A Happy Return to Killavullen

With our backs to Mallow we drove along the Blackwater Valley to Killavullen. On our 2018 trip we had met snow and once we left the Mallow Road we did a serious “Dul Amú”. When finally we had reached Carraig na bhFear we found that for all its charms it was not Killavullen so we had to retrace our steps. The light mist of this trip did not impede and we were ready for the off with 30 minutes to spare.

We were blessed with our leaders, Ann Buckley and Máiread Twomey. Before walking we heard how we were in Nano Nagle, Edmund Burke and Hennessey (Brandy!) country. We were all ready and rearing to go and the rising public road for the first half kilometre soon had our lungs pumping at a rate to meet the challenge. Given the dire weather these past weeks the expected muck and puddle challenge did not materialise. The air was pure and true but we reconciled to panoramic views not being likely due to the low cloud/light mist. The company was good as ever but one could not but notice how many young folk have infiltrated the RTAI walks these past few years!!! The picnic stop came just short of the summit and the new fuel revved us up for more road. The presence of a burial mound/passage grave on the summit was not easily resisted and about a third of the company scrambled up to see it. Truth be told if it was one of the many “Leaba Dhiarmada agus Gráinne” the site had all the appearances of a “free gaff” the morning after the wild party. Dermot Bannon alone would have been pleased to see the moss and trees had become an integral part of the site! Soon the full company was ready to walk on and gravity assisted we made good time.

Having earlier turned our backs on Mallow, we were now keen to embrace it. “The Arches” was our soup and sandwiches haven. The soup was tasty and the huge mound of sandwiches each had three fillings. Over tea and coffee we recalled the 12.9km we had walked and the 453m we had climbed. The route perhaps could do with a few viewing spots, the better to enjoy the Blackwater below. Yet Diarmuid O Drisceoil in his three episode “Cois Moire” has captured the best of that river, assisted by some RTAI members. If you missed the programmes many delights await on the TG4 Player. It was great to be out and walking once again and if the weather was not perfect in the context of recent “Rain every day” we embraced the weather we got.

Much thanks to all who made it possible, yet another winner for RTAI walks committee.