The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Taking to the hill in the name of Annascaul’s hero
IT started out as an event for the 2013 Gathering Festival, but the Tom Crean Challenge Walk’s popularity has seen it return to the calender every year since -- and the opportunity of honouring one of Annascaul and Ireland’s great heroes has proven so attractive that participation numbers have had to be capped in recent years.
This year, almost 200 people, some from as far away as Norway, Germany and the UK, lined up to take on the gruelling Saturday walk organised by Annascaul Walking Club.
The participants departed from Baile Breac at 6.30am, embarking on the 20-kilometre mountain route to the finish-line at Crean’s old pub, The South Pole Inn in Annascaul village. The sprawling track took in places like Mount Brandon, Brandon Peak, the climb at Ballysitteragh and the Sean Droichead river walk.
“It takes place to coincide with the Tom Crean Festival in Annascaul, and requires trojan work by Annascaul Walking Club and an always-cooperative local community,” Annascaul Walking Club PRO Marian Kennedy said.
“It’s all about taking on a fearsome challenge in honour of the local hero, Tom Crean. Some people clocked in times of just over six hours, some took a little longer, but that’s not the point. The point is that everyone takes on a challenge. We had people of all ages, from their 20s to their 70s, taking part, and they all did themselves proud.”
There was an extra bit of excitement added to proceedings as renowned Annascaul climber Mary Scannell -- who has conquered the world’s Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth -- led the hardy participants out on the journey.
“There must be something in the air around here,” Marian said of Mary. “She is one of just five Irish women to have completed the famous ‘Seven Summits’, and she hailed from a place about two minutes from where Tom Crean was born.
“She was the perfect person to lead us out, and we also had the perfect person on hand to bring it all to a close. Tom’s grandson Enda O’Brien presented a well-deserved Crean Medallion to all the finishers amid scenes of pride and a tangible sense of achievement.”
At the end of it all, there was a barbecue to be enjoyed at Hanafin’s Bar, the least the warriors deserved, not only for their day’s work, but also for paying homage to one of west Kerry’s greatest people.
“Tom Crean is sometimes referred to as an unsung hero, but Annascaul and west Kerry have always respected the man’s achievements, as did everyone who took part on Saturday,” Marian said.
“A lot of volunteer work goes into various aspects of the walk itself, and I’d like to thank all the club members and assistants who helped out on Saturday in any way, including those who patrolled the route to make sure everyone was safe and sound, and those that provided much-needed refreshments at points on the route.
“Thc co-operation that goes into holding this ambitious event cannot be understated. I think you can safely cite this as an example of the people of a small village coming together and putting together a massive event that appeals to people from all over the world.”