Cheque Presentation to Kanturk Hospital & Marymount Hospice

On Friday Oct 30^th Kanturk Hillwalkers & Mountain Climbers represented by Padraig Breen, Ger Morrissey and Christy Mullane presented Cheques to Kanturk Hospital represented on the night by Sheila Clernon and Marymount Hospice represented by Claire McCarthy.

Cheque presentstion to Sheila Clernon from Kanturk Hospital

Cheque presentation to Claire McCarthy from Marymount Hospice

Other Climbers that attended were Jimmy Moore, Paola O'Connell, Niall Breen, Conan Crowley, Jer Linehan, Anna Ozimkowska, Dan Murphy and Roseann Heffernan.

Both Cheques with other climbers that attended the presentation

A total of  €6500 was raised from the Climb which was evenly divided to both Kanturk Hospital and Marymount Hospice which are both worthy and well deserving causes and well worth us making a big effort to raise some money doing something we like doing especially as most times most of us are doing it in small groups where we really get the ' Buzz ' of doing it in a big group especially at that time of the year when the Winter is starting to close in on us, it is just a good way to finish off the year.

Overall the whole event went off without any major glitches and hopefully we will be back again next year to raise some more money.

Carrauntoohil via Devil's Ladder and down Heavenly Gates

A small group of us went to Carrauntoohil on an absolute glorious day, we went at a leisurely pace where time did not bother us the day was so good.

Jer at the top of Devil's Ladder

We used the Devil's Ladder route to get to the top, this route is probably the shortest route to the top but one that is not really recommended to use to come back down by because of loose stone and debris and worn paths that are okay to go up. When we got to the top of the Ladder there was hardly a puff of wind blowing with great views and as we headed for the top we looked over our shoulders and there coming up the Ladder behind us was a Cloud right up the Gully which was spectacular.

The cloud coming up Devil's Ladder Gully

We got to the Top most notable for the fact on such a good day the place was very quiet . Everybody must have been at home watching the World Cup Rugby match  vs Argentina. When we were having lunch at the diner, we heard the score. Not Good !

The clear view stretched in all directions from Kenmare to Dingle, North Kerry to over the Border in Cork. Never seen this place so calm and tranquil.

Posted by Padraig Breen on Sunday, 18 October 2015

The Boots

To make our visit to the top complete, the famous brown boots had to be photographed on the top of Howling Ridge (again!), down below the "TURN BACK NOW!" sign. Those boots will yet climb it from  Heavenly Gates up to the top someday.

And then there was John Cronin singing a Kingdom Song teasing us, replied by Johnny Logans " Whats another Year "

We headed for home by using The Heavenly Gates track. A track that again is a short way home but requires a bit of srambling and sitting on the bum in places especially for a fella with bad knees, thats my excuse. Again there was no great hurry in us the day was so good.

Anna at the Heavenly Gates

The day finished off by a cup of coffee and nice things in the Coffee Shop. A good day out by all.

Trip to Mangerton

Yesterday 7 of us went on climb up Mangerton, a mountain reached by going out the Muckross Rd. out of Killarney and turning left after Molly Darcy's Pub and then following the signs.
Mangerton is a relatively safe mountain to climb once you take the usual necessary precautions like checking the forecast and having the right gear & some food & water. The one thing I find handy if unsure is to go at a busy time like a Saturday or Sunday morning as if need be you can tow in with others or least there are others in the vicinity.

This Climb started off very foggy but after a while we seemed to be over the fog but yet still under the cloud but visibility was reasonably good but we were still waiting for the cloud to lift or blow away , but on this morning there was absolutely no breeze at all and it was virtually completely calm .

After a brief stop at the Punch Bowl we got to the top where it was very cloudy so much so we passed the turn off to go back down by over a 100 yards, Bad visibility and no breeze at the top so no point in taking the group photo.

Devil's Punchbowl

After slowly coming down to the Punch Bowl again the skies finally cleared and we got to take the group photo and a few nice snaps of the lake. From there down the day was beautiful with Torc & Purple finally coming into view with the lakes looking stunning so we headed home with the Welly down as the Rugby match was on.

Well done to the young lads 11yr old Liam Breen, our 3 13 year olds Niall Breen, Conan Crowley, Josh O'Connor and first timer up Mangerton Bernie Collins plus Chris Clery and myself - Padraig Breen

Group photo

Start Point/Car Park GPS coordinates: Lat: N 52.006735, Long: W -9.480363