Fadó, fadó, the Cistercian monks somehow found their way to Mount Melleray. In sharp contrast, the “Know All” voice of Sat Nav was at a complete loss attempting to guide us there. The casual disrespect shown to Dungourney (a cradle of Cork hurling) with a dismissive “Turn back” command being par for the journey. Thankfully the RTAI walkers had been in Mount Melleray last June so we forsook A.I. and headed for the hills.
Eleanor Ronayne was our organiser. She chose “Byrne’s Bridge Loop” as our challenge and asked Veronica Curran to lead it. Veronica used her mastery of local routes to creatively re-edit the walk, keeping us off dangerous public roads; thus creating a “one- off” walk that
satisfied and challenged the 26 walkers who came to the starting line. The mix of familiar and new faces added immeasurably to the buzz of the walk demonstrating the wisdom of the sean-fhocal “Giorrionn beirt bothar”.
We seemed to have the vast spaces of the Knockmealdowns to ourselves. No doubt Eleanor and her team had cleared the scene for us. Veronica, totally in command of her surrounds, pointed out landmarks near and far- Knockadoon, Dungarvan, the Blackwater etc. As we walked at the base of a substantial peak, it came as a relief when we discovered our route was to take the path 360 degrees around it.
Enjoying the going in County Waterford we came within a puck of a sliotar to County Tipperary. After the recent “meitheamh an Fhomhair”/Indian Summer there was an autumnal chill in evidence. And at our picnic stop we did not tarry as a cold wind found us. Walking on we became aware that our present walk was, as it were, the other half of our June outing. As our feet grew a little tired our imaginations took flight and the frequent references to “The Source” had some of us thinking of the Nile and its source. The local reference was to the source of the water supply for the monastery where, hopefully, the kettles were filled and waiting.
Our two sweepers ensured that nobody fell off the pace and we returned to the grub in good time. We were greeted like old friends by Father Denis who served us. He spoke to us of how he appreciated our group presence on the tracks and our custom. We were also
aware of the hard work of Mary in preparing and serving the food. Fr. Denis then gave us a departing blessing for the road home. The willing volunteers of West Waterford had generously enhanced our outing once again’ Na Déise abú!
Seán O Callanáin
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