Wicklow council paid €613,000 for beach land as it was cheaper than going to court
Ken Foxe
A local authority paid €613,000 for land to secure public access to an idyllic beach saying it would be more expensive than going to court to guarantee a right of way.
In internal discussions, Wicklow County Council said the purchase price was likely to be less than a High Court challenge, which would have no guarantee of success.
The land at Magheramore Beach was owned by Paddy McKillen Jnr’s Oakmount who outbid the local authority for it in 2021 when they paid €700,000.
Mr McKillen Jnr had hoped to develop a €40 million surf school, accommodation, and restaurant there, but the proposal was rejected by An Bord Pleanála.
The 21-acre clifftop site went to auction again this year with a successful bid made by a Chinese investor based in Ireland.
The investor later contacted Wicklow County Council offering them an opportunity to buy the site for €613,000 and “step into the shoes” of the purchaser.
An internal council memo said it would secure permanent public access to the beach and that private ownership could lead to it being blocked off.
It said: “There is a registered private right of way the full length of the access lane to the beach; however, there is no public right of way currently registered for the lane.
“Therefore, a High Court case would have to be taken to secure public access. The legal costs for such a case would come to at least €600,000 with no guarantee that it would be successful.”
It said the council should go ahead with buying the land, with no VAT payable, and both parties responsible for their own legal costs.
A council order form said: “The completion of the purchase represents the best value for money for Wicklow County Council versus the costs of a potential High Court case.
“It will eliminate the risk of access to Magheramore Beach being closed off to the public and the loss of a key recreational and tourism amenity.”
The land was originally owned by the Columban order of sisters before its original sale back in the 1980s; it has changed hands multiple times since then.
It offers access to Magheramore Beach, a cove that has been used as a setting for numerous TV productions including Vikings, Camelot, and Amy Huberman’s Finding Joy.
Asked about the purchase, a council spokeswoman said it was the best value for money choice available to them.
She said: “It has eliminated the risk of access to Magheramore Beach being closed off to the public and the loss of a key recreational and tourism amenity for the county.”
