Welcome to the Galtee Walking Club
Hello and failte to the Galtee Walking Club, Cnocadóiri na Gaibhlte, based in and around Tipperary in Ireland. Our club has been in existence since 2003 and was started initially by a core group of hill walking enthusiasts who were born and raised around the foothills of the Galtee mountains and the Glen of Aherlow in South Tipperary. Since then, it has grown and diversified and currently has a membership of over 150, drawn from all over Munster. We offer a number of different graded walks on a regular weekly basis throughout the year which are available to new members or to those wishing to join us for a one off sample hike. moreMembership for 2020/2021 now open
Applications for membership are now being accepted for the next club year, November 2020 to October 2021. Existing members can renew from now on and we welcome applications from any new people who would like to join the club. This is the best time to become a new member as your membership will last from now until November 1st, 2021.You can join or renew online here or print the application form to send through the post.
The Future for Walking
During these times while Covid-19 is still a serious risk many new regulations and restrictions will be needed so that walks can be carried out in safety.The main points to note are as follows:
Just turning up at a walk will not be allowed. You must text or call the walk facilitator or another designated person during the two days before the walk but preferably not later than 6pm on the evening before the walk.
The maximum number of people allowed on a walk is 15. If more than that number book in advance two walks with two faciltators will be provided, going in different directions where possible.
Do not carpool, except with people from your own household.
Maintain the 2 metres distance from others at all times.
Do not share any objects such as sweets, walking poles,water bottles, cameras etc.
Wash your hands before and after the walk.
Walks are for members only and no guest walkers can take part. Anyone who would like to walk with us is now welcome to join the club and application is now open for the 2020/2021 season.
If you can answer yes to any of the following questions please do not attend the walk.
- Have you travelled outside of Ireland in the past 14 days?
- Have you had any of the symptoms of Covid-19 in the past 14 days?
- Have you been in contact with anyone who has Covid-19 in the past 14 days?
Notes for Walk Facilitators
You will need to take bookings for your walk by text during the days before the walk. Please reply to each person to let them know the booking has been received. In the event of more than 15 people booking, you will need to have organised a second facilitator who will take a second group on a different route.
Names and phone numbers must be entered by you into the new sign-in sheet as well as tick marks if the walkers have answered no to the three Covid-19 questions and are current club members. If any of these two conditions are not met, the person should not be allowed on the walk. The new sign-in sheet can be downloaded here.
http://www.galteewalkingclub.ie/signinsheet.pdf
If the walk needs to be split because of more than 15 people you will need a seperate sign-in sheet for each group.
Before the walk remind everyone of the need for social distancing and the other necessary precautions listed above.
After the walk please take a photo of the completed sign-in sheet or sheets and send them to the phone number given at the bottom of the sheet.
If you think all that feels like too much, then you can ask someone else to do the administration work for you and you can concentrate on navigating the route and providing an enjoyable walk. Any member of the committee would be willing to help.
Mountain Skills 1 and 2 Training Courses
Message from Mark BrittonI just wanted to send out a brief email with some of the upcoming dates for Mountain skills one and two training courses. If you are interested in doing one of the courses please get in touch with me as places are filling up pretty quickly.
Mountain Skills 2 course - 26th & 27th Sept - SPOTS AVAILABLE
Mountain Skills 1 Course - 3rd & 4th Oct - FULLY BOOKED
Mountain Skills 1 course - 17th & 18th Oct - FULLY BOOKED
Mountain Skills 1 course - 22nd & 23rd Oct - SPOTS AVAILABLE
Mountain Skills 1 course - 7th & 8th Nov - SPOTS AVAILABLE
Mountain Skills 2 course - 28th & 29th Nov - SPOTS AVAILABLE
Mountain Skills Assessments:
If any of you would like to do the mountain skills assessment please let me know and I can arrange a date to suit. The assessment will be organised on a demand basis so I will only put up dates once there are a few people interested in doing it.
If you have a group and are interested in organising training please feel free to get in touch with me and we can organise a date that works for the group or if you have any questions just drop me an email. I can develop one day training courses that are not Mountaineering Ireland accredited should this suit your group better.
Regards,
Mark Britton
Phone: 086 1967141
Facebook - Britton-Outdoors
Sunday 27 September, 2020
Sunday 20 September, 2020
See route on Viewranger
Sunday 13 September, 2020
Sunday 6 September, 2020
Thanks also to Eddie McGrath for his C walk from Clydagh Bridge.
Sunday August 30, 2020
Wednesday August 26, 2020
Sunday August 23, 2020
Sunday August 16, 2020
Thanks also to George Keogh for his C walk from Christ the King.
Wednesday August 12, 2020
Sunday August 9, 2020
Wednesday August 5, 2020
Sunday August 2, 2020
Wednesday July 29, 2020
Wednesday July 22, 2020. Club Walks are Back
The Views from Lyracappul
A poem by Rody TierneyFrom the little Assaroola stream that joins the River Aherlow
I will climb to Lyracappul and survey all below
It is to the beauty of our precious glen that I will treat my eyes
Then ponder on the Shrough Dolmen where an ancient chieftain lies
Now with my back to the famine wall I gaze out further north
Beneath the gentle Phelims where three great warriors fought
O’Sullivan Beara an Patrick Sarsfield to name the recent two
And before their time the King of Munster - the legend Brian Boru
Peeping from above the Phelims is Keeper Hill and Mathair Sliebh
Where Eamon an Cnoic was hunted and found refuge in a cave
I can just make out the Devil’s Bit to my right in the distant haze
But not the view from Toomevara where I grew up and played
Alone, alone and directly east stands lovely Slievenamon
Where Grainne raced up to the summit and won her sweetheart Fionn
Charles Kickham used your name to title his fine song
And lose, draw or win Tipp men will sing about you Slievenamon
To the south is steep Bengower, the Glounreagh valley and Seefin
The Blackrock river and Knockaterriff above the pigeon rock sweet glen
Looking west on this fine clear day - I can see the Kerry reeks
But nearer still is Temple Hill with that large cairn on its peak
Now as I have left you Lyre na Cappal and your beauty spots galore
I will pause and bless myself at the cross on Galteemore
Then scamper over Galteebeag and down the Geisha steps
And battle up the slope of Cush – it will surely put me to the test
My pleasant trek is over now and I must make my way on home
The hills and valleys I’ll leave behind for another day to roam
To Bianconi’s coach road pub I’ll call and drink a pint or two
Then before I cross over Slievenamuck I might sing a song for you
