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.

Easy B Walk Attracts An Extra Guest

Marcus O'Halloran led an easy B walk on Sunday 18 August and took some fabulous photos.r easy B walks are designed for people who want to try out B walks. They may feel fitter or more confident in their walking abilities and want to see if they can manage a B walk. These walks help them make the transition.

Here is Marcus's walk report.

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 Kilclonney 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 11km.

And in these beautiful photos, you'll spot the extra guest who came to join the walkers.

A Feast of Sunday Walk Photos

Sunday 11 August was a busy day for the club's keen photographers, and in this blog post, we feature six of the best, three from the B walk, three from the C walk.

Patricia Hurley led the C walkers on a picturesque wooded walk at The Vee. She captured the beauty of the walk in her pictures.

Meanwhile, the B walkers scaled the Knockmealdowns, and Goska Korejwo was on hand to capture their journey. They found some equine companions along the way.

Our B walk to the Nire Lakes on Sunday 4 August last was misty but marvellous. Michael Daly was on hand to capture the beauty of the lakes.

Club Newsletter August 2019

August 2019 Newsletter

Highly Successful Comeragh Crossing: By Richard Dykes

Dungarvan Hill Walking Club is delighted to say that this year’s Comeragh Crossing, held on Saturday 6 July, was a great success. The walkers were tested by thick fog, but they all made it back to the base at Kilgobinet Sports Centre. In total, 139 walkers took part, and raised funds for the club’s three nominated charities, Dungarvan Lions Club, South-East Mountain Rescue and West Waterford Hospice. Dungarvan Hillwalking Club would like to thank all who help make the Comeragh Crossing a unique event in Ireland’s walking calendar.

Excitement Builds for Cunnigar Crossing

Now that the Comeragh Crossing is behind us, all eyes will be on our next big walk, the Cunnigar Crossing. It’s happening on Sunday 1 September this year and meets at Garvey’s Supervalu in Dungarvan at 1pm. The walkers will then head for the walk start point, which is next to Cunnigar Pitch and Putt Club.

At 1.30pm, the walkers will start their wade across the Cunnigar and head across Baile na nGall beach to Ring, in a walk lasting around 1.5 hours. There’ll be a collection for our chosen charities, the Lions Club, Mountain Rescue and the Hospice. Buses will be available to bring the walkers back to Dungarvan afterwards.

Walk Report, Brownstown Head, 14 July 2019. Leader, Norman Graham

This walk was held post club-barbecue, so the crowd that headed to Tramore for this joint B and C walk was small but perfectly appointed. There was a total of five walkers, who flew around Brownstown Head in record time, knocking fifteen minutes off the usual walk time of three hours. The walkers just beat the tide to clamber up onto Brownstown Head via a convenient flat rock. Also, there were no bulls in the fields on Brownstown Head, making this a stress-free walk in blazing sunshine.

Walk Report, Thursday C Walk in Annestown, 18 July

Thanks to Bob for stepping into the breach to lead this Thursday C walk. He chose the Anne Valley Walk, between Annestown and Dunhill, for his walk. This walk is growing in popularity since it was extended and it now takes 2.5-3 hours to do the circuit. The far-flung eastern location didn’t put off the walkers and there were over 20 people on the walk. The walkers enjoyed a windblown picnic in Annestown Carpark afterwards.

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

Two Walks With Sea Views

The Sunday joint B and C walk at Brownstown Head on Sunday 14 July and the Thursday C walk to Annestown on Thursday 18 July were both coastal walks with ex cellent C views. A few photos capture the stunning beauty of the East Waterford coastline.

This picture from Brownstown Head was taken by Patricia Hurley.

And this was taken by Derbhile Graham.

The weather was a little more changeable for the Thursday C walk in Annestown. Byt he time we returned to Annestown Carpark for our picnic, the place was looking a little windblown. But the views were still good - and so was the food. These two pictures were taken by John Power.

Highly Successful Comeragh Crossing 2019

Dungarvan Hillwalking Club Hosts Highly Successful Comeragh Crossing

By Richard Dykes, Chairperson, Comeragh Crossing Committee

Dungarvan Hill Walking Club is delighted to say that this year’s Comeragh Crossing, held on Saturday 6 July, was a great success. The walkers were tested by thick fog, but they all made it back to the base at Kilgobinet Sports Centre.

In total, 139 walkers took part, and raised funds for the club’s three nominated charities, Dungarvan Lions Club, South-East Mountain Rescue and West Waterford Hospice.

Dungarvan Hillwalking Club would like to thank all those people that helped in the running of its main walking event of 2019. This includes all the walk leaders and sweepers, checkpoint marshals, catering team and the start registration team, who all played a major part in the event.

Also, a big thanks to the non-club helpers, Kilmacthomas Walking Club and Kilgobinet Sports Centre, without whom the Comeragh Crossing would not run.

The club would like to acknowledge its sponsors, who provide transport, land access, food and water, making the Comeragh Crossing a unique event in Ireland’s walking calendar.

These include Flahavans, Abbeyside Eurospar, Civil Defence, Country Store, McGrath Newsagents, Joe O’Hanlon, Garvey’s Supervalu, Willie Kiely and Barron’s Bakery.

And here are a few pics that tell the story of the Crossing:

Ann Mangan and Helen Byrne keeping an eye on Seefin Checkpoint at the 2019 Comeragh Crossing (Ann Mangan)

Comedian Jason Byrne completed the Comeragh Challenge with his crew. (Photo credit: Michael Daly).

Catherine and Mary Rose peel oranges in advance of the hordes arriving (Photo Credit: Michael Daly)

Goska Korejwo completing the Comeragh Challenge 2019 with her companions (Michael Daly)

You need lots of food to ensure a successful crossing. (Photo Credit: Michael Daly)

July 2019 Newsletter

July 2019 Newsletter

Club Barbecue, Saturday 13 July

One week after the excitement of the Comeragh Crossing, we’re fundraising again for our three charities: Dungarvan Lions Club, West Waterford Hospice and South-East Mountain Rescue. But this time the event will be a lot more relaxing – a club barbecue with generous hosts Linda and Colm Humphreys. You’re asked to bring your own meat and beverages, but there will be salads and desserts available. Tickets are €5 and are available from Linda Humphreys on 086 6490688

Cunnigar Crossing

Now that the Comeragh Crossing is behind us, all eyes will be on our next big walk, the Cunnigar Crossing. Enquiries are already coming into the club’s Facebook page for this hugely popular family event, which is happening on Sunday 1 September this year. We’ll have more information about it in our next newsletter. And again, it raises money for our three chosen charities.

Venue for Christmas Party

At long last, after much debate which culminated in a vote being carried out during our Sligo weekend away, the venue for our Christmas party has been chosen. It was a close-run competition between the Tennis Club, the Park Hotel party nights and Merries Restaurant. Merries won out in the end. Ronagh Baumann had already provisionally booked Merries and that booking has now been confirmed for Saturday 7 December. Thanks to Ronagh for her efforts and patience in organising this, and to Mary Murphy for conducting the vote in Sligo. One could say it’s never too early to plan – or too late, depending on your viewpoint.

Successful Physiotherapist Meeting

Physiotherapist John Phelan attracted a large crowd to our club meeting on Tuesday 4 June last. He specialises in physiotherapy and nutritional health for older people, and gave a lot of valuable advice about how to build muscle strength and how to deal with common complaints like plantar fasciitis and arthritis. He also advised on what foods give you energy for walks – it’s out with bread and in with protein-based foods.