Walk from Caherdaniel village to the end of the solar system

THOSE who enjoy a good walk among the Kerry hills and mountains will be interested in a new attraction in south Kerry that has added an inter planetary twist to a famous walking route.

On Saturday afternoon Tourism Minister, Brendan Griffin, visited Caherdaniel to officially open the village’s new ‘Walk of The Planets’.

The walk is a scaled representation of the solar system – featuring striking metal models of the Sun and planets – that has been installed along a 3.5km stretch of the historic ‘Butter Path’ route, a part of the Kerry Way, which links Caherdaniel and Coad.

The walk commences at the Sun in Caherdaniel Village.

The Sun is scaled at 30” and each planet is represented to scale at its actual distance from the Sun.

As an extra addition to this fun and educational experience, at each planetary marker a story from Irish myth is also presented on a Valentia slate plaque along with details about the respective planet.

The innovative project was developed by the Caherdaniel Dark Sky committee – a sub section of Coiste Pobail Cathair Dónall – as an initiative to bring additional tourists to the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve Region, and to provide Caherdaniel with a unique attraction to be enjoyed by visitors and locals of all age groups.

The committee members, Helen Wilson Chairperson, Kay O’Connor Secretary, Traolach Sweeney Treasurer,MichaelSheehan,VincentHyland, Stephen O’Shea, Andrea Harte, John Joe O’Leary and Michael J O’Connor worked for over a year to bring the project to fruition.

Funding for the project was provided by Kerry County Council through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Community Support Fund, and The Heritage Council.

Significant financial support was also provided by Glenbeg Caravan Park and generated through several fundraising events that were well supported by the people of Caherdaniel and visitors to the area.

For detailed information on the walk you can download the app ‘Walk of the Planets’ from the caherdanieldarksky. com website.

Photo courtesy Michael Donnelly. Cllr Norma Moriarty, Andrea Harte Member of the Caherdaniel Dark Sky Committee (CDSC); Helen Wilson Chairperson CDSC, Joan McCarthy Kerry County Council Tourism Development Officer; Vincent Hyland member CDSC; Michael Sheehan member CDSC. Row Kay...