April 2019 Newsletter

April 2019 Newsletter

Register on the Day for Kilbrien Comeragh Crossing Walk

Following on from last month’s newsletter item about registering for the Comeragh Crossing, we just want to clarify that you don’t need to register online for the Kilbrien section of the Comeragh Crossing, the 10km walk. You can register for it on the day and the cost is €20. Of course, if you do want to register for it online, you are welcome to do so. Just drop in to

www.dungarvanhillwalking.ie and choosing Comeragh Crossing from the menu on the left-hand side of the page. You can also register online for all the other Comeragh Crossing walks there.

Walk Report: St Patrick’s Day Walk

We were delighted to be able to run our St Patrick’s Day walk again after snow scuppered the walk last year. Brian Wickham led approximately 25 walkers up Slievenamon and back down again, in a walk that took just under three hours. Showers threatened but thankfully stayed away as we climbed, though it was far too cold for our annual Slievenamon sing-song at the top. However, as we were leaving, an unmerciful shower of hailstones descended from the sky. St Patrick’s wrath, perhaps?

With a tough climb and a slippery descent, this walk had a definite air of penance about it, but after that penance, there was the reward of cakes and many other goodies at Kilcash Castle. Thanks to all who contributed goodies, and thanks to Brian Wickham for leadership and for boozy cake.

Food Festival Walk

Dungarvan Hillwalking Club is running a hillwalk again for the West Waterford Food Festival. The walk will take place on Saturday 27 April, and it will be in the Comeraghs. The walk meets at the Park Hotel at 10am and then you drive to the starting point. The walk will cover a 6km route and will last four hours. Tickets are €10 and you can buy them from the West Waterford Festival of Food website. https://www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com. Go to events, then Trails and Tours, and you’ll find Hillwalking in the Comeraghs, where you can register for the walk. You can also drop into Dungarvan Tourist Office.

Next Club Meeting: The next club meeting will take place on Tuesday 7 May at the Tudor House at 8pm.

If you have any news you think you’d like the club to hear about, please contact PRO Derbhile Graham, derbhile.graham@gmail.com.

Thursday Walkers Walk on Water

The Thursday C walk on 28 March took the walkers to Mount Stuart, where they encountered an unexpected obstacle. Being an intrepid, cheerful bunch, they found inventive ways around it, and they helped each other true with typical generous spirit. Their struggle and triumph was captured by walk leader and enthusiastic photographer Eibhlin Power. 

Dungarvan Hillwalking Club was delighted to be able to run its annual St Patrick's Day walk again, after snowfall prevented it from happening last year. As befitting a walk in honour of a  saint, there was an air of penance about it, but that made the reward afterwards all the sweeter. This atmosphere of penance and reward was beautifully captured by David Haworth. 

Here's the penance. 

And here's the reward. 

March 2019 Newsletter

March 2019 Newsletter

Register for Comeragh Crossing Event

You can now register on our website for the Comeragh Crossing, which is happening on Saturday 6 July 2019. Visit www.dungarvanhillwalking.ie and choose Comeragh Crossing in the menu on the left-hand side of the page. You’ll get all the info you need, and a button you can click on to register your details. Alternatively, you can visit the Eventbrite website, www.eventbrite.ie, and type Comeragh Crossing into the search box at the top of the page. Registrations are only being taken online.

Walk Report: Thursday C Walk 14 February. Leader, Norma O’Meara

We hillwalkers are a surprisingly romantic lot, and this was proven when Norma O’Meara, leader of this Thursday C walk, produced Love Hearts sweets for us to sample at the traditional post-walk tea. Before that, she led a group of approximately 20 walkers along a canal bank which ended at a place called Two-Mile Bridge. There we found… a bridge! She then led us back to the start point, where we enjoyed a romantic feast served on a table decorated with a tablecloth festooned with hearts. There was a history lesson too, centred on a nearby castle, but this reporter was dossing at the back and missed it.

Venue for 2019 Christmas Party

We know it’s way too early, or too late depending on your viewpoint, but there has been considerable debate about where to go for this year’s Christmas party. Ronagh Baumann has provisionally booked the upstairs room in Merries, where we will have more room. But some members fancy some jigging and jiving, so the tennis club has been suggested. We’ve had many great parties there, but to make this year’s one a success, people will need to be willing to come forward and organise it.

Eibhlin Power has thrown a third suggestion into the mix, the Conservatory at the Park Hotel. It would be possible to have a meal there in privacy and Eibhlin will enquire as to whether we can then join the hotel’s official party nights for a dance. Please let the committee know which venue tempts you. While it’s not urgent, bookings do fill up, so it would be good to hear from you about it in the next few weeks.

Next Club Meeting: The next club meeting will take place on Tuesday 2 April at the Tudor House at 8pm.

If you have any news you think you’d like the club to hear about, please contact PRO Derbhile Graham, derbhile.graham@gmail.com.