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.

Foggy B WAlk, 4 November

Richard Dykes led a foggy B walk to Iska Sullas and Boola Cairn. Michael Daly captured the weather, the mood and the wonderful scenery, which was just visible enough for him to take great pictures.

November Newsletter

New Committee for Dungarvan Hillwalking Club

Dungarvan Hillwalking Club has a new committee for 2018/19, with some familiar faces and some new ones. Tony Fitzgerald remains as chairperson and environmental officer, David Byrne is still membership officer and Anne Dykes is still children’s officer. Derbhile Graham remains as PRO, but will also be website coordinator. Mary Murphy will take over from Erich Baumann as Treasurer. Peter Mangan and Monica Corcoran will still be B and C walk coordinators respectively. However, we have a new vice-chair, Neil Fitzgerald, and a new secretary, Ronagh Baumann, so we welcome them to the committee.

Charities Presented with Donations at AGM

Each of our three charities, Dungarvan Lions Club, West Waterford Hospice and South-East Mountain Rescue, was presented with a cheque for €600. These donations came from funds raised at the Comeragh Crossing, Cunnigar Crossing, Christmas walk and club barbecue. A representative of West Waterford Hospice was on hand to show us where our money is going, to fund a state-of-the-art hospice building based in the grounds of Waterford University Hospital. Richard Dykes accepted the cheque on behalf of Mountain Rescue and Erich Baumann accepted the donation for the Lions Club.

B Walk Report, Comeraghs, 21 October, by Mihael Daly. Leader, Mary O’Shea.

We had a great B walk today. Despite rain and foggy mist at the start, Mary showed her navigation skills and familiarity with these hills, taking us up "heart attack hill " to Knockmeal and Crohan West, before lunch (and a brief history lesson) at Liam Lynch Monument. The weather had brightened up by then and we contoured round Knocknagnauv and Knocknafalia, returning to the start tired and happy.

C Walk Report. Lough Modhra, 21 October. Led by Ronagh Baumann and Marie Jennings

This walk attracted an epic turnout, with 31 walkers setting out for Lough Modhra, some new members, some seasoned walkers. While not quite as sunny as promised, the weather stayed mostly dry throughout. We wended our way along a track, which brought us to this exquisite lake tucked into the hill. Its beauty put many of the walkers in contemplative mode, and many of them sat alone on rocks while we were having our picnic, staring at the landscape. The walk lasted just under three hours, and our competent leaders kept all of us on track.

Two Events in Aid of SEMRA

As mentioned in the last newsletter, SEMRA will hold its Long Way Round walk on Saturday 24 November. You can check out their website, www.semra.ie/longwayround, for further details. As well as that, there will be a Gala Flower Show on Thursday 28 November for SEMRA. Contact Reenie for further information.

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