An agreement "in principal" has been reached with landowners on the Cliffs of Moher on the future of the site's walking trail.

The agreement will see Clare County Council take over the operation of the walking trail in exchange for a payment to the 36 Co. Clare landowners who own sections of the Cliffs of Moher walking trail.

It is hoped that the agreement will allow for the county council and individual landowners to reach their own respective agreements on the future ownership and control of the walking trail.

Controversy over the walking trail emerged 12 months ago, when a draft report produced for Clare County Council recommended that compulsory purchase orders (CPO) be considered as a way to obtain control over the walking trail.

That report outlined ways for the council to gain "full operational control" of the lands necessary to allow the council to manage the amenity.

A number of options were outlined in the report to achieve this, including full ownership by the county council; a mix of full ownership and long-term lease; and long-term lease on all affected lands.

The report stated that "it is recommended" that Clare County Council explore options for securing the lands "through compulsory purchase".

That report generated a swift and angry response from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA), whose president Francie Gorman said at the time that the organisation "strongly rejects" the recommendation, saying it would amount to a move to "confiscate private land from farmers".

For the last 12 months, the IFA and Clare County Council have been negotiating on a possible way forward.

Now, the landowners have decided "in principle" to proceed with a proposal which will enable the county council become the new trail management organisation (TMO) on the cliff walk.

The compromise was worked out after an IFA-organised meeting of the impacted landowners in the coastal village of Liscannor.

The meeting was chaired by former Clare IFA county chairperson Tom Lane, who has been leading the IFA efforts in talks with the council.

He said: "Following detailed and protracted negotiations with Clare County Council, a landowners package was negotiated and presented to the farmers.

"Subject to the finalising some further details with the council, the meeting agreed to proceed with an interim agreement which will provide for Clare County Council becoming the trail management organisation on the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk," Lane explained.

It is understood that this arrangement will see the farmers concerned receive a payment for acknowledging the council's control of the land through which the trail passes.

Spealing to Agriland, Lane wouldn't be drawn on the value of that payment, instead highlighting that the agreement is still in a preliminary stage, and that there will be a consultation process with all the impacted landowners.

Lane said that the process of the council and the landowners working out more permanent deals may take two years, although he said he was "ambitious" that agreements could be reached within 18 months.

He said: "This interim agreement provided the opportunity for the council and landowners to negotiate and agree a longer term arrangement in respect of the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk.

"It was clear from the meeting that the landowners on the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk want a sustainable longer term agreement with Clare County Council that properly rewards the landowners and is reflective of the fact the Cliffs of Moher coastal walk is Ireland's largest outdoor tourist attraction," Lane added.