Comeragh Crossing Registration Open

We're delighted to announce that you can now register online for the Comeragh Crossing, which is taking place on Saturday 6 July 2019. Once again, we're raising money for our three charities, West Waterford Hospice, South East Mountain Rescue and Dungarvan Lions Club.

Kilgobinet Sports Club will be hosting us again, and this will be the gathering place for the walk and the place where you'll enjoy your meal and wash afterwards. Our walks are also priced the same as last year, with our Comeragh Crossing, Challenge and Nire walks priced at €35 and our Kilbrien walk priced at €20.

If you like the sound of these walks, visit the Comeragh Crossing section of our website to get more information about the walks and register online.

February 2019 Newsletter

Sympathies to Eileen Dalton

We at Dungarvan Hillwalking Club would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Eileen Dalton on the loss of her daughter Helen over Christmas. We would like to reassure Eileen that she and her family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sligo Weekend Update

The Sligo weekend away has now changed to 17 and 18 May to facilitate club members who are attending communions of family members. We will be staying in the Sligo Southern Hotel and the price is €140 for two nights’ B&B and evening meal. If you want to stay an extra night, it costs €25. There is also a single supplement per night. If you’ve put down your name to go, payment is due by 5 March. If you haven’t put down your name yet and you’d like to go, please contact Mary Murphy on 087 227 3825, as places are in high demand.

Croatia Holiday Update

Twenty-one people have signed up to go on this year’s club walking holiday to Croatia in the first week of October. This year, the holiday is being booked through The Travel Department. Ronagh Baumann has done sterling work in organising this holiday and has negotiated a reduced baggage charge. This brings the total price for the holiday to €950 if you book through Ronagh. So, if you’d like to go on the holiday, please contact Ronagh on 087 7986753 to avail of this reduced rate.

Comeragh Crossing Event Is Up

The New Year is now well established and at this time of year, thoughts turn to the Comeragh Crossing, which happening on 6 July 2019. The event notice has gone up on Eventbrite, and in plain English, that means you can now register online for the event. Click here to register, or if you’re looking at the paper version, go to www.eventbrite.ie and search for Comeragh Crossing.

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

A Variety of Walks

Well, strictly speaking, we're talking about two walks, but the terrain was very varied. The first walk was a Comeragh mountain walk in the Nire Valley with Ann Mangan. It was a Sunday C walk that took place on 20 January, on a bleak, foggy landscape. Dave Haworth took these two pics that capture the mood of the walk.

And then the Thursday C walk on 24 January was in Glenshelane Woods, though again, the weather was a bit on the misty side. Eibhlin Power was the photo taker on the day. 

Seven Sisters Thursday B Walk

Last Thursday, 17 January, the Thursday B walkers headed for the Seven Sisters. They only found five of them due to lack of rain. These two pictures are courtesy of Ann Mangan. If you want to join the Thursday B walkers, their walk leaves from the Park Hotel at 12pm during the winter months.

Sligo Weekend Away 2018

The club weekend away in 2019 will be to Sligo on the weekend of 17 and 18 May. We will be staying in the Sligo Southern Hotel and the price will be €140 for two nights' B&B plus dinner. If you want to stay an extra night, the cost will be €45. If you're interested in booking or want further information, drop an email to dungarvanhillwalking@gmail.com and we'll give you the details. It will be a new experience for many of us to head to the North-Weset and we hope to see as many of you as possible.

First Week of Walks 2019

We're giving you three of the best from our first week's walking in 2019.

The Sunday C walk on 6 January was a foggy affair, in the Comeragh with Mary O'Shea. David Haworth captured the moody, misty vibe.

The Sunday B walkers had much clearer weather on Lachtnafranee, with Michael Daly. Onra Power took this quirky pic and captioned it: Anybody Home? 

And Michael Daly was the photographer on the Thursday B walk on 10 January, led by Peter Mangan. 

January 2019 Newsletter

January 2019 Newsletter

Weekend Away and Holiday Update

The club has decided on its destinations for its holiday abroad and for its weekend away in Ireland. The holiday is to Croatia and it lasts for a week from 4 October 2019. The cost of the holiday is €900, with a single supplement of €199. Deposits of €200 are being taken as we speak and bookings close on 11 January. The weekend away is to Sligo on 11-12 May, and we will be staying at the Sligo Southern Hotel. The cost of the weekend will be €140 for two nights’ B&B and an evening meal, and an extra night costs €45. Payments are to be in by the beginning of March.

Mulled Wine Christmas Walk

Despite dodgy weather, the Mulled Wine and Mince Pie walk on Sunday 16 December was well attended, and the bucket collection raised €254. This money will be distributed to our three charities, West Waterford Hospice, South East Mountain Rescue and Dungarvan Lions Club. Thanks to Peter Mangan for leading the walk, Erich Baumann for the mulled wine, Ronagh Baumannn for the mince pies, and to all members who brought treats. Rumour has it that the brown bread went down a treat.

Thursday Walk Christmas Extravaganza

As is now traditional, the weather was shocking for the Thursday Walk Lunch and Walk, but this did not dampen the spirits of anyone who attended. An epic crowd of 38 people turned up for the lunch, though it should be noted that a mere four brave souls ventured to the Cunnigar for the post-lunch walk. The rest of the crowd feasted lavishly on the Eurocuisine Christmas menu. We pulled crackers and enjoyed lots of quality banter. Thanks to Reenie and Geoff for organising the lunch and to Eurocuisine for their efficient service and delicious food.

Walk Report: Portlaw, 23 December. Walk Leader: Norman Graham

Five souls ventured east for a forest walk in Portlaw, led by Norman Graham, where we followed a well-marked forest trail. Due to the damp weather and the early sunset, Norman cut the walk short, and this meant we were safely back before dark. Still, we were able to climb to the cross, which gave us delightful views even though it was misty. The walk took us a little over two hours, so it didn’t make too much of a hole in our pre-Christmas schedule.

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

Christmas Walk List 2018

This is is the Dungarvan Hillwalking Club Christmas walk list, 23-30 December. If you have any questions, visit the Walks session of this site for details of the leaders. 

Sunday 23 December
B Walk: Leaders' Choice. If anyone wants to go on a B walk, come along to Scanlon's Yard Carpark in Dungarvan just before 10am. The group will then decide where they will go and who the leaders will be.
C Walk: Portlaw with Norman Graham. Leaving at 12pm, from Scanlon's Yard.

Thursday 27 December
Walk Off the Pudding Walk. This is a joint Thursday Bs and C walk to Kilrossanty with Geoffrey Palmer. This walk leaves the Park Hotel at 1.30pm.

Sunday 30 December
B Walk: Leaders' Choice. The group will decide where to go and who will lead. It leaves Scanlon's Yard at 10am.
C walk: Cruachan Paorach with Ronagh Baumann. This walk leaves Scanlon's Yard at 12.

We wish all our members and those who supported our club a wonderful Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.

December 2018 Newsletter

November 2018 Newsletter

Guidelines for New Club Members

The club has posted up guidelines for new members on the club Facebook page, to clarify a few of our walk procedures for them. Members are advised to arrive 10 minutes before a walk so they can sign up with the leader and arrange a lift. When in the car, they are asked to have coins ready for the car pool fee and to bring an extra bag for mucky boots. And while they are on the walk, they are asked to respect the decisions of the leader, who knows the route and has done a recce on it.

B Walk Report Iska Sullas and Boola Cairn, Richard Dykes. By Michael Daly.

The B walk on Sunday 4 November was a great loop walk with views of Coumshingaun, Boola, Crotty’s Lake and even the Black Bog. We returned via Iska Sullas. It was a busy day on the hills, despite the wet conditions, as we met several other groups out and about.

Suggestions for Club Holiday and Weekend Away

At the club meeting, Ronagh Baumann outlined the results of her thorough research into options for next year’s club holiday. Possibilities include a trip to a walkers’ hotel in the Lake District and two Travel Department trips, one to Spain and one to Croatia. The Croatia trip is a conventional walking holiday, similar to the ones the club have taken in Austria and Italy. The Croatian one has more flat walks and excursions. For the club weekend away, Sligo, Leenane and Sneem in Co. Kerry were thrown into the ring. The committee will be deciding on both the holiday and weekend away very soon, so please contact the committee if you have any ideas.

Mulled Wine Walk, 16 December 2018

Our traditional mulled wine and mince pies makes it annual appearance on Sunday 16 December 2018. It leaves Dungarvan at 2pm and it’s to the Ardmore Cliffs. It will be led as always by Peter Mangan and Erich will be back at base overseeing the mulled wine. Ronagh will be taking care of the mince pies and members are encouraged to bring along other treats if they feel inclined. These will all be enjoyed after the walk around the cliffs. As always, a collection will be organised for our three charities, Dungarvan Lions Club, South-East Mountain Rescue and West Waterford Hospice.

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

Flower Club SEMRA Event 28 November

Dungarvan Hillwalking Club is deeply grateful to the good people at Dungarvan Flower Club. They've nominated South-East Mountain Rescue (SEMRA) as their charity of choice for their next event. This is a flower arranging evening on Wednesday 28 November, happening in the Park Hotel at 8pm.

Also, good luck to the club members who will be taking part or helping out in the Long Way Round walk, happening tomorrow, 24 November in Clonmel. HEre's hoping these two events raise much-needed funds for this very worthy cause.