First, the land has always been private property. It was originally owned by some farmers, then Clare County Council acquired it to prevent it from being purchased by German investors. Just because land is owned by a public body does not mean that the public automatically has a right of access. Land owned by public bodies is still private land.

Second, it is common practice for public bodies to set up limited companies for commercial operations. The company has more commercial latitude than a public body, and this also provides a degree of protection for taxpayers against commercial losses.

This is a hugely popular visitor destination, and like many similar destinations these visitors need to be managed and their needs accommodated. In many ways I find this regrettable, but it is an unfortunate reality, and most visitors now expect it. The upside is that visitors tend to flock to the promoted honeypots and other less well-known places can be enjoyed in relative peace and isolation.

I am ambivalent about busking. It can be fun to do, and sometimes profitable, and a good busker can unexpectedly brighten one's day. However when buskers congregate and compete with one another the result is cacophony, especially when they use amplification.

Busking is also an imposition on the audience. I can choose to go to a concert, but if a busker is occupying a place I want to be then I cannot avoid them. In the street I can soon walk past (although sometimes only as far as the next busker) but at a visitor attraction I have no choice. At a natural beauty spot I want to appreciate nature and the view, I don't want or need to have music inflicted on me, no matter how well played.

From a visitor's point of view, I think the council is doing the right thing. I would go further and ban all buskers from such locations, but the council seems to have recognised that there is a long tradition here, and presumably some of the visitors like it.