Galtees ‘Climb To Remember’ promises spectacular views
THE annual charity‘ Climb to Remem-ber’ takes place on Sunday next, June 11 and will see people from all over Mun-ster rise to the challenge of climbing The Gal tee Mountains, in memory of a loved one, with funds raised going towards The Mercy Hospital Foundation. Proceeds raised at this year’ s‘ Climb to Remember’ will benefit the various appeals being run by the Mercy Hospital Foundation–the Mercy Heart+ Stroke Appeal, the Mercy Cancer Appeal, the Mercy I CU Appeal, and the Mercy Kids+ Teens Appeal, enhancing services in each of these areas at The Mercy University Hospital, which serves patients from all over Munster.
Pre-event registration is essential, and participants can signup atwww. mercy fund ra is ing.ie. The registration fee for the climb is €25.
Veronica Fitzgerald Higgins, original-ly from Limerick but living in Tog her, who last year completed the Back 2 Back Challenge around Ireland in aid of the Mercy Hospital Foundation, will par take in‘ Climb to Remember’ in memory of her father, Tadgh Fitzgerald, who passed away 22 years ago, and her brother, Tim Fitzgerald, who passed away at the Mercy in 2015 following a battle with stomach cancer.
Speaking about the upcoming chal-lenge, Veronica said :“My father’ s favour-ite song was the‘ Gal tee Mountain Boy ’, so climbing the Gal tee sin his memory seemed very fitting as I’ ve said for years that it was something I wanted to do. To undertake a challenge like this in mem-ory of loved ones who have passed away will make it a greater accomplishment and so much more meaningful .
“I’ d like to thank the Mercy Hospital Foundation for the opportunity to re- member my father and my brother in this way; as I’ m sure it will give me and my fellow hikers on June 11 th precious time to reflect on and remember our loved ones who have passed on .”
Sign-in for the climb will take place at Kings Yard from 9 am till 9.45 am on Sunday. At 10 am sharp participants will begin their climb from Kings Yard to the summit of the Gal tee Mountains. The climb will take around 3 – 5 hours including a break.
Starting at the car park, participants will follow a good, unsurfaced road passing several deserted homesteads. To the east, the two peaks of Seefin will be visible, with Knockeenatoung rising behind to the northeast.
Hikers will head onto the open mountain to the plateau which is Knocknagalty, and rising majestically ahead is Galtymore, Ireland’s highest inland peak at 919m.
From the wall end, hikers will head in an easterly direction to the top of Galtymore, where they will be treated to spectacular views of the Galtees Range, the Knockmealdowns, Comeragh Mountain Ranges, and the surrounding valleys.