2008-04-28 16:53:14
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Access again
This is a bad news good news one. I don’t know why I ever go out of Connaught, but I did last week to West Cork. We walked the horseshoe from Tooth Mountain to Lackabane which was a treat, saw nobody and no sign of paths except where the ridge really forced a single route. Instead of doing the final top we dropped to the farm with the stone circle – incidentally noticing outside it a laminated sign “Rabach Glen walk – Adults 4 Euros – Children 2”. There was hardly time to get anxious about this when a slatternly female with a fag hanging from her lips emerged to hit us up for 8 Euros. Now, we argued, and I’ll accept I’m a woose for paying, but there were guns going off and 4x4s and three kilometres to the car. Heart of her argument was why should people be traipsing by and the poor bloody farmer not get a cut. OK we’d not been up the glen but we’d been on the land and look at the damage to the wire. We pointed out that all the wire on the ridge was down and we couldn’t damage it. All the more reason for supplying funds to repair it, she said. Gill let loose with a volley about freedom of access in Scotland but you could see your one thinking that the Scottish farming community needed counselling about income streams. Anyway this isn’t good news for anyone casually taking the delights of the Rabach’s Glen and it’s not good for us denizens of the high tops – you’d be better off staying up for one more top to Deelis, the way off looks swampier but you’ll save four euro a skull.
The good news is that the photo above can be disregarded. It’s from a fence below the Sron at the end of the Gougane Barra horseshoe. (It’s shron in your pronunciation, stron in ours, how come Gaelic uses three times as many letters as it needs half the time then gets involved in guessing games about the ones it’s missed out?) The sign hacked us off at the time, two days after the Rabach Glen episode but we were told at the hotel that the man was a nutter but was now gone. Someone should haul down the signs.
I think too that a concerted effort on access is needed in Ireland. Where I’ve been walking it’s not impacted me but visiting this area has come as a shock. Judging by other comments on MV this is the single biggest issue for Irish walking. Your rights seem even more tenuous than those of the English.
2008-04-14 13:24:53
Maumturks Challenge
The Maumturks Challenge was held last Saturday, 12 April. The weather forecast may have put people off doing it, as unfavourable weather was forecast. There was plenty of snow on top, especially in stage one which made for very different and interesting walking. Was too busy keeping to the timing of the cut offs to take pictures, which I now regret. Otherwise a great day out and well organised. Oh… and before I forget, the sausages at the Maamturk Mór check point were a delight!!2008-04-13 12:26:33
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Mourne Rock?!?
For those of you who like your music heavy, melodic, Celtic and Mourne orientated (what?), I present to you Circadian! The first (well probably) heavy rock band to base most of their writing on the Mourne Mountains. Silent Sentinel: Refers to the Watchers of Slieve Commedagh and probably the most radio-friendly.
Twisted Path: Inspired by Altataggart folklore.
Maid of the Mist: Based on the story of Sheelagh of Shannagh, the daughter of chief clansman O'Haidth, who was drowned in the waters of Loughshannagh whilst hunting. Her spirit is said to appear as a white doe on the shores of Loughshannagh.
Well it's better than writing about being depressed...
www.myspace.com/circadianni
2008-04-12 18:19:42
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Ben Nevis whiteout
Went to Scotland last weekend hoping to get winter weather and were not disappointed. We bagged Ben Nevis in a blizzard. Saw the resuce chopper several times during the day ferrying casualties off the slopes. Above 900m was complete whiteout with windchill -20C and 50mph winds. 8 ft of snow on the summit. Outstanding! I highly recommend The Grog & Gruel in Fort William for post hike refreshments2008-04-10 22:48:55
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| derryclare from lodge (Expand pics) |
Twelve Bens Mountain Lodge
have just recently spent a week staying at the Twelve Bens Mountain Lodge right in the heart o fthe Glencoaghan horeshoe. This was an old family home which has been renovated to a high standard by a local sheepfarmer (Eamon) who owns part of the hills. You can literally step out of the door onto the hillside or spend countless minutes staring at the changing faces of the hillsides as the weather moves through.I see this as supporting the local population who own and earn thier living from the land, often for little return. Eamon has an intimate knowledge of local history, wildlife, weather,farming issues and more which he is more than happy to share. If you are thinking of heading to this wonderful part of the country can i urge you to check out this accomodation which can be acessed through www.ireland.ie/west
2008-04-02 07:48:45
Shooting Quad Bikers Always Wrong - Pure Geni
I think we may have a genius lurking in our midst... Captain Vertigo take a bow2008-04-01 20:31:06
Fleece lost Knocknacloghoge
Did anyone find a light green fleece lost in the Knocknacloghoge area (Wicklow) on Sunday 17th. FebIf you did would you please contact group@mountainviews.ie who will pass the message on.
2008-03-21 11:48:29
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Shooting Quad Bikers Always Wrong
As one of the older members of our walking group I am regularly called upon to advise on ethical problems. This inevitably involves having to proclaim unpopular positions, and, no doubt, there are many in our Youth Wing who consider me "an old fogey". For example, I have never tolerated the notion that those practising artificial contraception should be permitted to be among us on the hills. Not a popular rule, but one which the Committee has thankfully enforced rigorously. I seek no reward for my work. When you live by the maxim "For evil to triumph it enough that good men should do nothing", you do not need the consolation of adulation. My most recent moral "stand off" occurred when we broke for lunch on Wicklow's Seefingan. I noticed one of our number assembling an elephant rifle. I knew in an instant that he was intending to shoot some quad bikers who were buzzing around the summit of nearby Seefin. "Michael", I said,"Will you put that away for a minute and sit down here and we'll have a chat". Although I'm sure he groaned inwardly at the thought of a lecture, he, and some fifteen others from the Youth Wing, sat crossed-legged at my feet, and listened. "Now", I said, "There isn't a walker alive hasn't either shot a quad biker, or thought about it, and I'd be a liar if I told you otherwise. For sure it gives you short term popularity. Yes, you'll be toasted wherever our people congregate. And I can't deny that the human race is almost certainly better off without them.But Michael, and its a big 'but', its not right. God made them bikers and gave them a soul just like us. He gave them free will, and they made bad choices. The devil himself got a hold of them, and now they seem beyond redemption. But we must not set ourselves up as Judges. Leave that to the Almighty. Its not our call. Put the guns away kids and lets go on to Seahan, sure in the knowledge that when we reach the great mountain range in the sky, we shall look down from our lofty peaks, and watch the Quad Folk buzzing around in Hell for all eternity. Now eat your sandwiches and we'll go." You're wondering what happened next? Michael put away the gun, and waited til I'd gone far ahead of the group , as I'm won't to do. Then he shot three of them...Shot them...but not until I was well away from the scene.That's respect. You don't buy respect: you earn it.2008-03-12 19:49:47
Stones throw from the summit
Good man/wumin cra, you are wealth of information, I will have a plunder there at the weekend.2008-03-12 11:53:07
Lost a Stone?
genie- millstone on Slievenaglogh. The following may be nonsense - my memory may be inventing things - but try it and see. From the Commedagh end of Slievenaglogh, hang back off the summit and edge towards the Brandy Pad track below. Still on the flat of the summit, you will stumble over Exibit A. As to its provenance, I think there is a contact somewhere via NI Water and/or Roads Service that would effect communication with some hardy souls whose living memory includes some services to the quarries of old. All may be revealed.
