FREE event WALKING July 9th–30th FESTIVAL 2017

Walk the length of Kildare in our Grand Canal Challenge ow See Bel

Sunday 9th July @ 3.00 pm 1 hr – 5km Name of Event: Guided Walk of Carton Parklands Description: A guided walk of Carton House Parklands featuring wonderful specimen trees and the Tyrconnell Tower. Meeting Point: Reception area, Carton Hotel Grade: C=Moderate. Free Parking at Carton House Walk Leader: Breda 087 9630719. Monday 10th July @ 7.30 pm 1 hr 30 min – 6km Name of Event: Kildoon Wood Walk, Nurney Description: A guided walk of Kildoon Wood through bog and woodland trails visiting Barnhill, campsite of the local volunteers during the 1798 2017 Grand rebellion. Meeting Point: Martin’s Pub, Kildoon, Nurney Grade: C=Moderate Canal Challenge Walk Leader: Michael 045 980546 Join our Grand Canal Challenge and be a part of a unique walking experience Tuesday 11th July @ 7.30 pm 4km – 1hr over six stages exploring Kildare’s Grand Canal from , to Name of Event: Town Walk . The Challenge will consist of six walks over two weeks, each stage/walk Description: A guided walk around the town of Monasterevin, a place referred to covering a section of the canal. Transport will be provided at the end of the as the ‘Venice of ’ because of the number of bridges in close walk to the start point for the first 50 people registered for each stage/walk. proximity and looking at the connections to such famous people as the tenor Count John McCormack and the poet and Jesuit Gerald Manley To register contact Kildare Sports Partnership@ Hopkins. Email: [email protected] or Phone: 045 980546/7 Meeting Point: Main entrance to Moore Abbey in Town Square (free on street parking or log on to www.kildaresp.ie. in Monasterevin) Grade: C=Moderate Monday July 17th @ 3 pm – Stage 1: Hazelhatch to Walk Leader: Mary 087 2358355 Distance: approx. 13 km. Meeting Point: Celbridge GAA, Hazelhatch Road. Wednesday 12th July @ 11 pm 1 hr – 5km Name of Event: Guided Walk of House Parklands (K-Club) Wednesday July 19th @ 11 am – Stage 2: Sallins to Robertstown Description: A guided walk of Straffan House. View the wonderful open parkland Distance: approx. 11.5 km. Meeting Point: Sallins Canal Bridge. with river views and very fine specimen trees at the home of the 2006 Ryder Cup. Sunday July 23rd @ 3 pm– Stage 3: Robertstown to Rathangan Meeting Point: Reception Straffan House (K-Club) Distance: approx. 12.5 km. Meeting Point: Robertstown Village Centre. Grade: C=Moderate. Free Parking at Straffan House Walk Leader: Breda 087 9630719. Tuesday July 25th @ 11 am. –Stage 4: Rathangan to Monasterevan Thursday 13th July @ 11 am 1 hr – 5km Distance: approx. 10.5 km. Meeting Point: Rathangan Canal Bridge. Name of Event: Kilkea Walk, Thursday July 27th @ 11 am – Stage 5: Monasterevan to Description: A guided walk from Mullaghcreelan Wood through the village of Distance: approx. 11.5 km. Meeting Point: Monasterevan Train Station. Kilkea passing the birthplace of explorer Ernest Shackleton and Kilkea Castle, home for over 700 years of the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Kildare. Sunday July 30th @ 3 pm – Stage 6: Vicarstown to Athy Meeting Point: Mullaghcreelan Wood, Kilkea, Castledermot Distance: approx. 11 km. Meeting Point: Vicarstown Canal Bridge. Grade: C=Moderate Walk Leader: Bernard (086) 8727959 Friday 14th July @ 7.30 pm 1 hr – 5km Name of Event: Guided Walk of Cliff at Lyons Walk Description: A guided walk taking in the magnificent restored Village at Lyons, with ‘Get Kildare Walking’ splendid views of the Hill of Lyons , place of the dual between Daniel O’ The Liberator and John D’Esterr and a walk along the Canal, a section of ‘Arthur’s Way’. Meeting Point: GAA Grade: C=Moderate. Free Parking at Ardclough GAA Walk Leader: Breda 087 9630719. Saturday July 15th @ 3.00 pm 1hr – 4km Name of Event: Plains Walk For further information contact: Description: A guided stroll along the edge of the Curragh Plains looking at some historical aspects of local pursuits, namely racing, golf and boxing. Kildare Sports Partnership, Kildare County Council, Meeting Point: Curragh edge at Lumville House. Level 7, Áras Chill Dara, , Co. Kildare. Grade: C=Moderate Walking Leader: Mary 087/2358355 Email: [email protected] • Phone: 045 980546/7