Coillte, the state-owned commercial forestry business, has set out its approach to gravel cycling - including leisure rides and races - the lands it controls, with its position now significantly holding back what should be a growing scene in the Republic.
At a time when numbers in road events have reduced in recent years, gravel is a rapidly growing discipline across the world and it should be helping to boost numbers in Ireland.
However, in a year when Cycling Ireland promoted the National Gravel Championships for the first time, it is now clear the Coillte - which controls around seven per cent of the land in the Republic of Ireland - is taking a firm view.
Its ban on gravel riders from its trails and lands has resulted in planned gravel events being cancelled - because they required permits and were not able to secure them - or to significant changes being made to planned routes.
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And the position the agency has set out, after a Dáil question tabled by Kerry-based Brendan Griffin TD (FG), only contains band news for the Irish gravel scene.
It said "cycling on the Coillte estate is only permitted on designated purpose-built mountain bike trails and on leisure cycling trails" located in select forest parks.
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"In all other properties, cycling is prohibited," the agency stated. "Coillte has developed six dedicated mountain biking centres across the country, with purpose built cycling tracks suitable for all the family.
"Gravel cycling is an emerging discipline in off-road cycling, and it seeks to access the general forest road network across the Coillte estate.
"This forest road network is designed, constructed and used for forest operations - haulage of timber, transport of forest machinery, access by staff and contractors' vehicles, etc.
"While access to the public on foot on these roads is appropriate and allowed, cycling activity creates a significant risk both to other forest users and riders themselves from vehicular traffic using the road network due to the speed attained by riders on typical gradients on Coillte's road network.
"Coillte facilitates licences for events on its mountain bike trail network, as the activity is permitted at all times in those purpose-built locations. However, a decision has been made not to facilitate licences for gravel cycling events, as the activity is not permitted on the general forest road network.
"Coillte works closely with Cycling Ireland on licenced events and continues to have open dialogue on how events and cycling activity may be extended in the future."
