Who needs a beach? ...when you’ve got the Boing

BLACKWATER GEM NEAR MILLSTREET DRAWS LOCALS FOR A COOL DIP ON A SUNNY DAY

WELCOME summer temperatures returned with splendid spells of sunshine greeting the peak August holiday season. With many heading to locations in West Cork and Kerry, hit by traffic snarl ups and beach closures, those in the greater Millstreet catchment area staycated and convened on a scenic gem at the Boing that lies on the river Blackwater.

The Boing is part of the Beara Breifne Way, a 600km walking and cycling route from Beara in West Cork to Breifne in Co. Leitrim that follows the epic march of the O’Sullivan Beara clan as a result of the Irish and Spanish defeat at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601.

A key crossing of the River Blackwater was at the Boing as the entourage continued their way in the height of winter. To commemorate the march, the Beara Breifne Way committee reconstructed the route of the march taken by O’Sullivan Bere when he left his castle in Dunboy in West Cork and marched to Breifne.

In 2008 agreement was reached with local landowners in regard to the construction of a pedestrian bridge near Millstreet. The location of the bridge is a few metres upstream of the ford where O’Sullivan Bere and his clan crossed the River Blackwater.

Planning permission for construction of the bridge was extended by Cork County Council and agreement reached with Inland Fisheries Ireland in regard to a suitable time window for construction of the bridge.

Fáilte Ireland approved funding for a new pedestrian, cycling and wheelchair access bridge completed in 2015.

Picture John Tarrant All aboard on the canoe at the Boing were Matthew Crean, Lucas Defreitas, Amy Defreitas and Laura O’Connor, Millstreet.

John and Martin Crean were just taking it easy.

Eoin Jones and Jack Murphy, Millstreet take a dip at the Boeing.