The Glen prepares for feel-good walking fest
This weekend brings with it the third annual Winter Walking Festival in the Glen of Aherlow. And if you haven’t experienced all that this beautiful area has to offer, then now is your chance.
This walking festival, which will be launched by Gary Breen, head of operations in Fáilte Ireland (South East), in Aherlow House tomorrow night (Friday 27) is a chillier twist on the well-established Summer walking event that has been running for the past 15 years, drawing thousands of walking enthusiasts from all over Ireland. Organised by the Glen of Aherlow Failte Society and the Galtee Walking Club, it affords people an early opportunity to get into the great outdoors and start the New Year on a healthy footing - whether that be on the Galtee Mountains, on the trail of the five corrie lakes or wandering through the miles of woodland walks that are nestled away in this secluded heaven, colloquially called ‘The Glen’. These are the very things that keep local businesses in this rural area afloat year-on-year - natural treasures, which, marketed correctly, are not only national attractions but are at the very heart of the local economy also.
The Glen of Aherlow Failte Society, accredited by Failte Ireland and established 20 years ago, is run through a Community Employment (CE) scheme. It is an invaluable service for the area.
“We are probably one of the few tourist offices that is located in a rural area,” said Helen Morrissey, manager of the CE scheme for the past 17 years.
The tourism organisation which is managed by a voluntary body, comprises local and like-minded people; those who own businesses in the area, as well as community members who may not have a vested interest in tourism directly, but who are from the area and who have a deep interest in that.
“It is a key part of the community. Anything we do here, while there is a tourism angle and we are working towards bringing tourists here, anything we do is also of use to the area as well,” said Ms. Morrissey, a loyal local, born in Galbally and living in Bansha.
“We have worked very hard over the years in developing the walking product here. We are lucky in a lot of ways because we have the natural resources; the mountains, the forestry, the walkways, the Galtees, Sliabh na Muc hills, rivers and lakes, lots of natural resources. We also have a very good working relationship with Coillte and indeed with local landowners, local organisations and businesses. We appreciate their co-operation in all that we do to develop and enhance the Glen of Aherlow, we couldn’t do it without them,” she said. Last year’s Winter Walking Festival filled 400 bed nights in the Glen, according to Ms. Morrissey, an extremely rare occurrence on the last weekend of January. But it was the proof in the post-Christmas pudding, that proved to them that this Winter Walking Festival was a runner.
“We ran the first on a shoestring budget but it was really successful,” said Helen.
The first two festivals, in 2010 and 2011, coincided with the tail end of two of the harshest Winters ever experienced in Ireland - but this was also to its advantage, according to Ms. Morrissey. “Because by the time the end of January came, even though it was still very cold, the people who couldn’t get out to walk over those Christmases, because of the bad weather, were really dying to get out.”
From research carried out by the Failte Society, they discovered that about one third of the people who attended the Winter festival, were new visitors.
“And we hope that if people have a good experience while here, that they will return, with their own people,” said Ms. Morrissey, agreeing that word of mouth is still the best publicity.
People from all over Ireland travel to The Glen for the Winter Walking festival, and locals are encouraged to come along, if they have never truly experienced the area. With the routes devised by the Galtee Walking Club, all abilities are catered for. And it is excellent value for money.
One man who is very excited about this weekend’s festival is mountaineer, hill walker and member of the South East Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) for the last 12 years, Jimmy Barry, who is lucky enough to have the Galtees ‘in his back yard’. Mr. Barry has been involved in the walking festivals in the Glen since the beginning is a firm believer in the benefits they bring to an area.
“Walking festivals bring in more people to the area, more people who are amazed at what we have here. And I know many people who have taken up walking because of the festivals,” said Mr Barry.
“I have been walking on the Galtees for the past 30 years, and years ago you wouldn’t meet anyone on them but now you meet many, it is nearly a part of their lifestyle now.”
Last year Mr. Barry published ‘Under Galtees Skies’, a pictorial journey through the Galtee Mountains as seen through his eyes over the decades. This beautiful publication will certainly whet the appetite of anyone with an interest in the area. One of the best compliments Mr Barry has received about the book, was from a woman living with MS who admitted she will never be able to experience the Galtees in the same way he does. She told him that every now and again she takes out the book, has a look through it and goes for walk with him. But there is nothing like the real thing for those of us who are lucky enough to have the ability to explore. “We have these things called televisions hanging on our walls, and we can see all the mountain ranges in the world, but if we took the time to go outside and find our own little Everest, that would be Galtymore,” said Mr. Barry.
He said that one of the most important aspects of enjoying this little Everest is the good relationship that exists between walkers and landowners and a real effort is made to maintain this good rapport. Encouragingly he said: “Walking is free, you might breath a bit harder but it is a joy to be out there and meet other people,” said Mr. Barry.
Ms. Morrissey hopes that the excellent festival reputation that they have garnered over the years, coupled with the value for money that is on offer, will make this third Winter Walking Festival an event to remember.
“It is a well run and organised festival with good routes. It is also good value for money which is very important and when you take all these things together, it makes it very successful.
“We also offer different walking routes, depending on different walking levels,” explains Ms. Morrissey. The routes are graded according to difficulty from A to C. It makes it easier for people to decide what walks are suitable for them.
The Winter Walking Festival takes place from January 27-29, with launch night at 9pm on Friday 27 in Aherlow House Hotel, the festival base for the duration of the event. The Galtee Walking Club, South East Mountain Rescue Asociation and the Glen of Aherlow Fáilte Society will all be present with information stands, and weather updates will also be available. A courtesy bus, run by the Fáilte Society, will transport people from their accommodation to Aherlow House each night for entertainment. For more information see www.aherlow.com/html/walking_festival.html or call 062 56331/086 8314443.
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Weather for Clonmel
Saturday 19 May 2012
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