Ballyhoura Bears 7th June 2009

By Robert Lee (Ballyhoura Bears PRO)

Now the walking season is in full swing, with all grades of walks taking place at home and further afield.

The Thursday evening walks are proving as popular as ever, albeit aided by the fine weather that we have been having recently. Ben O’Sullivan led one of these evening walks on a new route from Kilmallock that showed great inventiveness on his part. Those participating were introduced to “hidden Kilmallock” and the evening was greatly enjoyed by all

On the other hand Robin Lee led an evening walk out of Glenanaar Car Park which followed a regular route, but one which never seems to disappoint given the appeal and charm of this part of the Canon Sheehan loop walk.

The June Bank Holiday weekend was the occasion of the Glen of Aherlow Annual Walking Festival. Being organised by our neighbouring club, Galtee Walking Club, many of our members attended and they were not disappointed. The glorious weather set the mood for the challenging walks that they had planned. There were grade A, B and C walks on each of the Saturday and Sunday, all concentrated on different parts of the Galtees, while Monday tended towards more leisurely walks at Ballinacourty and Slievenamuck. The Festival attracted a large number of visitors to the area, and friendships were forged on an off the mountain that will definitely endure. Everyone enjoyed the fare laid on in this well run Festival. Many thanks to all the organizers for giving us this memorable weekend.

Last Sunday our “A” walkers set out for Kerry, the South Pole Inn at Annascaul to be precise, from where the eighteen assembled walkers set out by car to the car park at Annascaul Lake. The conditions were perfect for a good walk. Little did we realise what was in store!

Proceeding along the “zig zag” path from the Car Park we were delighted by the almost casual, but quite spectacular, appearances of waterfalls cascading at intervals along the Garrivagh River, as it carved out its journey through to rocky terrain into the Lake. Heading in a north easterly direction we made for Beenoskee (826M). A breathtaking panorama of Kerry landscape and seascape unfolded all around us as we gained height, prompting more frequent stops than are usual on these walks, to absorb our good fortune. Departing Beenoskee, and leaving Stradbally Mountain behind us we got to the ridge overlooking Loch Caum and An Dúloch which provided us with an interesting “birds eye view” of the unusual topography of this area. Turning, now, for home we proceeded by Glanteenassig to the Burial Cairn at Reamore located at 550M overlooking Annascaul Lake, and dating back some 2000 years. Why would anyone create a Burial Cairn at such an inaccessible spot? Standing there this question is readily answered; inaccessible it may be, but it is also somehow mystical. The generous descent to the Lake provided us with an opportunity to compare notes on the day out. The verdict was unanimous. This walk was as close as one can get to perfect hillwalking, prompting one of our more senior members to remark “we have a Paradise here for walking”. Our thanks have to go to Mary Blewitt and her daughter Stephanie for planning and leading this 15Km/ 5Hr walk and also, as ever, to Pat Hevenor for his assistance throughout.

Closer to home, Mary Murphy assembled a similar number of walkers at Glenbrohane Church for the “B” walk from where we set out for the Pinnacle (the Mast). The day was fine and clear, thus showing off those adjacent parts of Counties Limerick and Tipperary at their best. We then moved on to the Staker Wallis barrier and on through Moorestown and Ballyriggan. If parts of this section were a bit overgrown, any discomfort was quickly forgotten by the banter and good humour generated by our leader, until we found ourselves on a more hospitable section of the Ballyhoura Way that led us towards the shooting range on our journey home to the start. Throughout this nine mile walk there were some beautiful views of this little corner of south east Limerick that caused us to pause more frequently than expected, resulting in this being a most entertaining walk taken at a leisurely pace. Well done Mary .

Next Sunday Eugene Stephens – (087) 2804637- leads a strenuous “A” walk on the Coumloughra Horseshoe meeting at Killarney Court Texaco at 9.00 a m, while John Hennessy – (087) 9686529 – meets for a “B” walk at T O Park, Knockadea at 1 p m.