Andy "The Bull" McSharry

Andy "the Bull" McSharry is an Irish sheep farmer from County Sligo who came to national attention after a seventeen-year campaign during which he objected to casual walkers trespassing on his land, a dispute which inspired other farmers to object to similar treatment. The dispute began in 1992 and concluded in 2009.

McSharry lives on a farm in Gleniff, near Ben Bulben in North County Sligo. and he refers to himself as "the Bull", a reference to the character in John B. Keane's play The Field. Fine Gael's spokesperson on Arts, Sports and Tourism Jimmy Deenihan once said of McSharry: "John B would have loved to have met you". The farmer has often been seen driving around on an all-terrain vehicle to ensure his land is not invaded. During an interview on his sentencing he said: "There is no way farmers can give away land to strangers. We must get our share. There is no free inch or no free land in the country". In an interview with Farm Week on RTÉ Radio 1 after his release he said: "There is no way in hell I will let walkers through my land for nothing".

A report sent to Irish Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív later in January 2004 suggested the establishment of a national council to deal with land ownership and access rights. Speaking at the annual general meeting of the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers' Association in February 2004, McSharry compared the group Keep Ireland Open to the Mafia, saying: "These people want a slice of everyone's action for nothing". A "peace deal" was offered in October 2004 as a "goodwill gesture" where walkers could access lands for one day.

The dispute came to an end in September 2009 with Minister Ó Cuív visiting to publicly shake hands with McSharry and launch a new mountain walk at his home in Gleniff. No money exchanged hands.