Ballyhoura Bears October 31st and November 1st

By Robin Lee (Ballyhoura Bears PRO)

Over the years that the Club has been in existence the membership has grown consistently such that it now stands at over 250. Inevitably this increase in membership places a demand on the club to provide a variety of walks and of walking activities. This demand is being addressed to the extent that last weekend there were four separate club walks on the calendar.

Bridget Hennessy led a “Beginners Walk” out of Glenanaar Car Park on Saturday afternoon. This was designed as a walk for people that feel enthusiastic about walking but are not sure how or where to start. It was billed as at two hour walk and this was what it was. Twelve aspirants turned up in differing states of trepidation as to the endeavour ahead of them. Thankfully the weather was kind and this helped to dispel any anxiety that prevailed. The route took us on the Coillte path to the Mass Rock and on then to the banks of the Ogeen and Aar rivers, and then delivered us back to the car park at the start. No sooner had the walk commenced than all anxiety was dispelled; walking is, after all, the most natural exercise in the world. These newcomers discovered that walking is not all about climbing high rises at pace and taking risks to get from one point to another. The enjoyment was immediate and palpable. Added to this, being able to identify various familiar places during the walk was also gratifying for them. In summary, the whole experience was rewarding with the participants enquiring as to when it can be repeated. The next scheduled “Beginners Walk” is 27th December at Darragh Bridge, but if there is sufficient demand for another one or more in the meantime please contact Bridget Hennessy at (087) 9229405 or any club member and a walk can be arranged at short notice.

Denis Bates has suddenly found himself immersed in a baptism of fire! In keeping with the intent of the club to provide for walking activities he proposed that the club engage in “Skills practice” walks and three such walks were put on the current calendar as a result of his urgings. Soon afterwards he was elected Chairman of the club for the current year. Two large undertakings at the one time. He is well up to the tasks. On Sunday he assembled 20 walkers at Cush Car Park to engage in a refresher course of the mountain skills that they have learned over time. The enthusiasm for this day was immense. The preparation that Denis put in to the walk was meticulous, right down to the tea and biscuits at the end. The result was wonderful. He put us through our paces individually and in groups – compromise was not an option. Maureen O’Brien of S E M R A who gave of her valuable time willingly, ably assisted his endeavours. As evidence of the time that she gives to the mountains it is not without significance that she was part of the rescue group that rescued a group of young students from the Galtys last Tuesday week and, as our skills day came to an end on Sunday, she was called to a rescue on the Comeraghs. This skills day experiment was a great success. Two more are planned and those interested must book their place with Denis at (086) 8047570 or with Liz Enright at (087) 2873937.

Meanwhile Billy O’Donnell led the “A” walk from Rossadrehid concentrating on the eastern section of the Galtys. His initial plans were slightly upset due to the high water levels in the adjacent rivers after Saturday night’s torrential rain. Undaunted by this slight set back to plans, he led his walk on to Cush Mountain, Galty Beag and Loughlin’s Castle. We were now right overhead Lake Muskerry and decided to take our food break here with the full views of the Glen of Aherlow and all places north of there available to us. There was no time to dawdle, however. We had covered less than half of our intended route, so off with us again reaching the trig point of Greenane at 802M and thence along the saddle to Fear Bréige. There was a lot of water in the rivers on the lower reaches beneath us. We decided to negotiate these obstacles by descending via the cairn to Sturrakeen and making a final decision there as to the return to the start. This leg brought us through the arc of a spectacular rainbow through which the welcome sight of The Foot Bar was in evidence – an oasis at the end of a strenuous day. We avoided the temptation to descend on this hostelry, but instead traversed the forest track via the reservoir to our starting point.

The “B” walk attracted twelve walkers to the start at Christ the King statue at Aherlow. Jim Flynn had a lovely three-hour walk planned and if the underfood conditions were wet the weather obliged for the duration of the walk. Departing the statue we traversed the Ballyhoura Way in the direction of Tipperary until reaching a point where we could loop on to Cnoc an Tarabh. Following the trail and forest track from here we reached the “upper car park” and proceeded thence to the front of The Aherlow House Hotel. This decreed that there was only one interesting path back to the start – via the nature trail that led us out onto the green at the statue. Just as Bridget Hennessy’s walk at Glenanaar the day before, Jim’s walk revealed lots of interesting places for the participants who seemed to absorb the local lore with great enthusiasm.

Next Sunday the “A” walk will be breaking new ground. We travel to the Killaloe area to traverse the Sliabh Bearnach Horse Shoe. The meeting point is the two mile gate pier on the Scariff road at the U L pursuits centre at 9.30 a m. It will be a moderate “A” walk of approx 6 hours. Eugene Stephens (087) 2804637 will lead this walk. Bridget Hennessy (087) 9229405 will lead the “B” walk from Ballyorgan School at 11.00 a m. This is expected to be a four-hour walk.