Contributions to: [email protected] Deadline for June 2017 issue: TheRambler 16th May, 2017 Cumann Siúlóirí May 2017 na h-Éireann

Bluebells for May

Wanting to be off on my own I took out a map

To trace where the walk would take me,

Following a red dotted line up to the green square and back

Photo courtesy of Angela Hickey When I reached there, the air was filled with their fragrance

Banks of them symbols of sunlight and shelter

Colour coded blue for solitude

Cedric Perkin

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HIKE PROGRAMME, MAY 2017

In common with all forms of mountaineering, hiking/hill walking is an adventure activity with inherent risk of personal injury or death. You are responsible for yourself on the mountains at all times.

The Club would encourage members to continue to seek to car pool to hikes if at all possible. Essential requirements for all Club hikes are adequate weatherproof and waterproof clothing, a map and compass, hiking boots, a rucksack, sufficient food and hot drinks, plus emergency rations for the day; a whistle, torch, double survival bag and first aid kit. For comfort after the hike a towel and change of clothing are recommended. Leaders and hikers please do not lose contact with each other.

Please check the Club Website the day before in case of hike changes. In uncertain weather, contact leader before leaving home.

THURSDAY 4th MAY Area: Gap/ Security: Annalecka Bridge, Brian and Anne Carson; , Michelle Demonchy & Seamus Moriarty

Grade 3+ 11:00 Leader: Jamie Keane (086 806 3357) Annalecka Bridge (O 055 019) - - St Kevin Way - - Brockaghs - Lough Nahanagan - Fair Mountain - Oakwood - Ballinagee Br - St Kevins Way - Cars Distance: 21km Ascent: 900m

Grade 3 11:30 Leader: Blaithin Bailey (086 328 2799) Annalecka Bridge (O: 055 019) – Stoney Top – Tonelagee – – St Kevin’s Way – Ballinagee Bridge – Forest Tracks – Cars Distance: 17km Ascent: 650m

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Jill Shiel (087 782 8832) Crone CP (O: 192 142) – – – – Car Park Distance: 14km Ascent: 550m

Grade 5 11:30 Leader: Barbara Young (086 221 8853) Crone CP (O:192 142) – Tracks – Ride Rock – Contour tracks around Maulin – Tracks – Cars Distance: 10K Ascent: 300m

SATURDAY 6th MAY Area: Glen of the Downs Grade 3 11:00 Leader: Paul Gorecki (087 972 0003) Grove Bar Grove (O: 266 104) Coming from Dublin take Exit 11 on the N11 Tracks – Downs Hill – Kilpedder Rifle Range – Alticore – Tracks -– Cars Distance: 15km Ascent: 400m

SUNDAY 7th MAY Area: Wicklow Gap West Refreshments & Food: Hollywood Inn Security: Annalecka Bridge, Ruth Murphy & Mary O’Connor

Grade 1 10:30 Leader: Brian Casey (087 287 0058) Please check with Brian in advance to confirm if this hike is on

Grade 2 10:30 Leader: Niall Rennick (087 792 3000) Knocknaboley (Corragh) (S: 978 999) – Corragh – Corriebracks – – Logar – Forest Tracks – Oilltiagh Brook – Table Track – Black Banks – Wexford Gap – – Corragh Glen – Cars Distance: 19km Ascent: 950m

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Grade 3+ 10:30 Leader: Damien Cassells (087 612 1857) Knocknaboley (Corragh) (N: 981 003) Grannarock – Carrig – Three Lakes – – Lobawn – Corriebracks – Corragh Glen – Cars. Distance: 18km Ascent:730m

Grade 3 11:00 Leader: Maurice Kelly (087 207 7149) Annalecka Bridge (O: 055 019) – Tracks – Stoney Top – Tonlegee – Wicklow Gap – St Kevin’s Gap – Cars Distance: 14km Ascent: 600m

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Martin Dermody (087 793 7022) Annalecka Bridge (O: 055 019) – St Kevin’s Way – Wicklow Gap – Tonlegee – Stoney Top – Forest Tracks – Cars Distance: 12km Ascent: 480 m

Grade 5 (Including Introductory G5) 11:30 Leaders: Anne & Christy Stenson (087 671 3857) Annalecka Bridge (O: 055 019) – St Kevin’s Way – Cars Distance: 11km Ascent: 250m Car Pool from Blessington Square at 11:00

THURSDAY 11th MAY Area: Ballinastoe/ Security: Ballinastoe, Paula Darby & Brenda Toomey; Barravore CP: Alan & Barbara McLean

Grade 3+ 11:00 Leader: Brian Carson (087 195 6237) Ballinastoe (O 194 078) – Masons Glen – Djouce – Coffin Stone – – Maulin – WW – White Hill – Cars Distance: 18km Ascent: 950m

Grade 3 11:30 Leader: Helen McCarthy (087 978 6863) Ballinastoe Woods (O: 194 078) – JB Malone – White Hill – Djouce – Paddock Pond – Glasnamullen – Cars Distance: 15km Ascent: 550mm

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Jim Doyle (087 258 6182) Barravore CP (T: 066 942) – – Table Mountain – Barravore Distance: 13km Ascent: 450m

Grade 5 11:30 Leader: John Gaughan (087 631 5404) Ballinastoe CP (O:194 077 ) – Tracks – Mason’s Glen – Wicklow Way – White Hill – JB Malone Stone – Cars Distance: 9 km Ascent: 300m

SATURDAY 13th MAY Area: Laragh Grade 3 11:00 Leader: Michael Cosgrave (087 972 0003) Ballylug (T: 168 932) — Clara — — Trooperstown Hill — Cars Distance: 15km Ascent: 450m

SUNDAY 14th MAY Area: Refreshments & Food: Hollywood Inn

Grade 2 10:30 Leader: Brian Casey (087 287 0058) School (S: 929 978) – Tracks – Sugarloaf – Lobawn – Corriebracks – Church – Tracks – Cars Distance: 18km Ascent: 700m

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Grade 3+ 10:30 Leader: Martin Rooney (087 612 1857) Donard School (S: 929 978) – Hell Kettle Bridge — — Corrybracks – Lowbawn— Sugarloaf – Cars Distance: 20km Ascent: 900m

Grade 3 11:00 Leader: Eilis Kelly (087 205 4666) Knickeen Ford (S: 986 949) – Table track – Table Mtn – Cavanaghs Gap – Forest tracks Distance: 12km Ascent: 500m

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Betty White (087 215 1868) Donard School – Cricken – Tracks to Church Mountain – Corriebracks – Kilcoagh – Cricken – Cars Distance: 12km Ascent: 350m

Grade 5 (low level) 11:30 Leader: Helen Rohan (087 871 7696) Start: village, along the road by the Coach House Inn. A walk around Vartry Reservoir. The path will be rough and muddy in places, so boots are essential. Distance: 10km Ascent: minimal Afterwards, consider coming for a cuppa or a bite to eat in the Coach House or the local tea shop.

THURSDAY 18th MAY Area: Stepaside/Laragh/Bray

Grade 3+ 11:00 Leader: Martin Hackett (087 220 4070) Kilgobbin Cemetery (O 190 243) – Fernhill – Barnacullia – Three Rock – Gallery Tomb – – Fairy Castle – – Three Rock Wood – Cars Distance: 17km Ascent: 700m

Grade 3 11:30 Leader: Declan Murphy (087 618 7868) Kilgobbin Church (O: 190 243) – Forest tracks – Fairy Castle – Tibradden – Wicklow Way – Three Rock – Cars Distance: 16km Ascent: 675m

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Geraldine Kerr (087 971 0201) Ballylug Forest Entrance (T:167 933) – Base of Trooperstown – Clara Vale Nature Reserve – Clara Bridge Distance: 12km Ascent: 340m Car pool from Lara triangle at 11:15

Grade 5 11:30 Leader: Joan Ann Lloyd (087 900 5095) CP (O:277 177), CP above Naylor’s Cove. To access the car park, drive down to the road at Bray Seafront, turn right and almost at the end of the esplanade turn right up Putland Road, under a railway bridge. Shortly afterwards turn left up Newcourt Road, then left onto Raheen Park (Éamon de Buitléar Way). The car park is clearly signposted. Hike: CP – Bray Headland Looped Walk (Not the Cliff Walk) – Cars Distance: 10km Ascent: 350m

SUNDAY 21st MAY Club away weekend: no hikes in local area

WEDNESDAY 24TH MAY Wednesday evening hike. In uncertain weather, please check with leader before setting out.

19:00 Leader: Angela Hickey (087 657 5813) Meet at the Rutland Memorial (opposite the old entrance to the National Gallery on Merrion Square) for an interesting walk around Merrion Square Park.

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THURSDAY 25th MAY Area: - Refreshments & Food: Wicklow Heather

Grade 3+ 11:00 Leader: Pat Pierce (086 262 5377) Glendalough Visitors CP (T 126 969) – Track to Upper Lake CP – – Luganure Brook – Lead Mines – Brockagh – WW – Cars Distance: 16km Ascent: 800m

Grade 3 11:30 Leader: Ann Dempsey (086 198 2458) Glendalough Visitors CP (O: 126 969) – Glendasan – Camaderry East Top – Camaderry – – Lough Nahanagan – Pump House – St. Kevin’s Way – Glendasan Valley – Cars Distance: 17km Ascent: 750m

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Catherine Banks (086 820 2569) Glendalough Upper CP (T: 111 964) – Forest Track – Spink – – Bridge – Miners Track Distance: 13km Ascent: 500m Car pool from Visitor’s Centre to share cost of parking Grade 5 11:30 Leader: Padraig McGrane (086 305 6090) Wicklow Heather overflow CP (T:141 966) – Ballylug Bridge – Ballylusk – Round Hill – Bread & Butter Stone – Horse Shoe Hill – Clarabeg – Cars Distance: 9km Ascent: 300m

SATURDAY 27th MAY Grade 3 11:00 Leader: Siobhan Donovan (087 236 0083) Slane Bridge. Linear Boyne river walk towards Navan. N2 to Slane. Car Park on both sides of the road at the traffic lights before you cross the bridge. Boyne river is prone to flooding so check the day before hike if there has been a lot of rain on the days leading up to hike, to ascertain if hike is still on. Distance: Depends on the mood of the Leader. Ascent: Leader has no head for heights.

SUNDAY 28th MAY Area: Tibradden/ Security: Tibradden CP, Tom Milligan

Grade 1 10:30 Leader: Brian Casey (087 287 0058) Please check with Brian in advance to confirm if this hike is on

Grade 2 10:30 Leader: Jamie Keane (086 806 3357) Glencree Reconciliation Centre (O: 142 178) – Clochnagun – Bonaralda Mountain – Wicklow Way – Fairy Castle – Tibradden – – Emergency Rd – Cars Distance: 22km Ascent: 900m

Grade 3+ 10:30 Leader: Aine Gaughan (087 612 1857) Glencree Reconciliation Centre (O: 142 178) – Lough Bray – – Turfcutters Rd – Glendoo – Knocknagun – Oldboleys – Cars. Distance: 16km Ascent: 750m

Grade 3 11:00 Leader: Patricia Rutledge ( 087 227 2759) Tibradden CP (O: 139 227) – Tracks – Tibradden Mt – Three Rock – Fairy Castle – Tracks – Cars Distance: 12km Ascent: 500 m

Grade 4 11:30 Leader: Margaret Rohan (087 127 5871) Tibradden CP (O: 139 227) – Tracks – Fairy Castle – Two Rock – Tracks – Three Rock – Tracks – Cars Distance: 14km Ascent: 400m

Grade 5 11:30 Leaders: Anita Muldowney (01 493 6710) & Mary McMahon (087 282 5833) Tibradden CP (O: 139 227) – Dublin Mountain Way to Fairy Castle and back Distance: 10km Ascent: 200m

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WEDNESDAY EVENING HIKES. 2017. “Oh to be out on an evening hike, away from the cares of the day To calm your soul where the ramblers stroll and meet friends along the way” All hikes start at 19.00 unless otherwise stated. Offers to lead a hike welcome and if you have a Special Interest hike you would like to share with us contact me on [email protected]. WEDNESDAY MAY 24TH. Leader: Angela Hickey. 087 657 5813 Meet at the Rutland Memorial (opposite the old entrance to the National Gallery on Merrion Square) for an interesting walk around Merrion Square Park.

40th Anniversary of the Lug Challenge Walk Saturday 24th June 2017 Hello all fellow ramblers, Nearly everything is in place for hillwalkers from all over to come and enjoy our mountains from to the Glen of Imaal, except the weather ! and we are putting out a huge plea for more volunteers.

Mullacliabhan and Table track and all need hikers to go up and put up a tent, snuggle in and mark the walkers' cards as they come along. If there are more than two of you who want to volunteer as a group, we need you and you will have fun on the day. Associate members can volunteer too.

You can volunteer to help out with the driving. See the list below. Does anyone have a big car that can take hikers' change of clothes down to the Glen of Imaal ? Please help if you can. volunteers Geraldine Cleary, Organiser

Lug Walk 24nd June 2017 Checkpoint volunteers

Location Grid Man.Time Personnel

Stone Cross Traffic O:075 227 04:30 – 06:00 Declan Kehoe

Seahan Forest O:075 207 05:00 - 06:00 Margaret Sullivan Entrance (Start) Simon Stewart

CP Nth. Sally Gap O:130 122 07:00 - 09:30 Carol and Jim Doyle

S.G.Crossroad O:130 110 07:30 - 09:30 Pat Cummins

Mullach Cliabháin O:068 070 09:30 - 12:30 Barbara Nolan

1 Volunteers Required

Wicklow Gap O:076 001 10:00 - 12:30 Carolin & Eoghan Brangan

Wicklow Gap 12:30 – 15.00 Máire Donovan

Patricia Murnane

Lough Firrib T:049 987 11:00 – 13.30 Seamus Sullivan Vera Lynch

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Lough Firrib 13:30 - 16:00 Joe Gilvarry 1 Volunteer Required TableTrack T:020 967 12:00 - 15:00 Eilis Kelly

1 Volunteer Required

TableTrack 15:00 - 18:00 Kevin O’Loughlin

Catherine O’Loughlin

Log naCoille T:033 917 14:00 -17:00 2 Volunteers Required

Log naCoille 17:00 - 20:00 2 Volunteers Required

Seskin S: 985929 15:00 - 22:00 Ron Baker Jessica Lennon

Rollups Please contact Tom at 2883312 or 0860826857 [email protected] Start to Sally Gap Greg Mooney Eddie McGettigan Sally Gap to Wicklow Gap Dominic Gallagher Thomas Donnelly

Wicklow Gap to Fenton's Michael Casey , Mel O'Hara

Organiser

Geraldine Cleary 045 404698 or [email protected]

Emerengency Number: Una Quinlan 086 3954593 & 01-8378747

Transport– please contact Terry at 087 6288055 [email protected] Luas Car Park Red Cow to bring walkers to Seahan start 4.00 to 5.00 Mary O Brien Joe Gilvarry 087 990 9701 Wicklow Gap To bring walkers to Blessington 13.00 to 15.00 Eileen O'Connor 086 816 8648 Fentons Glen of Imaal To bring walkers to Blessington or 20.00 to .22.00 Red Cow parking. Joe Gilvarry 087 990 9701 Catering– If you can help to serve refreshments at Wicklow Gap 10:00 to 12.30 contact Geraldine at 045 404698 or [email protected] .

Participating in the walk? - You must pre-enter. This is a public walk, places are limited and booking is open now. See www.theramblers.ie

Our condolences to Jim Forde on the sudden death of his sister Maureen and to Bernie O Boyle on the death of her sister Carme. May they Rest in Peacel

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Spreading our Wings: May 16th 2017.

The Women of Glasnevin. Guided Tour € 8 pp. at 3pm. Hear about the lesser known Women like Lizzie Leamington and the cousin of Queen Victoria who ran off to marry an Irishman and lost her inheritance. And there is more to tell. Meet in the Foyer of the Museum at 2.30pm to collect fee or if having lunch in the Café meet at 1.30pm. Please confirm you are having lunch when booking. We need at least a group of 12 to avail of the reduced rate. Confirm your interest by May 12th so as to avoid a penalty cost. Contact me on 087 657 5813 or at [email protected] . Friends welcome to join us if wished.

th Date for your Diary: June 13 (Tuesday). We are visiting the Archaeology Museum Kildare Street.

Thank you Angela Hickey.

th Remembrance Wood- next meitheal on Friday 19 May Our April outing went well, and we maintained our Wood by clearing overgrowth, removing blown debris, and cutting down invading conifers. The planted saplings are thriving, with the Mountain Ash in leaf, the Scotch Pine doing well, and the and birch not yet in leaf but looking good. Our next outing is on Friday 19th May, meeting in the Wicklow Heather at 09.30 to car-share and progress to the Wood. Our main task is to trample ferns. Please join us if you can. Mick Reidy chairman of Remembrance Wood committee.

Members Dominic Gallagher, Michael O Neill, Geraldine Cleary, Milo Kane and Bob Nugent taking a well earned break during a recent meitheal in the Remembrance Wood.

8 ”Das ist ja Wahnsinn, wie toll das Rambler Programm ist!” An Austrian Compliment to Irish Hiking Clubs Austria is a great country for mountaineers of all kinds. There is excellent hiking, skiing, rock and ice climbing and whatever the heart desires. There are well organised mountaineering clubs such as the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV) the Österreichischer Touristenklub (ÖTK) and the Naturfreunde. These clubs put markers on hiking routes, construct Klettersteige (via ferratas), secure rock routes with bolts, build and run mountain huts and own indoor climbing walls. Their countless regional sections provide regular activities for hikers, climbers and skiers. If you join one of these big clubs, you can partake in any of the activities organised by any of their sections anywhere in the country. They also provide excellent insurance against accidents in the mountains. Yet although you have paid your annual subscription to the main club you will be asked to pay an additional fee for the leader of each event. This is called Führungsbeitrag and amounts to about 3 Euro for an easy day’s hike, 10 or 12 Euro for a via ferrata, and 70 Euro or more for an event covering several days.

The good thing about the Austrian clubs is that they organise very professional training and mountain skill courses and great trips to Austrian and foreign destinations under competent guidance. However, as far as the more ordinary regular activities are concerned they do not match what Irish clubs such as the Ramblers or Wayfarers offer their members. I explained to an Austrian friend what the members of the Irish Ramblers get for their very modest annual contribution: six hikes every Sunday, four hikes every Thursday, hikes on Saturdays, Wednesday evening hikes in the summer months, appointed leaders for all hikes, security service at remote car parks, weekends away, holidays abroad, a big variety of social activities and I furthermore told her that the programme is planned well ahead, that each monthly bulletin lists all activities with amazing precision and that everything happens exactly as described in the bulletin and that all this has been going on for over 50 years! All the work, I finally informed her, is done by an elected committee which consists entirely of volunteers who receive no financial incentives such as the Führungsbeitrag!

When my friend looked at me in utter disbelief I decided to quell her doubts once and for all by sending her a copy of the Ramblers’ bulletin for April 2017. She was flabbergasted and responded by email:

Das ist ja Wahnsinn, wie toll das Rambler Programm ist (That is absolutely amazing - how fantastic the Rambler’s programme is). What better compliment could there be for our Irish hiking clubs? Herbert Herzmann

NEW MEMBERS

Please extend a warm welcome to Anne Buckley who has recently progressed from

Associate Membership to Full Membership.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

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Committee Notes 1. The Committee decided to integrate the hike programme into the calendar with effect from April’s Rambler, we trust this causes the membership no confusion. Please check on the calendar for information on upcoming events. The Committee feels the calendar is a very useful addition on the Website. 2. The Committee has at the request of the Hike Coordinators provided each coordinator with the members contact details (ie telephone number & email address) to allow them to contact leaders and make arrangements for hikes. This is the normal club practice and is given only for that purpose and is deleted when a coordinator leaves office. 3. To try to improve on our car pooling, it was decided that a what’s app group will be established in each grade to allow hikers exchange lift offers or travel arrangements, new members will be added as they join the grades. Also the use of interim car pooling locations will be examined to see if they improve the situation. Examples would be the use of say Blessington or Enniskerry for some hikes. This will be followed up on. 4. At the suggestion of the Environmental Officer, agreed by the Committee, members will be asked to report on the presence of frogs in the upland areas, a link will be provided on the website. The presence of frogs gives a good insight into the health of the area, later the recording of the butterflies may be added. ( see note elsewhere) 5. A meeting took place with to discuss their draft document on the future of Ireland’s uplands and mountains and some other issues. It was very informative of their approach and also we were given details of the latest proposal from Co Council on the Hellfire/Massey Wood project. The membership was notified of these proposals. The meeting was attended by Helen Donoghue, Terry Leonard and Bob Nugent. 6. The Committee agreed that the next introductory hike for potential new members would take place in July, as there are a significant number of new associates, already in the system. The Upcoming Lug Hike in June will require a significant input and any members able to assist in any way should come forward. 7. It was agreed that the annual Remembrance Day Hike will be on the 8th October 2017 in Glendalough. 8. Date for Whiskey Hike is 3rd December 2017.

Bob Nugent

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