Knockmealdown 2019

On Saturday 20 th April the club outing was to the Knockmealdown mountains. We left town on a beautiful morning. Traveling through Mitchelstown , Ballyporeen and Clogheen to arrive at our starting point below Bay Lough. Changing into our walking gear, we headed south through the rhododendrons up a fairly steep incline. Finally our path leveled out and the corrie lake of Bay Lough   was spread out before us. The surrounding hills reflected in its brooding dark waters. There is a haunting beauty about it. The lake is reported to be bottomless. It also said to be frequented by a 19 th century lady called Petticoat Loose. This lady of ill repute is supposed to have been banished by the local parish priest. ( Didn’t they rule the roost back then ). Her punishment was to empty the lake with a thimble. At twilight she can sometimes be seen on the far bank trying to tryin to accomplish her impossible task. ( A bit like Teresa May. Poor woman ).
Skirting the lake we climbed gradually up to the large car park, on the Tipperary Waterford border. There were lots of people around enjoying the summer like weather. Runners, walkers, scramble bikers each to their own, taking advantage of the mountains.
Crossing the road we had a sharp climb up Sugarloaf hill, after awhile we veered eastwards to reach the coll between Sugarloaf and Knockmealdown. The weather was warm and sunny. Conditions underfoot were excellent. Reaching the wall that marks the boundaries of Waterford and Tipperary we followed it to the summit of Knockmealdown at 794 meters. The highest point in Waterford.
From here you can see the rich farmland of Tipperary and the Galtee mountains to the north. To the south Waterford and Cork with the Blackwater snaking seaward between them. The south coast by Youghal and Dungarvin can also be seen .However there was a heat haze in the distance which limited our visibility. Nevertheless the views were stunning with a rich tapestry of lush country spread out below us.

After a while our attention was drawn to a small figure in the valley to the north. Heading towards the steep slope up the side of Knockmealdown. The hiker began climbing at a steady pace uphill. Never faltering. He had all our attention now as he relentlessly continued upwards. We watched him until he finally crested the ridge...
Refreshed we retraced our steps and headed towards Sugarloaf. On our way we met the man who had unknowingly kept us entertained during our lunch break. All he wanted was a drink of water which he was gladly given.

We continued on to the summit of Sugarloaf from there we headed north down a well defined path.
This was knee jarring in places but eventually leveled off as we came to Grubbs monument.
Samuel Grubb was interred here standing upright in 1921. According to his wishes.
Apparently Samuel people had been Quakers. But they had been removed from the Quakers for
“ engaging in amusements or entertainments of a hurtful or injurious tendency “ more specifically for attending Balls at which music and dancing form a chief part and which are forbidden by the rules of the Society..... Not much cracic in the Quakers.
On reaching the Vee we made our way by road walk to the car.
It was decided to stop at Hallys bar in Clogheen to see the Munster v Saracens match and some tea coffee. Hallys is an iconic bar. However they had Sky but no food. The Firgrove in Mitchelstown had food but no Sky... people decided to forgo the match..
A great days walking in brilliant weather.




               Listen to the silence
                      Be still
            and let your soul catch up...........Scottish proverb