A protest which took place in London yesterday put the spotlight on a rent row in the Knockmealdown mountains.

Members of the Irish diaspora occupied a book store in Mayfair belonging to the Duke of Devonshire , the landlord at the centre of the dispute.

Sinn Fein TD, Conor Mc Guinness has called on the Government to intervene in the row which he says is threatening the future of traditional hill farming.

Deputy McGuinness said:

“The occupation of the landlord’s Mayfair bookshop in London has put a sharp spotlight on the disgraceful situation facing hill farmers in the Knockmealdowns.

“These are farming families whose people have worked these mountains for generations, and they are now being hit with a reported 900% rent increase that would drive them off the land. I stand with them and with those protesting in solidarity with them.

“I have been in touch with the protesters and I will continue to support the farmers as they campaign to protect their livelihoods, their communities and their future on these mountains.

“What is needed now is government intervention and a solution. I have raised this directly in the Dáil with the Minister for Agriculture, including the fact that farm payments are being withheld because a commonage letter from the landlord is required before payments can issue, even in respect of other lands not in dispute.

“That means the Minister is effectively holding these farmers over a barrel in the middle of an already outrageous dispute. That is unacceptable and it must end.

“It’s 2026, not 1846. The government needs to act accordingly.”

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