Sligo farmer who took stand against helicopter in his field opens up on ‘lessons’

Johnny Kilcullen from Enniscrone, Co Sligo pulled his tractor up alongside the chopper after it had touched down on his land without permission, thus ensuring it couldn’t make a quick getaway.

The Robinson R44 Raven I helicopter had been flown to Enniscrone to get aerial footage of the sinking of the MV Shingle ship in Killala Bay on Wednesday (September 25).

The former smuggling ship, seized by authorities 10 years ago, was deliberately sunk off the Sligo and Mayo coast to create an artificial reef and a wreck for divers.

Now, Mr. Kilcullen has become a reluctant international celebrity as the image of him defending his land has gone viral on X.

Don't fuck around with farmers.
This guy landed in a farmers field without permission to watch the sinking of a ship in Enniscrone yesterday.
So the farmer parked in front of the chopper and raised the bucket near the blades.
Put the keys in his pocket, & walked away 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ToKB0BcOlN

— Cossie 🇮🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺🇱🇧🇨🇵 (@ger_cosgrove) September 20, 2024

However, speaking to The Sligo Champion, Johnny admits fame isn’t on the cards for him.

"I come from down-to-earth people and will not get carried away but we have an old saying in our family that 'what’s worth having it’s worth asking for,'" he began.

"I don’t know who these people are (helicopter occupants) and I don’t want to know and even if it was the Taoiseach that wanted to land, it is always manners to ask for permission first."

He won't land there again 😅

A Robinson R44 landed in a farmers field in Enniscrone Co. Sligo without permission,
The farmer blocked the rotor blades with his tractor 💪😅

Entitled knobs thinking they can do what they like 🙄#Ireland #sligo #helicopter #farmer #iaa pic.twitter.com/RMwuFHxvkC

— Mick 🇮🇪 (@MichaelK_Kelly) September 22, 2024

Despite standing behind his decision, Johnny admits he never would have done it if he had known it would make such a fuss online.

"I took a bit of a stand but if I thought it was going to get this much reaction I would never have done it."

When asked if he knows the identity of the culprits, he added; "It still does not bother me even now and I am getting loads of names and whatnot.

"It does not really make any difference to me as they have learned their lesson now anyway.

"They have not made themselves known and I don’t want to know them. It makes no difference to me who was in the helicopter, even if it was the Taoiseach or whoever, they should have asked for permission, simple as."

*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.