The Duke of Devonshire's Lismore Estates has written to sheep farmers on the Knockmealdown Mountains offering proposals to achieve a "swift resolution" to an increasingly high-profile rent dispute between the wealthy landlord and his tenants. In a statement provided to Prime Time a spokesperson for the estate said, "Contrary to some recent references, there have been no conversations about evictions, only offers to reach a solution. We look forward to resolving this issue promptly." The rent row, first reported in the Sunday Independent last month, has been simmering over the last couple of years. It began after Lismore Estates proposed to increase the rent by 900% by 2029 for hill farmers who use mountain commonage owned by the Duke to graze sheep. The annual rent, which was €5 per hectare in 2023, has been raised fivefold to €25 and will be doubled further to €50 by 2029. At least three of the sheep farmers are refusing to pay the increased rent, a stance that may then rule them ...