The annual Comeragh Crossing supporting local charities is a huge success

The first Saturday in July has long been a red letter day in the calendar of Dungarvan Hillwalking Club and in 2023 the 1st July was no different as the Club hosted its annual Comeragh Crossing and Challenge Walks.

First held in 1996 as a fundraising event in memory of Club member George Harney, the event continues to support local charities as walkers now have four walk distances to choose from.

It was shortly after 6:00 am when the first of the 180 walkers from all over Ireland and beyond started to arrive at the walk base at Kilgobnet Sports Centre to check-in for their chosen walk.

The first bus of 31 walkers for the 45 km Challenge Walk had no sooner departed on time at 7:00 am when check-in was underway for the 54 walkers ready to take on the 35 km Crossing Walk.

Both the Challenge and Crossing Walks started on the R678 at Poulnagunoge outside Clonmel, Challenge Walkers hit all of the high points on the Comeraghs involving a height gain of 2,000m while the Crossing route passes along lower slopes but still requires an ascent of 1,250 metres.

All walks finished at the Walk Base in Kilgobnet. With 85 walkers now on the mountain before 8:00 am Club Members who managed the Walk Base throughout the day had a short reprieve before check-in for the popular Nire Valley Walk commenced.

At 10:00 am, following a very efficient check-in process, the buses departed with 63 eager walkers ready to tackle the 20 km walk with 900 mtr ascent starting below the Nire Car Park heading up Lyre Mountain to the Coumfea checkpoint and following the same route home as the Crossing walkers.

It was great to see many family groups take on this walk. The weather forecast for the day was for cloudy, blustery conditions with no rain, ideal for hillwalking and early reports from checkpoints at the Bog Road and Nire Car Park indicated the favourable weather combined with good under foot conditions ensured that the early starters were making good progress.

At 1:00 pm the final walk of the day, the Kilbrien Loop, a 12 km walk with 350 km ascent got underway for 32 walkers and they got to summit Cruachan, as did all walks with its magnificent views over Dungarvan Harbour, the Copper Coast, West Waterford and East Cork.

As all walks were now underway with 180 walkers safely on the mountain regular contact was maintained with checkpoints to monitor the progress of walkers along the four routes.

The checkpoints at the Nire Car Park and Mauma Road were also water stops where walkers could replenish their water and avail of flapjacks, fruit and crisps which were kindly sponsored by Glenpatrick Water, Flavahans, Conor Lannen, The Country Store and Garvey’s Supervalu.

Arrangements were now in place at the Kilgobnet Walk Base to welcome home the walkers and the first person home was well known local sportsman Derek Lyons from Dungarvan who completed the 45km Challenge in an amazing time of 6 hrs 47 mins.

It wasn’t long before the centre was a buzz with walkers as they recounted the story of their day over a meal prepared by Tom Daly Catering. The smiling faces belied the weary limbs as walkers accepted their completion certificates which depicted a pair of standing stones in the Nire Valley with Coumfea and Coumlocha in the background.

By 7:00 pm all walkers were safely off the mountain and it was time for the organisers to pack up and reflect on a great day where 180 got to experience the Comeragh Mountains at their finest.

Hosting an event of this scale requires a huge team effort and while a small sub-committee was responsible for the overall organisation of the event, their efforts were greatly supported on the day by 24 club members who acted as marshals for car park, buses, walks, checkpoints and sweepers.

Advance preparations required input from Club PRO to promote the event and numerous club members to recce the routes and erect signage in the weeks and days before the walk.

All of this work and the participation of 180 walkers ensured that South East Mountain Rescue, Waterford Hospice and Dungarvan Lions Club will benefit from their endeavours, thank you one and all.

For some the shorter walks were a stepping stone to a longer walk the following year, so if you completed one of the Comeragh Crossing walks this year and would like to take on something more challenging next year then remember you need to be ready for the first Saturday in July.

If you would like to do more hillwalking in the meantime why not check out Dungarvan Hillwalking Club on https://www.dungarvanhillwalking.org/ where the schedule of walks is posted monthly.