

The 1,527‑acre estate is due to be auctioned on May 1 with a guide price of €2 million, a steep drop from its previous €7 million valuation.

The land stretches from Aghavannagh to the 925‑metre summit of Lugnaquilla and includes Percy’s Table, extensive blanket bog and heather uplands, as well as habitats considered environmentally sensitive under EU conservation rules. It borders the Wicklow Mountains National Park, making it one of the most significant private landholdings in the region.

Raising the issue in the Dáil this week, Deputy Brady urged the Taoiseach to ensure the State steps in before the auction. The Taoiseach said he would consult the junior minister responsible for the National Parks and Wildlife Service but noted that the land was already on the open market.

In a subsequent statement, Deputy Brady intensified his appeal, calling the situation “a no brainer”.

He warned that the selling agent had confirmed global interest, including from buyers in the Middle East.

“It would be unconscionable for such a treasured asset to pass into foreign ownership,” he said. He has formally written to the minister requesting immediate intervention and has launched a public petition to build support. The petition has already garnered over 2,000 signatures.

Thus far, only an acknowledgement of receipt letter has been received from the minister, with no substantive reply issued.

The controversy comes at a time of heightened public sensitivity around the protection of Wicklow’s landscapes, following long‑running debates over conservation and access in areas such as the Glen of the Downs. That valley, a designated nature reserve and ecological corridor, has often been cited by environmental groups as an example of the need for stronger State stewardship. The Lugnaquilla sale raises similar questions about long‑term protection and public access.

The issue also carries significant implications for Wicklow County Council, which plays a central role in local development planning, environmental protection and tourism strategy. The council’s County Development Plan identifies the Wicklow Mountains as an area of exceptional landscape value, where safeguarding natural heritage is a core priority. Any change in ownership of land adjoining the national park could influence future land‑use patterns, access arrangements and environmental management across the wider upland region.

Lugnaquilla is one of the county’s most visited natural attractions, drawing thousands of walkers each year. Ensuring continued public access, and managing the associated infrastructure is a key concern for the council. A shift to private international ownership could complicate or restrict access routes, placing additional pressure on local authorities to negotiate rights‑of‑way or develop alternative trails.

Deputy Brady argued that public acquisition would protect long‑term access and support Ireland’s obligations under the EU Nature Restoration Law, referencing the findings of the Independent Advisory Committee on Nature Restoration released this week.

“This land should not be treated as a commodity to be sold to the highest international bidder,” he said.

“We’re now down to the last 24 hours. I would now urge the minister to act quickly and decisively.”