Two Contrasting Thursday Walks

On Thursday 14 November, our Thursday C walkers enjoyed brilliant sunshine in Ardmore, as captured in this pic by new member Sarah Northey.

Meanwhile, the Thursday B walkers trudged through snow near Melleray in the Knockmealdowns.

And though it didn't happen on a Thursday walk, I can't resist slipping in this picture of a fox spotted by C walkers in the Nire last Sunday. It's straight out of a Disney movie. Pic by Mary O'Shea. 

Club Weekend Away in Co Down - May 2020

Here's the word on the street about Dungarvan Hillwalking Club weekend away, on the May Bank Holiday weekend next year.

DHWC – Club weekend away May 1^st and 2^nd. 2020

Accommodation – Kilmorey Arms Hotel, Kilkeel, Newry, Co. Down.

2 nights B & B & 1 evening meal €170 PPS.

Extra Night + breakfast €50 PPS.

NO single rooms available, Rooms Allocated on first come basis.

Total of 7 triple rooms, (please arrange your own sharing).

Deposit of €50 PP by January 7^th (club meeting).

Balance by March 3^rd. 

Lots of good walks for all levels will be arranged.

November 2019 Newsletter

November 2019 Newsletter

Club AGM Happenings

We’re delighted to say that we were able to present cheques for €1,700 each to our three chosen charities at our AGM, which was held on Tuesday 1 October in the Park Hotel. We presented them to John Moran of West Waterford Hospice, Erich Baumann, representing Dungarvan Lions Club and Richard Dykes, represented SEMRA. We’d like to thank John Moran for coming to the meeting to collect his cheque.

A few committee changes were also announced. Tony Fitzgerald stepped down as chairman of the club at the AGM, and we’d like to thank him for his commitment and thoroughness over the last three years. He was replaced by Neil Fitzgerald. Marcus O’Halloran is our new website coordinator and Michael Daly is our new B walk coordinator. The others are remaining in their roles, and we wish our new committee the best of luck.

Club Fees Increase

Technically, our fees are not increasing, but we have removed our early payment discount and our couples discount. That means all members will now pay €40 each per year, regardless of when they pay or whether their partner is in the club too. The increase is happening because Mountaineering Ireland are increasing their fees for membership and they supply our insurance.

Club Christmas Party

Ronagh Baumann is now taking names for the club Christmas party, happening on Saturday 7 December at 7pm in Merries Restaurant, Dungarvan. We will have the upstairs area to ourselves this year, with space for 40 people. The price is €31.50 for a three-course meal and €26.50 for two courses. You can pick up tickets at the November club meeting on Tuesday 5 November or you can contact Ronagh on 087 7986753.

Spring Weekend Away

On the May Bank Holiday Weekend in 2020, the club will be heading to Kilkeele in Co. Down, close to the beautiful Sliabh Donard area, where we will be able to enjoy lots of beautiful walks. We will be staying in a place called Kilmurray Lodge. Mary Murphy will be revealing more details in the coming weeks.

Dates For Your Diary

SEMRA Long Way Round Walk, Saturday 23 November, Clonmel

Mulled Wine Christmas Walk, Sunday 15 December, Ardmore

If you have any news or walk reports you’d like included in the club newsletter, please contact club PRO Derbhile Graham, derbhile.graham@gmail.com.

Thursday Walk in Carrigavantry, Fenor, 24 October 2019

The Thursday C walkers ventured east for a walk around Carrigavantry Lake, Fenor, on Thursday 24 April. The walk was led by Norman and Derbhile Graham. The weather was mixed but the views were stunning. Photos taken by Derbhile Graham.

Sunday B and C Walk

Last Sunday, 13 October, the C walkers had a challenging C plus with John Power, which saw them ascend the Sugar Loaf. Veteran photographer Patricia Hurley was on hand to catch the action.

And the B walkers went on a moisture laden walk up Mahon Falls with Richard Dykes. Another veteran photographer, Michael Daly, took stunning pictures of waterfalls, amongst other views. 

Hillwalking Club Holiday in Croatia

Every year, our club takes a holiday abroad, and it's always an epic occasion. This year, 22 club members went to Croatia on a trip organised by The Travel Department. Club Secretary Ronagh Baumann organised the trip, for which much thanks. She also took some photos that capture the stunning scenery the walkers enjoyed. They returned home on Friday 11 October after a week away.

Here are Ronagh's luscious pictures.

Local Charities Presented with Cheques at AGM

We were delighted to present cheques to representatives of our three chosen charities at the club AGM on Tuesday 1 October. The cheques were for €1,7000 each and came from our events during the year, like the Mulled Wine Walk and the Comeragh Crossing.

Here's John Moran of West Waterford Hospice receiving their cheque. Outgoing chairman Tony Fitzgerald did the honours.

Erich Baumann accepted the cheque on behalf of Dungarvan Lions Club. 

And Richard Dykes accepted the cheque on behalf of South-East Mountain Rescue (SEMRA).

Photo credits: Peter Mangan

Wonderful Walk Photos

Changing skies were a feature of the Thursday C walk on 12 September last, and they were captured by Eibhlin Power. It was to Ballinard and it was led by John Power.

And here's a pic from Michael Daly's Sunday B walk to Knockshanahullion, taken by the man himself.

A Truly Splendid Cunnigar Crossing

What a time we had at the Cunnigar Crossing this year. What a turnout. And what a whopping amount raised. On Sunday 1 September 2019, more than 600 walkers turned out for the Cunnigar Crossing from Dungarvan to Ring. 

The walkers waded across the Cunnigar at low tide and then headed along Baile na nGall beach to the other side, where buses carried them back to Dungarvan. With the Féile na Maicréal festival in full swing, there was plenty of buzz for the walkers to enjoy, and we're delighted the festival organisers included us in their programme. 

Best of all, the bucket collection en route yielded a whopping €2,900. This will go to our three charities: Dungarvan Lions Club, West Waterford Hospice and South East Mountain Rescue. Heartfelt thanks to all who donated. It means a lot. 

Thanks also go to Peter Mangan, chief organiser of the walk, to John Browne, master of the tides, and to all the club members who helped ensure that the walk ran smoothly. Thanks for the bus transfers home, and thanks most of all to the huge crowd who came. It couldn't happen without you. 

Here are six fine photos that capture the spirit of the event. The first three are from Ann Mangan. 

And the second set of three photos are from Marcus O'Halloran. 

September Newsletter

August 2019 Newsletter

Walk Report: Comeraghs B Walk. By Marcus O’Halloran, walk Leader

The B walk in the Comeraghs on Sunday 18th of August started at Kilclooney wood in glorious sunshine. We had a total of 5 walkers. We started our climb up to Coumshingaun and as we looked up, we could see lots of walkers ahead of us on the hill. We did an odd stop to take in the view which was amazing in the summer sunshine. On the climb, we could see down into Coumshingaun Lake as we climbed up and over to the top. We then had our lunch looking down on the lake. 

After lunch, we made our way to 792, the highest point in the Comeraghs. The sun had now faded and there was a nice wind blowing.  Now heading eastwards, we crossed over to view the Boolas and then dropped down to contour over Crotty's Lake. We then made our way over, and crossing Iske Sullas, the sun had now come back out. We made our way back down and into Coumshingaun where we rested for a while and then made the final descent to Kilclooney Wood, only to be greeted by a Comeragh Fox on the way down. Walking time was 5 hours 46 min. The total height of all climbs combined during this walk was 914 meters. The length of the walk was 11k

Walk Report: Thursday C Walk in Tramore, 22 August. Walk Leader, Eileen Barrett

An impressive fifteen walkers ventured east for a walk on Tramore Beach with Tramore native Eileen Barrett. The weather forecast had been good, but the walk started out windy and cloudy, with sea spray blowing into our faces as we headed along a loop that looked out over Tramore’s hidden beauty, the Backstrand. We then went out onto the open beach and the weather started to clear. We rounded the end of the beach and our legs sank into soft sand as we walked by the sandhills. Cake was enjoyed at a small carpark overlooking the strand, after a walk of around 2.5 hours.

Walk Report: Thursday C Walk to Curraghmore, 29 August 2019

Walk Leaders, Margaret Kirwan and Stephen McCarthy

This was a truly splendid walk. It was the first club walk to the sumptuous Curraghmore Estate near Portlaw in East Waterford. Twenty-four walkers felt it was worth the trek east to give the walk a try, and for many of us, it was our first visit to the estate, so it was great to have excuse. Stephen and Margaret led us around the perimeter of the estate, and Stephen gave us some golden nuggets of information about the history of the estate. The walk lasted 1.5 hours, and the Great Dungarvan Bakeoff took place afterwards, as cake after cake was produced. The weather started dodgy, but we ended the walk in golden sunshine.

A Few Snippets of News

The Club AGM is on Tuesday 1 October at 8pm in the Park Hotel in Dungarvan.

The Comeragh Crossing on Saturday 6 July raised a whopping €1,700 for our three charities, Dungarvan Lions Club, West Waterford Hospice and South-East Mountain Rescue.

If you have a walk report or any news that you’d like included in the newsletter, contact Derbhile at dungarvanhillwalking@gmail.com.