An Taisce Spring Clean on Hymany Way today

Thanks to Club members Bertha, Noel, Jim, the two Kathleens, Claire and Fiona who took part in the An Taisce National Spring Clean organised by our dynamic Environmental Officer Bríd. We were joined by Eric Naughton, a very hard-working member of the Tidy Towns Committee. In two hours we collected 31 bags of rubbish, a wheelbarrow, a boombox (remember those) and a clothes dryer along the Hymany Way walking route. Sadly, its only a drop in the ocean.  Thanks also to John Glennon, Ballinasloe Community Warden, for all assistance. Video below.

An Taisce National Spring Clean

The Club will be taking part in the An Taisce National Spring Clean next Saturday 30th April between 10-12. We will be cleaning up a section of the Hymany Way. Meet at Gun Club at 10am. Bags and gloves provided. Boots or wellies and hi-viz jacket advised.

Please support. Even if you can only spare a half-hour, it will make a difference.
Organiser: Bríd Lyons.

Slieve Bloom Nature Reserve Mountain Environment Walk

Rosway Walkers were represented by two club members at a fantastic walk in the Slieve Blooms on Saturday last (a few pics below). Organised by Helen Lawless, Access and Conservation Officer with Mountaineering Ireland, Roswayers joined Minister Malcolm Noonan and other walkers from clubs and organisations in the region on a fascinating tour of the Clear Lake area, led by Áine, Robert and Pádraig from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Attendees up on the hills on Saturday, with Helen Lawless on the right of the photo ©dboyle

Part of the group at Clear Lake ©dboyle

The Clear Lake area is part of the largest state-owned Nature Reserve, which was established in 1985. The area is also designated a Ramsar Wetland site and Council of Europe Biogentic Reserve as well as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for mountain blanket bog. During the walk, the group was lucky enough to briefly spot a male hen harrier in flight and some red grouse. The Nature Reserve is home to a small colony of these species and programmes are in place to monitor both. A pair of golden plovers have also been recorded from the area but stayed out of sight on the day. Skylarks and meadow pipits sang in the background as people spoke so knowledgeably and with such passion about their work. 

Waiting for the plover to appear ©fmaguire

The link between the living environment and the necessity for conservation was evident as the group looked at the myriad of plant species, which the grouse in particular rely on for food. It was very clear that the appearance and disappearance of a species has an impact on the survival of another. Helen spotted bog rosemary in one area, a plant usually more usually found on raised bog. Elsewhere walkers observed badger prints,  grouse poo and various grass species. 

The grouse poo ©fmaguire

Green tips of heather, one of the food sources of the red grouse ©fmaguire

The impact of humans on the landscape was also discussed. Litter/dumping is an ongoing problem, as is the damage cause by dirt biking in this particular area. A number of prosecutions have taken place. The impact of commercial forestry was also discussed, as was the 'gorse' burning which caused so much damage to breeding habitats in the wider area.

Pink flower on bog rosemary, in a bed of Sphagnum moss. ©fmaguire

        Club member Deirdre taking it all in on Saturday ©fmaguire

The NPWS were very clear that walkers are welcome within the Nature Reserve but advised keeping the group size small and to stick to known paths in order to minimise impact on the environment. The overall message was to walk with awareness. 

Club member Fiona in conversation with Minister Noonan at Clear Lake ©dboyle

Although Saturday was very cold, it was bright and the Blooms rarely looked so good. Happy to report that a great day out was had by all.

For further information on the Slieve Bloom Nature Reserve and the work of the NPWS, please see here.

Club walk Monday 18th April 2022

 In a change to schedule (and with apologies), this week's walk will be the Glenafelly Loop in the Slieve Blooms. Some ascent and descent over rough ground. Boots with good grip only. Duration: 2 hours. 

Meet Kinnitty village at 10am to travel on to start of walk. Leader: F. Maguire

©fmaguire

Four peaks challenge fundraiser June 2022

SERVE, a development and volunteering organisation based in Cork is committed to tackling poverty in marginalised and oppressed communities in Asia and Africa. They will be resuming their annual 4 Peaks Challenge on the 24th – 26th June 2022 and are looking for individuals or teams of five to participate.

In this event various teams conquer the highest mountain in each province over the course of one weekend to raise awareness and vital funds for SERVE's overseas development programmes. The four mountains are Carrauntoohil, Co. Kerry (1,038m), Mweelrea, Co. Mayo (814m), Slieve Donard, Co. Down (925m) and Lugnaquilla, Co. Wicklow (850m).

Every step taken take raises awareness of challenges like the lack of skills training and access to employment opportunities for vulnerable women and young people. All donations will directly support programmes that support vulnerable women and young people to access skills training and educational opportunities. Without these funded programmes, the beneficiaries of these programmes would have very little chance to live a dignified life.

When you sign up for this challenge, you are directly assisting women and young people on their uphill climb towards a prosperous life

For more information and details of the event, please visit https://serve.ie/4peakschallenge/ or contact Dan Lynch, SERVE's Programmes and Administration manager at community@serve.ie.

Killarney weekend away 2-4 September 2022: trip information

Accommodation is in the Killarney Court Hotel, Tralee Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry. V93 AW82 Checking in on Friday 2nd September and departing on Sunday 4th.

Cost is €157 per person sharing or €265 for single room. Two nights B & B and three course dinner on the Saturday evening included in price. Breakfast is served from 7.30am. Hotel checkout is 12 noon on the Sunday. 

The 'A' walk is a 5 to 6hr ascent of Torc mountain via the cardiac hill route and descent via Torc Waterfall. This walk is graded moderate to hard. All 'A' walkers require boots, packed lunch, minimum  1 litre of water, suncream and a fitness level to walk 5 – 6hrs on mostly rough ground and with approx, 700m of ascent/descent. The 'A' walk starts and finishes from Muckross House car park.

The 'B' walk is a 3–3.5hr Tomies woodland, lake and waterfall walk and is easy to moderate.

All 'B' walkers should have either boots or good quality walking shoes. Also have a packed lunch and at least 1 litre of water, sun cream etc. The walk starts and finishes at Tomies Wood car park off the Gap of Dunloe road.

There will be a nice easy two hour walk on the Sunday morning. Walk will depart from Hotel entrance at 9am sharp.

Any further questions that club members may have, please contact Liam Roche for 'A' walk or Judith Roche for 'B' walk. 

A €50 deposit will be collected in Gullanes between 8 and 9pm on Monday night next, 11th April. Please note that places are on a first come first served basis as there are a limited number of rooms available at the price quoted. 

Liam Roche

Some photos from Slieve Aughty walk a few weeks ago

 Thanks to walk leader Frances for sending these on. Photos of the Slieve Aughty walk on March 6th. Another great outing with the Club. 

©FLeahy

©FLeahy

©FLeahy

Climb with Charlie on Slieve Bawn

Sincere thanks and well done to those Club members who supported our Climb with Charlie walk yesterday on Slieve Bawn. A very generous €420 was raised which will be donated to this remarkable man's fundraising campaign straight away. 

A very enjoyable day out was had by all (see below), blessed, naturally, by the sunny Spring morning.

Walk leader Liam Roche has sent in the following:

'As our contribution to the Walk with Charlie fundraising campaign in support of the inspirational Charlie Bird and Vicki Phelan and their efforts to promote funding for research into Motor Neurone disease and support for Pieta House, Rosway Walking Club undertook a 12.5km outing to Slieve Bawn Wind Farm recreational park. It’s a great facility. For kids there's a lovely playground area and various exercise machines. For the adults, there are numerous walking trails, a mass rock, Marian cross, church ruins and a summit feature with information, maps etc,

Twenty-two Rosway walkers saw all these features along with the twenty wind turbines and we even had an interesting discussion about the negatives and positives of how green and environmentally friendly both the wind turbines and electric cars really are.

We were blessed with an absolutely stunning day weather-wise. Lunch was enjoyed at the summit and loads of chit-chat, and a few yarns were told as we traversed the various ups and downs along the way.

Another wonderful walking day was had with a fantastic group of Rosway walkers.'

©LRoche

Summit cross ©LRoche

©LRoche

©FLeahy

©LRoche