Last week’s walks in the Galtees took place in spite of inclement weather conditions.

Shorter route:  the walk over Monabrack went according to plan.  It was a lovely walk; five people willingly braved the elements.  The weather was poor but it was a nice easy pace and pleasant company.

Longer route: five members started from King’s Yard in heavy rain and low cloud.  They ascended Slieve Carrignabinnia to the Galtee Wall and followed this to the base of Galtymore.  At this point, they had enough sense to abandon their original plan and returned directly to King’s Yard.

Photos from the Winter Camp 2018

Winter Camp Report February 2018

CMC group on the start of the St. Finbarr’s Way Pigrim route

Another great day out yesterday for CMC members on Saint Finbarrs Way Pilgrim Route walk from Drimoleague to Kealkill….Well almost! We started with refreshments at Top of the Rock Pod facility hosted by the Ross family and were even serenaded by a visiting American singing group…… We then started our walk initially along riverside tracks, then along track and road and up Mullaghmesha (494 ft) before descending again to track and road leading to Kealkill completing 18 km before getting our minibus back to the pods after 6pm. Thanks to our leader , Leonard Godsil, for organising this event in such a lovely scenic and well maintained route…..

Winter Camp – 21/22 Jan. 2017 – Text by Maureen Fitzgerald

It was that time of the year again – winter camp 2017. Aodhan worked his usual magic and found a fantastic camp site, nestled in a sheltered valley in the Comeraghs next to a babbling brook, by ruins and under a copse of ancient fir trees. And it was dry. Talk about happy campers!

Our Cork city campers included Aodhan and Liz, Pat, and myself (Maureen). From further afield we had Yvonne (all the way from Durrus), John Paul (from Midleton), John (from Fermoy) and Jim (from Cobh). Most of the group met in Dungarvan for an early lunch and set off to park next to a forest path that led into the campsite. As I was delayed, I parked and walked in from near Mahon Falls. As I came over brow of the hill I could see five tents. They looked brilliant, like a little mountain village. Base camp Comeraghs.

I joined the group, put up my tent and we organized the site of our leave no trace campfire while discussing where we would go for a little evening walk to whet our appetites for dinner. We set off up to the coom where a string of little lakes mark the source of the River Tay. It wasn’t Banf but it was fairly breathtaking. We made our way back in the dark, torches on, handrailing the stream to the camps site. Pat, who had stayed behind, set himself up as our ‘lighthouse’ in case we needed direction.

Dinner around the campfire was followed by songs from Aodhan, John Paul and Liz and of course there were stories – some tall tales and some true but all entertaining. When the fire had burned down, we tucked ourselves up into our sleeping bags and woke Sunday morning to sunshine. Cook up time again and after breakfasts that ranged from porridge to boiled eggs and fry ups we packed up camp. A little walk around the top of the coom finished off our day and we headed back along the forest track, already planning and looking forward to next year.

Photo’s: Day time – Maureen, Night time – Pat

All 13 members of CMC enjoyed good walking experience, though a little windy for lunch! on Sam’s recent Knockmealdown walk. Well done Sam!