The Kerry Way : Glenbeigh to Galway’s Bridge
On Saturday May 25th twelve members of Ballyhoura Bears spent a very enjoyable nine and a half hours on the Kerry way. On a soft Irish May morning we left Glenbeigh at 10 o’clock climbing steadily through Gowlane up Windy Gap to descend into Glencar to a very welcome cup of coffee at The Climber’s Inn served with a welcoming smile. Then on to a soft green path beside the river Caragh mermeging onto a tarred road at Bealalawbridge. After ten minutes we were back on the hillside guided by the waymarks at all the significant points gazing in awe at the serene beauty of Lough Acoose. We were now into remote mountain area meeting occasional hikers coming against us before we zigzagged up to the pass between Beanndarrig and Curraghmore.
The Bears headed to Kerry for Easter 2019. Our base was the Manor West hotel in Tralee. Accommodation, cuisine and service were excellent. The walking was thoroughly enjoyable as on both Friday and Saturday we basked in warm sunshine.On Good Friday 7 intrepid A moderate walkers completed a loop from the lakes in Glanteenassig including summiting Strradbally and Benoskee mountains. Magnificent views of Dingle and Tralee bays was the reward for some stiff climbing. On Saturday the A walkers enjoyed a linear walk from Derrymore to Caherconcree, Baurtregaum and back along the ridge to Blennerville. Once again we were rewarded with spectacular views on the south to the McGillycuddy Reeksa and the Lakes of Killarney, to the west we could see Brandon mountain while the beaches of Tralee bay were visible to the north. The B walkers enjoyed some stunning scenery along the Kerry way from beyond Camp all the way back to Blennerville where both groups shared a welcome cuppa and deoch.
Michael J. Hennessy RIP
8th May 1937 - 12th March 2013
Michael J. Hennessy of Darraghmore, Kilfinane, was called to his eternal reward in the early hours of Tuesday March 12th. As daylight hours dawned and the sad news filtered through, there was a quick realisation that he was now at peace having suffered a serious illness, which he bore with great dignity, for two and half years. We were all consoled on those difficult days that he had gone to a better place to be united with his wife Margaret, his parents and his brother Johnny.
