On foot of a new venture

TWENTY walkers, many complete novices to the popular and growing outdoor pursuit, scaled the summits of Carrantuohill and Mount Brandon on successive days, all in the name of charity.
The walkers, the majority from Clare and the remainder from Waterford, took on the twin challenge in late September to raise funds for The Voice of Autism in County Clare and Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin.
Their efforts realised €10,000 and last week, the proceeds were handed over to representatives of both organisations at a presentation ceremony at The Woodstock Hotel.
From the youngest of the group, 13-year-old Colm Fitzgerald, son of former Clare hurler and current Waterford team manager Davy, to 66-year-old Joe Lillis, a twice championship medal winner with Kilmurry-Ibrickane, the challenge was embraced with great enthusiasm.
Carrantuohill, almost in the centre of the spine of MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Ireland’s highest mountain at 3.123ft, was first up.  While demanding, the walk is achievable once people have a reasonably good level of fitness and all members of the party passed the test with flying colours, despite the day being “shocking for walking with wind and rain”.
After soothing away the effects of the Carrauntuohill claim, the group then focused their attention on Mount Brandon on the northern edge of the Dingle Peninsula, the second highest mountain in Ireland, rising to 2,775ft.
Weather conditions were a complete contrast to the previous day and couldn’t have been more benign, allowing the walkers appreciate the views of corrie lakes, spectacular cliff faces, a glaciated landscape of rocky slabs and outstanding wild scenery.
The Clare walkers were led out by former army ranger from Kilrush Paul Hally and included Joe and Concepta Lillis (Ballyalla), Davy and Colm Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge), Michael McDonagh (Miltown Malbay), Michael Considine (Quilty), Fergie and Sharon O’Loughlin (Clarecastle), Jo Ann Maloney (Broadford), Fintan McNamara (Killanena), Michael O’Doherty (Doonbeg), Paddy Connole (Fanore) and PJ Kelly (Inagh).
The Waterford contingent included current senior hurling selector Pat Bennett and his son, Kieran.
Arising from the success of the climbs, there was a consensus among participants of the need for a more structured approach to the leisurely pursuit of walking.
As Joe Lillis explained, “Nearly all who completed both climbs were inexperienced and novices to walking. They found both climbs challenging but invigorating and all expressed their desire to engage in the pursuit in a more organised manner.
“Consequently, a meeting was a meeting was arranged for the night of Thursday, October 7 in Ennis with the view to establishing and putting The West Clare Walking Club on a sound footing.
“There was a great turnout and the idea was embraced with great enthusiasm. The parishes of Doonbeg, Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Miltown Malbay, Inagh, Kilrush, Cooraclare, Fanore, Sixmilebridge, Doora-Barefield, Kildysart and Ennis were all represented on the night and there was a genuine appetite for organising walks on a regular and informed basis.
“The club is very much in its infancy but a schedule of walks is currently being formulated. We hope to have organised walks on a fortnightly basis,” he told The Clare Champion.
Officers elected at that inaugural meeting were chairman, Joe Lillis (086 2532308); vice-chairman, Davy Fitzgerald; secretary, Paul Hally (087 2397558); treasurer, PJ Kelly; registrar, Concepta Lillis (087 9091476; PRO, Michael O’Doherty and youth officer, Tina Downes. Committee members included Michael McDonagh, Jo Ann Moloney, Michael Considine, Paddy Connole, Kevin McCormack, Breeda O’Dwyer and Ollie Baker.