VILLIERSTOWN 10 MILER
RUNNING is easy to do, you lace up the runners, take the first few steps out the front door and break into a stride into the countryside. This was the case growing up in Villierstown in the early 1970s — after 100 yards you have the road to yourself. Pass the crossroads in the village and down the road towards Aglish. Pat Duffy’s field on my right where my father ran his greyhounds and where we ran as teenagers, wearing a path as a mark of our commitment.
The first little drag was in Bleach, where the road closed in and grass grew in the centre. No need to worry about cars; tractors owned these roads. Dogs were a hazard on this stretch and the pace picked up passing some farmyards. Pass the three-mile mark in Ballinaparka and then a turn towards Keereen, where the sign says ‘Clonmel 26 miles’. A reminder of the marathon distance and a mystery of why this sign sits at this crossroads pointing toward Dungarvan.
Heading towards Ballinameela you are now on the open road and the Commeragh Mountains come into view. The northern wind would catch you here as there is no shelter from the frequent showers that pass overhead. Next turn is left towards Cappoquin and over the bridge that crosses the Finisk River heading towards Affane Church. Magnificent scenery and rolling country roads made for running and then the reminder that you are in farming country: a herd of cows on the road, the pace slowed, mouth firmly closed and breath held as you try to sneak by without causing a stampede.
Another rolling hill brings you to a left turn towards home and over the Dromana bridge, which is guarded by a ‘Hindu-gothic’ Indian gate (pictured) that was build in 1826 by Henry Villiers-Stuart. So out of place, yet magnificent and a reminder that you are entering into an estate rooted in another time.
Another hill up from the river and then the road intersects numerous dairy farms where the only spectators are the cows. Dromana House is now on the right where Daniel O’Connell stayed when he visited Waterford. The house dates back to the 13th century and sits on the banks of the Blackwater and has the most spectacular view up the river towards Cappoquin and Mount Melleray.
Left turn towards Villierstown next and climbing again with the Blackwater river on your right and the Dromana woods on your left. The forest and the road closes in once again and the sunlight disappears. A glance to the left and the steep hill that leads into the forest road that would give you a loop of about three miles. Not part of today’s run and not for the faint-hearted but a place in my memory where a foundation for a world cross-country championship was laid.
Through the gates once again into Villierstown and a quick right turn down the Green and towards Villierstown Quay. In our youth the pace would surely have quickened and there would have been no time to notice or appreciate the scenery at the Quay. Regardless, I would not have seen the beauty then.
Back up to the crossroad with 10 miles under the belt. During my running career it was considered a nice flat loop which was comfortably ran in around 60 minutes. I ran the loop recently and could not believe how hilly it was. Time waits for no man.