The Cheque Presentations

For the third time in recent years we organised a Charity Climb & again we had a very successful day out and raised money for worthy causes and in one case local in the process.

 This time the Charities were The Irish Cancer Society & Kanturk Hospital and recently we held the Cheque Presentations in the Temperence Hall in Kanturk where a good few of our own members turned up to present the Cheques to Peg Fitzgerald who is The Matron of Kanturk Hospital and Nicola McMahon representing The Irish Cancer Society.

 A total of €4800 with each getting cheques for €2400 which made it a very worthwhile day out. The most impressive statistic was the we have now raised over €14,000 on the last 3 climbs which is credit to all involved.

 For us the climbers we get a great day out meeting loads of different people for the Charity Climb who we may not meet on the Mountains, some may go faster than us and some may only come once a year.
 On behalf of the organisers I must thank the Group Leaders who take responsibility of between 15 people which is a big task especially if the weather turns, we must thank our Sponsors who donated Signs for around the Town and lots of food was donated to feed the gang after. Also a big special thanks to Eilis & all in The Alley Bar for all their help in lookig after the Climbers after the event. A big thank you to our own members Nuala McCarthy, Geraldine Murphy and Margret O'Keeffe who were acting caterers and done an absolute fantastic job.

  A big thanks also goes out to The Corkman Newspaper who gave us great publicity along the way
 So till next time whenever that may be.

The Day We Went To The Beach !!!!

 At the start of this year it was decided by our members to slightly change the policy of our club and the way it was going. It was decided to vary the walks from some high to some low, some hard to some easy plus new routes with a variance and on top of that to make add more of a sociable aspect to it as well. Today we acheived all of that , it was a new route, a different type of walk in that we did a coastal walk along the beach and sand dunes for 3 hours on a new location . Sometimes it is not always about climbing a big mountain under strain. THe day was also finished with a sociable cuppa & chat in a local cafe

This day lived up to all those ideals as we to the beach and the destination was the Magharees with a group of 9 near Castlegregory just beyond Tralee. It was a day out with a difference as we probably only climbed one big sand dune and got a lot of sand in places that we did not know existed as it was all over us.But do not underestimate this day as it was a great day out.
 We started our walk in Spillanes Bar Car Park and headed on for the tip of the headland on the peninsula facing back in towards Tralee as well as Fenit Harbour on the other side. We skirted the headlands for a while before we reached our frst beach of the day & strolled along for a good while, which was on the eastern side of the Magharees before we hit land again crossing the road and onto our first Sand Dunes of the day to lots of giggles from some as it probably reminded them of days gone by from their youth.

As we continued our journey through the dunes we eventually got to the western side of this out land and back to the beach we went again with a slight stopover for a snack  in the dunes. Our youthfull past was definitely being explored today before finding ourselves back at the car park at Spillanes Pub again after another hike in the breeze with sand in our faces. The only problem was Spillanes was shut.

But due to having local knowledge in our midst we found another port for a coffee. As is tradition now in our group we have a pit stop to reminisce the day we had and here we found everything from green soup to lovely big slices of brownies to girls with tattoo's on her legs to amuse us & our journey home & to end off another great day out with our group after our day at the beach. Just another day out to prove what a great country we live in.

The Charity Climb -2017

 The nearly once a year Charity Climb takes place in aid of decided good causes,this time it was decided those chosen charities were Kanturk Hospital  & The Irish Cancer Society both worthy  causes as Kanturk Hospital is a great place in need of funds and unfortunately in the case of the latter a causethat affects too many.
  Last time we went to Mount Brandon but this time we went back to The Big One - Carrantoohill. It is the highest and always a good test and for those who do not do Hill walk the challenge is always to go there, The Highest !
 The climb list is made up of members of the 3 local Hillwalking or Climbing groups, Kanturk Hill Walkers & Mountain Climbers , DHC Duhallow Hillwalking Club & The Hard Core Hillwalking Group. and other other Hillwalking enthusiast's who are not affiliated to any group and individuals who just want to do a climb once a year or so. All the different clubs help out in their own way mostly by members agreeing to be group leaders as the overall list is broken down into smaller gangs with those leaders looking after their own few. Many thanks to the Group Leaders who take responsibility for about 15 people and guide them to the top in a safe manner, without these people The Climb would not go ahead. This time we set off with 39 which was a very good turnout.
 On Sunday April 30th this years trip was planned but the the Irish Weather decided to have a say and that trip got cancelled the night before for safety. That time we had 60 going but we had to take the hit & look forward again, The second time God shone a good day upon us & gave us that second chance & we made the most of it.

  The group of 39 set out from Cronin's Yard and the decided  route was to go up via O'Sheas Gully which is a good route for all  and the one thing that played into our hands was the fabulous day we were about to meet. The only bit wrong with it was it may have a slight bit too warm. Are we Irish or not !! But it was warm & lots of water needed. A good complaint.
 The one thing about The Charity Climb is gives a lot of people a chance to see the Top Of The Country and hopefully get a clear day. They met a near perfect day, Calm, Clear, Windless & Fantastic Views.The view stryched in all angles. You may go there another 100 times & you will probably not get a better day at the top. The Great Views !!! 360 Degrees !! #NoBetterPlace

Time to get back down, I think most people came down The Devils Ladder which is the shortest way home but you earn it, as for some people coming down is neaqrly harder than going up as it is hard on the knees, joints & muscles.Once you reach the bottom it is a straight route home on the virtual flat but still stony & bumpy pathway until you reach after about an hour, Cronin Yard . The one bad thing about Carrantoohill is that it takes a good stroll to get in & out from the climb.

The one thing great about Cronin's Yard is car safety & after climb changing facilitates plus the chance of a cuppa plus a nice  thing !! before you head for home which in this case was The Alley Bar.

Before I go any further the after Climb Food was all sorted by Nuala McCarthy, Margret O'Keeffe and Geraldine Murphy and Many Thanks To Them.. It Was Fab!! And To Eilish & The Alley Bar - Many Thanks !!

At this stage I show you a group picture from  The Alley Bar where there is no alcoholic drink on the table. But yes we had a good night & a laugh and a few !. 

So Till next The Charity Climb I Bid you goodbye .

Thanks To 

The Climbers 

All the Group Leaders

All The Sponsors

The People That Sponsored

The Alley Bar Restaurant !!

To Kanturk Hospital & The Irish Cancer Society

Trip To Galtymore

 On Sun. May 14th we had a club trip to Galtymore where on a good day you can see 7 counties in all angles as it is nearly in the centre of the country, you get there by turning at the sign for Galtymore just outside Kilbehenney.
  The track we chose started at Kings Yard which is ideal as yo have security for your cars and you have changing facilities after the walk is over.
 The way we went is that we headed out of Kings Yard northwards up the the laneway in the centre of the farm yard and when we reached the end of the lane way we rambled along on the eastern slope of Knocknagalty before turning righr & heading eastwards over a small river which actually is the county bounds between Limerick & Tipperary which led us onto a pathway on a slope on the other side guiding us onto the Black Rd. which we stayed on all the way to the valley or coll between Galtymore & Galtybeag,  which we decided not to climb.

This is one bad part of the journey in that this section can be quite boggy on wet days but this day was dry so things were not so bad.

  At this stage we turned left & westwards towards the top and the weather at this time was a small bit windy but also dry & sunny with a good view all around. Now this is the section and a lesson to be learnt in that as we were at the top  Galtymore  &

had our break a very bad shower came along with a lot of hail stone in it and personally speaking I was lucky to have a second jacket but had no gloves, you should always be prepared even on a May day, but thankfully as we descended to the boggy plateau the cold & wind started to disappear.

 This is not a nice part of the Loop as you have to figure your way around the humps & hollows of this boggy section. After getting through & heading towards Knocknagalty peak on our way back the view was good and clear again. We ended our journey by meandering & descending back towards Kings Yard & a change of clothes and headed on towards Mitchelstown for a welcome stop over for a bowl & a bite with a cuppa and a chat to end our day.

Club Trip Doing the Old Kenmare Rd #ClubTripBlogs

 On April 9th we did a club trip with a difference. For a start we had a great group of 14 and the start was to drive to Kenmare from where we had a bus hired
to take us back into Torc Waterfall from we were to start our trip. This was a day out with a difference as it was probably more of a walk than a climb.
 The first leg was to start at the car park at Torc Waterfall

and climb up the steps and at he the top of this climb we turned left for Kenmare along the old road.
 This section is the same as if if you were going to climb Torc mountain, this you could climb if you wanted. Also on your left is Mangerton Mountain.
 You now proceed to ramble through Killarney National Park & all its beauty. On days like this you really appreciate what a beautiful country we live in.

  On this trip you really do get a bit of everything in lakes, streams , mountains, small forests

and plenty of good views and yet it is still a walk suitable for all in that the climbs were not that strenuous. One thing very handy was the amount of sleepers to get you over any wet lands or boggy spots.
  This trip took us over 4 hours but as we were not in a hurry we got a chance to take the scenery in and after a while the sea and Kenmare comes into view  in the distance.
 If you had to find fault in one aspect is the long walk on tarmac roads at the end which can be tiring on the legs. But at least you have the lovely town of Kenmare awaiting you, this town has a lovely ambiance to it and it is always a lovely place to visit and for sure you will not be short of places to eat or drink and for sure we went for one and a bowl and a bite at the end of this trip.
 Again we have been extremely lucky in our days out. Long may it last.

Fantastic Club Day Out On The Paps

 On Sunday Mar. 26th we had an absolute fantastic day out on The Paps with a group of 13 doing the trip. All the way around we had blue skies overhead with views stretching to the limit on all sides from the Galtees to the North East with The Reeks just behind us and on our South side you could see all the way into the depths of West Cork.
 The only bad thing you could say was at the top of both peaks it was extremely windy and it was no day for hanging around too long but one thing the wind did too was to dry the place out as the ground conditions were good and dry.
The Paps Loop Link
 The route we took was our usual one in that we started at the cleared away forest entrance near Clydagh Bridge which is on the Cork side of Glenflesk & just off the main road from Cork/Macroom to Killarney which leads us on to a fine tough opening 45 minutes which is always testing leading onto the first peak before heading along for the first Western Pap and then down into the valley before climbing up again to the Eastern Pap before heading down into the valley going eastwards to link with the Forest Roadway onto the road and back to our cars.
 Not much more to say as we have been here before but this was a fantastic day to be out.

Charity Climb In Aid Of Kanturk Hospital & The Irish Cancer Society

On Sunday April 30th the 3rd Charity Climb is on up Carrantoohill

in Aid Of Kanturk Hospital & The Irish Cancer Society.

The first climb up Carrantoohill raised €2950 in aid of Pieta Hospital & The Twomey Memorial with 60 climbers and we had a good day out.

Click on the Link to view Video

Charity Climb 1 Up Carrantoohill

The second climb was up Mount Brandon in Aid Of Kanturk Hospital & Marymount Hospice and raised €6500. This climb went over 2 Sundays , on the first Sunday we had to get off the Mountain for safety & the fact we were soaked through & through. The second Sunday was an absolute brillant day where experienced climbers never saw the Brandon top clear & sunny but they saw it that day.

Click on the Link to view Video

Charity Climb Up Brandon

Charity Climb Up Brandon Part 2

So hopefully our third climb