Walking in the moonlight at Raheen Woods

A CHANCE encounter with creatures of the night, heightened by the eerie atmosphere of the woods under darkness, is in store for those brave enough to take the Moonlight Walk in Raheen Woods, Tuamgraney on Friday night, July 29 as part of Scariff Harbour Festival.
Joe Lillis of West Clare Walking Club will meet walkers at Tuamgraney Heritage Centre at 9.45pm before heading in to the heart of the woods close by.
Christina Grisewood of the Harbour Festival committee said the moonlight walk is a new addition to the range of festival walking activities over the Bank holiday weekend.
“This walk is an opportunity to explore the woods from a different, more interesting and fun perspective and we believe it will have an appeal for everyone including families,” she said.
Raheen Woods is one of Ireland’s primeval oak forests made famous by the majestic 1,000 year-old oak tree associated with Brian Boru, the last High King of Ireland. Its ecology is rich and diverse and attracts scientists, environmentalists and enthusiasts in their numbers. The night walk will reveal less obvious aspects of the wood’s habitat and its nocturnal inhabitants will be surprised by a curious interest in their night-time activities.
In addition to the moonlight walk, native woodland specialist Andrew St Ledger will take a guided tour of Raheen Oak Wood by day.
On Saturday afternoon, he will inform and engage with people interested in native woodlands, in their evolution, conservation, regeneration and the flora and fauna associated with them. The woodland eco-system above and below the ground, which forms part of Raheen Wood story, is directly connected to the tree canopy overhead.
The breathtaking views of Lough Derg and the East Clare countryside will be a reward for walking the Cappabaun Loop of the East Clare Way. Local walking club members will lead three possible walks of varying lengths and levels of terrain on Sunday, July 31. It will include a visit to the Cappaghbaun Mass Rock associated with penal times in Ireland and still considered a sacred local place.
According to Harry O’Meara of the festival committee, these walks give variety to the festival schedule and further options for those who want to experience the out of doors.
“Walking is becoming an increasingly popular leisure activity and what better way for locals and visitors to enjoy our spectacular landscape, than a couple of hours in the healthy fresh air,” he said.