On Sunday 30 June 2019 the club walk was the Coumshingaun lake loop walk in East Waterford. Leaving town at 08.30 we drove the picturesque Blackwater valley,through the towns of Mallow, Fermoy into County Waterford. On then to the heritage town of Lismore with it’s castle , Irish home to the Duke of Devonshire . The Comeraghs are between the towns of Clonmel and Carrick on Suir in Tipperary and the villages of Kilmackthomas and Kilrossanty in Waterford.
Finally reaching Leamybrien we stopped for tea / coffee at the busy Applegreen service station. Refreshed we continued on to Kilclooney Wood. Parking up we changed into our hiking gear. The car park was full. The fine weather had brought the people out , and like ourselves they had answered the call of the hills.
We made our way through some forestry and reaching a forest road we turned right past a fake tree disguising a telecommunications mast. Then over a style turning west we headed for a rock formation that to some looked like a rabbit , and to more it looks like a frog. This is quite a steep ascent but behind us the lush countryside of Waterford reveals itself in all it’s glory. The large sweep of Dungarven Bay is off to the south. Arriving at the rock we rest, before attempting the push up to the southern side of Coumshingaun. Gaining altitude with the Lough on our right we reached the formidable rocky outcrops that stand sentinel above the gullys that plunge down to the lake a few hundred meters below. After some scrambling the ground levels off into a pleasant ridge walk. Then there is a fairly steep ascent up a narrow path and care must be taken.
Finally we reach a plateau on Fauscoum mountain. Fauscoum is the highest peak on the Comeragh Mountains at 792 meters. We didn’t go to the summit which was approximately 500 meters further west. We turned north to walk the back wall of the lake. The weather was good and the rain that threatened never materialized. Though the day was good there was a haze in the distance that limited our view. However we could see the toll bridge in Waterford city. As well as into counties Kilkenny and Wexford. There were ample opportunities for photos. The Comeragh Mountains were home to a gang of outlaws led by William Crotty in the early 1700s. He was the local Robin Hood who rode down from his hideout in this remote spot to rob the wealthy. He distributed some of his loot to the poor but kept a good portion for expenses. He led the Redcoats on a merry dance for years, it was said he shod his horse with the shoes turned backwards to confuse the army.The British finally captured him when he was betrayed by his close companion, David Norris...no not that David... Anyway he was captured on 16 Feb. 1742. Tried on the 17 March, hanged and quartered and his head cut off and planted on a spear outside the county jail. His wife on hearing this threw herself from the cliffs and died. He is reported to have a great hoard of treasure hidden in the Comeraghs. His ghost can sometimes be seen riding a Snow White horse guarding his treasure. We didn’t meet him today but I’d imagine if we were up there for the winter solstice we might.
When we reached the rocky outcrop of Stookangarriffe ,we stopped for some welcome refreshments. We rested and admired the beautiful lush countryside spread out below us...
We then made our way down a fairly steep slope and finally crossed the stream that exits the lake. We continued east and finally the rabbit rock came into view. We were on the home straight and soon reached the forest track and car park....we changed and it was decided to call to Foley's Lismore for refreshments... we had eaten here before and again we were not disappointed... Everyone seemed to really enjoy the day....
“ Look deep into nature
and you will understand
everything better “....................Albert Einstein
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