Valuingourwalkingroutes
ONE of the most progressive, yet arguably less well known voluntary and sporting organisations in the region is the Curlew Walkers, a hill walking club with over fifty members from counties Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim which is in its twenty- first year.
Club members meet on average every second Sunday to engage in a walk of varying duration, savouring the great outdoors, beautiful scenery, enjoyable walks and above all, convivial company. For a club of its size, members help to promote many of the scenic amenities of the North- West region – and further afield.
One of the annual highlights of the club’s activities is an annual pilgrimage or walk to the Carrowkeel caves, near Castlebaldwin, which takes place on June 21st every year, the longest day of the year, irrespective of rain or shine. This walk is one of the best supported and most enjoyable of all the club’s walks to one of Sligo’s most historic and archaeological sites.
Further staples of the club’s busy schedule of walks include climbs of Benwisken and Ben Bulben as well as ascents of Sliabh an Iarainn and the Mullaghmore areas. Walks have also taken place in the greater Strandhill and West Sligo areas. Membership of the club is divided evenly between walkers from Sligo and Roscommon, though rivalries are never tribal or hostile with good banter a constant!
The club’s relaxed and friendly attitude is one of the main attractions of being a club member. Members usually meet at 10am on the Crescent in Boyle ( or at selected points in Sligo, depending on the walk), which is shortlisted and approved by members at their AGM, which usually takes place in October.
Members of the club come from a wide variety of backgrounds and once assembled for a walk, the worries and cares of the world as well as one’s rank and status are left firmly behind.
The club also attracts members, many of whom though not from the region, have a strong and immediate attraction not just to the club’s activities, as a means of being ‘ at one’ with the great outdoors, but also, one could argue, with an excuse to escape from the ‘ rat race’ and the ‘ hustle and bustle’ of busy lifestyles.
Originally from Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Eugene Griffin, together with his wife Zita are two of the founding members of the Curlew Walkers. Eugene says the idea behind the club was an unusual one: “the club originally began as a cycling club. In winter, due to the weather, members couldn’t cycle, so began to go on walks instead.”
“Our first Chairman, was the late Vincent Harrington, who was taken far too soon from us. The clwub began by going on local walks such as the Curlew and Arigna trails. We ( the club) were one of the first in the county, I believe,” says Eugene.
As membership grew, so too did the ambitions of members as walks became longer and arguably more challenging to include the ‘ Miners Way’, the North Roscommon/ South Sligo walking loop from Ballinafad/ Castlebaldwin in Sligo to Ballyfarnon in Roscommon.
“The club has a very friendly, social element to it. Once members are out on a walk, they know they are not constrained by time or deadlines. After each walk, we normally go for a drink or a bite to eat, to exchange stories ( and sometimes aches and pains!) which fosters the unique friendliness of our club.”
“I think the club has helped to showcase many of the sites of Sligo and Roscommon, such as the Carrowkeel caves to a wider public audience. We’ve climbed many of the great mountains in the country, including Carrantuohill, Mount Errigal, the Comeraghs and the Mournes as well as visiting beautiful locations such as the Beara peninsula and Sheep’s Head in Cork.
Another long serving member of the Curlew Walkers is Philip James. Though born in Dublin, Philip lived in Zimbabwe for many years before coming to Ireland in 2001, though he has strong family connections in Westmeath and Cork.
“Anything to do with the outdoors, I enjoy. There’s a great social aspect to the club, which I which learned about from my colleagues when I started working in Feely Stone in Boyle. Qualified as a Mountain Instructor, Philip has ‘ branched out’ in leading walking tours of the Miners Way, which features two ‘ figure of eight loops’ which are inspected yearly by the national trails office.
The profile of both the Curlew Walkers and hill walking as a health and leisure pursuit in the region received a considerable boost in August 2015 following an approach to Philip from the makers of a new TV programme called ‘ Tracks and Trails’. There followed the broadcast of a series of programme’s on the country’s leading walks, one such episode featured Philip walking the Miners Way in the company of popular Philosopher and Writer, Michael Harding.
“Feedback from that programme was very positive as it showcased the walking trails of Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo in a very positive light. Since 2012, Philip has run his own group ‘ Philip James Walking Tours’ while continuing to be an active member of the Curlew Walkers.
Of the future of the club, Philip is very positive: “I think the Curlew Walking Club is in rude good health. We’ve visited many of the country’s islands such as Clare Island, Inishbofin, Inishturk and Dursey in Cork. Clubs like ours have increased their public profile in recent years. The challenge in the future is for the club to attract new young members”, he concludes.
Tom Browne is another founding member: “There was a big emphasis on family involvement at the outset and I can say great friendships have been formed because of that. The club has endured and there is a renaissance now with new officers and members and that is a good thing.”
As the membership base of the Curlew Walkers has increased, so too has their activities and range of walks. Already this year, eleven members travelled to Alora, near Malaga for six days.
Later in March, members will have the opportunity of visiting Spain once again revisiting the Caminito del Rey. The club have also organised weekends away on Inishbofin island off the coast of Galway from May 13th and 14th; the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal on June 24th and 25th and the Portnoo area in West Donegal on September 16th and 17th.
A Club Walking Open Weekend, takes place on Saturday, September 23rd and Sunday, September 24th, when non members can join in the many walks organised that weekend. The club has also been to the forefront of educating and informing members, not least in learning Mountain Skills with a course planned for March.
The Chairperson of the Curlew Walkers for the 2016/ 17 season is Darragh Kelly from Tulsk. Pamela Barnes, who resides in Skreen is Secretary while Naomi McBride, from Beltra, is Treasurer. The club’s website administrator and Environmental Officer is Tom Browne from Boyle.
Members of the Curlew Walkers have a keen sense of preserving and celebrating the local environment. Historical tensions between local farmers and walkers, due to access and rights of way are no longer issues today. A willingness to understand and respect the concerns of local farmers means both sides peacefully co- exist with walkers observing a ‘ farmers code of conduct.”
Walkers are particularly vigilant about maintaining and preserving the environment and only follow appropriate marked routes during all walks. All members carefully dispose of any waste accumulated if consuming food during walks, particularly as one of the club’s mission statements ‘ leave no trace’ ( of littler waste) is observed vigorously at all times.