Walk Report - April 10th 2011

Continuing our preparations for the forthcoming Ballyhoura International Walking Festival over the May Bank Holiday weekend we remained at home again last week. Declan Clancy led the “A” and “B” walks from Kilfinane on to the Ballyhouras on Sunday, a day that was ready made for our activity. There was plenty of bright sunshine accompanied by a gentle zephyr at Kilfinane to set the twenty two us off on our journey around the Ballyhouras for the day. Departing the town by the wood road we ascended onto Magnier’s wood and crossed onto Courtney’s wood. If there was a drawback to the day it was that the special views were denied to us either by a smoke haze that is associated with the climatic conditions of the day or maybe by the Saharan dust that has blown in our direction recently and that is hanging in the atmosphere presently. Our day was not to be spoiled by these events, however, and this was evident from the high spirits of all the participants. Our route took us into Clovers Wood at the back of Oliver’s Folly. There is something mystical about this place. Is it the solitude that it enjoys, tucked away from all the activities of modern life? Or is it the proliferation of flora that it boasts? It is hard to put your finger on it. Suffice to say that it is always a spot to look forward to on a day’s walk, and hard to leave unless there is more to attract you on the day. This there was last Sunday. A short section of road took us by the old main entrance to Castleoliver and thence to The Wilderness; that basin of streams and drains of the area. Sometimes this can be a testing mile of ground. It does not enjoy much sunlight and the underfoot can be quite sticky making a regular pace difficult. We got away with it on Sunday, however, finding ourselves on another short section of road that leads to Greenwood at Fanningstown with little trouble. We ascended the rise to the old Greenwood Car Park (sadly disused now) and remained there foe our meal break enjoying the splendid view back whence we had come. The valley below Glenosheen stretching eastwards towards the Glen of Aherlow was bursting with birdsong. What a great celebration of the arrival of the finest Spring day that we have so far enjoyed this year?

The “B” walk turned for home at this point heading for Glenosheen and Magnier’s wood via the Forest Homes, while the seventeen “A” walkers continued on the zig zag up to the base of Blackrock via The Pinch. The Peregrines are nesting on the top of Blackrock just now. The warning cries of the male as we advanced were enough to caution us to proceed slowly and without threat to them. Soon it was clear that they recognised us as being ‘friendly’ and their warning cries decreased. There is something comforting in the knowledge that you are a welcome guest to the inhabitants of the locality. Onwards we crossed to Seefin and thence down to the Goat’s Path to Glenosheen. We were really on our way home now. The Forest Homes was the next leg of the journey before heading out of Ballyorgan towards Goosberry Hill and thence retracing our steps back to Kilfinane. The whole journey was about fifteen miles, but what a pleasant trip it was. Declan is a superb leader and his knowledge and love of the Ballyhouras adds to any walk that he leads there.

The Thursday evening walks are continuing in their Spring/Summer/Autumn mode. Last Thursday we met at Darragh where Bridget Hennessy led us on to Bothareen Dearg and up to Castle Gael. All around this locality is ideal for these evening walks. It is a feature of these evenings that they attract a wide range of walkers, between beginners and advanced. They are short enough to accommodate the former, while providing a link between weekend walks for the latter. The Beginners walk on Saturday was led by Willie O’Rourke. He took us out to Coolfree Mountain where we enjoyed a lovely two hours of lively walking interspersed with suitable breaks to allow us to catch our breaths as needed. 

The feature event of our walking calendar is just over two weeks away now – The Ballyhoura International Walking Festival being held on the May Bank Holiday weekend between Saturday 30th April,  and Monday 2nd May. Altogether there are seventeen walks planned for the weekend designed to meet the needs of all standard of walker. There are six “A” standard walks extending from the 26.2mile marathon on Saturday to the strenuous seven peaks challenge on the Galtys on Sunday to the six hour traverse of the Ballyhouras on Monday. Included in this category also is a moderate walk on the lower reaches of the Galtys and a Family Day to Galty Mor from Kilbeheny. On each of the three days there will be a “B” standard walk in different parts of the Ballyhouras to provide for the moderate walkers. Finally there are eight “C” standard walks during the festival which combine walking with special interests in the locality – an Animal Sanctuary Dog Walk, Doneraile Park Heritage Walk, Cush Earthworks Archaeology Walk, Labbamalogga Townland Walk, Kilbeheny Heritage Walk, Lough Gur Archaeology Walk, and Kilfinane Historical Town Walk. The most appealing of the “C” walks, however, will be the Universal Access Walk in Doneraile Park at midday on Monday. This walk is designed for persons with impaired mobility, wheelchair users and the visually challenged. The fun and good humour that pervades this event has to be experienced.

Last Sunday our esteemed member, Cyril Morley from Cork was part of the organizing committee that arranged a marathon in Connemara in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind. Maureen Browne, a Bear, who has impaired vision, took part having secured some sponsorship from our members and others in the locality. There was a huge turnout for the event including some fourteen guide dogs to assist the participants around the route. The day was cold, but dry. We were delighted to have been represented by Maureen who, of course, completed the trek ‘at her ease’. 

On Sunday next Susie Flavin (085) 1448015 will lead the forthcoming Festival Half Marathon from Ballyorgan at 10.00 a m, while Mary Murphy (087) 8296749 will lead  “B” walk from Glenbrohane at 11.00 a m. This Thursday Willie O’Rourke (087) 7934958 will take the evening walk from Mountrussel at 7.30 a m while Robin Lee will lead the Beginners Walk from Ardpatrick Community Centre at 12.00 noon on Saturday