Walking Club
Sunday July 5th 2009, Walk Report
By Robert Lee (Ballyhoura Bears PRO)
These are busy times for The Bears, with no less than five scheduled walks, an open Club meeting, and an outdoor Mass all within the past week.
Our Secretary, Michael J Hennessy led eighteen of us on a lovely Thursday evening walk along part of the Molanna and thence up to Castle Gael before returning by the Bohareen Dearg to the starting point at Darragh. This walk was to set the tone and give a flavour of what was in store for the “A” and “B” walks that were to take place from the same venue on Sunday.
Robin Lee gathered another group of eighteen at Darragh Bridge on Sunday and headed for Glenroe and Rea’s Hill for an initial “pipe opener”. Given the assembled bunch of enthusiasts, this presented no problem for them, a lot of who are in an advanced stage of practice for miscellaneous venues in far flung parts of the walking world. Onwards towards, and upwards onto Magniers Wood and then down to Oliver’s Folly - not a bother on them; still full of energy. Ah but the Wilderness was ahead! That was the tester. The underfoot conditions were sticky, and the humidity was intense. A mile of this softened us up! From here on to Seefin, Ballyorgan and back to Darragh Bridge we were at a more leisurely pace, especially along the Molanna River from Ballydonoghue to Darragh – what a beautiful stretch of river walk this is, and it was at its best on Sunday for this and the “B” walk that included it as well.
Bridget Hennessy was in charge of this walk, which she brought along the Bohareen Dearg along the old Beech Wood – simply magnificent at this time of year – and the viewing point at Shraharla. Advancing on to Castle Gael we encountered some 20 or so fellow walkers from the Midleton Club; evidence (if it were needed) of the popularity of the Ballyhouras as a venue for other Clubs to visit.
And why not? Not only are there splendid views on offer, but there is a wealth of flora and fauna on display right now – the White Eggs of the Wood Pigeon, Foxgloves in full bloom (a maverick white specimen as we alighted from Magniers Wood), a majestic Heron wading the Molanna for its quarry of fish, a blue-tailed Damselfly in flight and brown lipped snails amongst the shoulder high yellow Iris, not to mention the sticky Stinkhorn Fungus that certainly lived up to its reputation in the humidity of the day on Sunday.
Just a Parish away Patsy McGrath led an historical walk from Martinstown Church along the Staker Walk Historical Route. This took the twenty walkers from Martinstown to Moorestown and on, then to Ballyriggan and home to the start. Throughout Patsy kept us interested in the fascinating story that led to the sad end of Staker Wallis at the hands of the Oliver landlord. It was good to see such a number of visitors attending for this walk, and participating in the discussions that occurred on the theme along the route. Well done Patsy for imparting your knowledge to us in such an interesting way.
Further afield we are grateful to Peter Haverty for taking the group of twelve walkers on an unusual, but perfectly delightful, five-hour trip around part of The Burren. This World Heritage site never ceases to hold treasures for the leisurely walker that is prepared to make frequent stops to examine the flora and rock formations of the locale. This was the case on Peter’s walk on Sunday. Added to this it was his “maiden voyage” as a walk leader and he carried out his task with aplomb.
Back home again on Monday evening for the eagerly awaited Mass at the Glenanaar Mass Rock. The inimitable Cal McCarthy had promoted this event in the Club some months ago, and it was received with enthusiasm. This transferred to an assembly of almost fifty walkers at Glenanaar Car Park for the onward trek to the Mass Rock where another one hundred or more people awaited the commencement of the ceremony. Canon Casey P P of Doneraile was the celebrant. He delivered a most instructive and moving homily on that epoch of the Irish Catholic Church from the 11th century to the Penal Days of the 16th century, from which time the Mass Rock that was the altar for the night dates. Somehow the walk to and from the Mass brought a small sense of realism to the occasion, recollecting on those, in less fortunate times than we live in now, who walked for long distances to converge on this lonely spot to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist in secret. This inspired innovation of Cal’s will certainly become a settled fixture in our annual calendar.
Thursday next has Willie O’Rourke – (087) 7934958 – leading an evening walk from Ballyorgan School at 7.30 p m. On Sunday Mike Moroney – (087) 9267948 takes the “A” walk on the Glencush Horseshoe, Aherlow at 10 a m while Bridget Hennessy – (087) 9229405 - leads off the “B” walk from Garryarthur Forest (4 hrs approx) at 11 a m.
Finally we wish the two Marys , Frances and Sarah a safe journey to, on, and from Machupicchu in the Peruvian Andes. They depart on Sunday.
These are busy times for The Bears, with no less than five scheduled walks, an open Club meeting, and an outdoor Mass all within the past week.
Our Secretary, Michael J Hennessy led eighteen of us on a lovely Thursday evening walk along part of the Molanna and thence up to Castle Gael before returning by the Bohareen Dearg to the starting point at Darragh. This walk was to set the tone and give a flavour of what was in store for the “A” and “B” walks that were to take place from the same venue on Sunday.
Robin Lee gathered another group of eighteen at Darragh Bridge on Sunday and headed for Glenroe and Rea’s Hill for an initial “pipe opener”. Given the assembled bunch of enthusiasts, this presented no problem for them, a lot of who are in an advanced stage of practice for miscellaneous venues in far flung parts of the walking world. Onwards towards, and upwards onto Magniers Wood and then down to Oliver’s Folly - not a bother on them; still full of energy. Ah but the Wilderness was ahead! That was the tester. The underfoot conditions were sticky, and the humidity was intense. A mile of this softened us up! From here on to Seefin, Ballyorgan and back to Darragh Bridge we were at a more leisurely pace, especially along the Molanna River from Ballydonoghue to Darragh – what a beautiful stretch of river walk this is, and it was at its best on Sunday for this and the “B” walk that included it as well.
Bridget Hennessy was in charge of this walk, which she brought along the Bohareen Dearg along the old Beech Wood – simply magnificent at this time of year – and the viewing point at Shraharla. Advancing on to Castle Gael we encountered some 20 or so fellow walkers from the Midleton Club; evidence (if it were needed) of the popularity of the Ballyhouras as a venue for other Clubs to visit.
And why not? Not only are there splendid views on offer, but there is a wealth of flora and fauna on display right now – the White Eggs of the Wood Pigeon, Foxgloves in full bloom (a maverick white specimen as we alighted from Magniers Wood), a majestic Heron wading the Molanna for its quarry of fish, a blue-tailed Damselfly in flight and brown lipped snails amongst the shoulder high yellow Iris, not to mention the sticky Stinkhorn Fungus that certainly lived up to its reputation in the humidity of the day on Sunday.
Just a Parish away Patsy McGrath led an historical walk from Martinstown Church along the Staker Walk Historical Route. This took the twenty walkers from Martinstown to Moorestown and on, then to Ballyriggan and home to the start. Throughout Patsy kept us interested in the fascinating story that led to the sad end of Staker Wallis at the hands of the Oliver landlord. It was good to see such a number of visitors attending for this walk, and participating in the discussions that occurred on the theme along the route. Well done Patsy for imparting your knowledge to us in such an interesting way.
Further afield we are grateful to Peter Haverty for taking the group of twelve walkers on an unusual, but perfectly delightful, five-hour trip around part of The Burren. This World Heritage site never ceases to hold treasures for the leisurely walker that is prepared to make frequent stops to examine the flora and rock formations of the locale. This was the case on Peter’s walk on Sunday. Added to this it was his “maiden voyage” as a walk leader and he carried out his task with aplomb.
Back home again on Monday evening for the eagerly awaited Mass at the Glenanaar Mass Rock. The inimitable Cal McCarthy had promoted this event in the Club some months ago, and it was received with enthusiasm. This transferred to an assembly of almost fifty walkers at Glenanaar Car Park for the onward trek to the Mass Rock where another one hundred or more people awaited the commencement of the ceremony. Canon Casey P P of Doneraile was the celebrant. He delivered a most instructive and moving homily on that epoch of the Irish Catholic Church from the 11th century to the Penal Days of the 16th century, from which time the Mass Rock that was the altar for the night dates. Somehow the walk to and from the Mass brought a small sense of realism to the occasion, recollecting on those, in less fortunate times than we live in now, who walked for long distances to converge on this lonely spot to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist in secret. This inspired innovation of Cal’s will certainly become a settled fixture in our annual calendar.
Thursday next has Willie O’Rourke – (087) 7934958 – leading an evening walk from Ballyorgan School at 7.30 p m. On Sunday Mike Moroney – (087) 9267948 takes the “A” walk on the Glencush Horseshoe, Aherlow at 10 a m while Bridget Hennessy – (087) 9229405 - leads off the “B” walk from Garryarthur Forest (4 hrs approx) at 11 a m.
Finally we wish the two Marys , Frances and Sarah a safe journey to, on, and from Machupicchu in the Peruvian Andes. They depart on Sunday.
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