Posts filed under 'Offaly'
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all around the world. However, for many it is simply a party, rather than a chance to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint. This is strange, because Saint Patrick had a dramatic life.
As a young lad of sixteen years he was captured by a band of raiders near Bologne in Gaul and taken with many others to slavery in Ireland. He was first brought to Mayo, but later sold to an Antrim farmer and he spent six years in captivity as a shepherd on Slemish Mountain.
One cold winter’s night, while Patrick slept, he heard a voice telling him “it is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country” and a short time later the voice said to him “Look, your ship is ready”.
The spirit guided Patrick to the south of Ireland near Wicklow where he boarded a ship with a cargo of dogs bound for Gaul.
At this time an invasion of Gaul had left much of it desolate. Patrick and the crew of the boat wandered for 28 days until all food had run out. Patrick said to the crew “turn to God and he will provide” and suddenly a herd of pigs appeared and they had food once more. Patrick had performed his first miracle.
For a number of years Patrick wandered through Gaul. Conscious of his lack of formal training in theology and law he spent his time talking to and learning from the wise deacons and Bishops and soon he was made a Bishop in Rome.
He was lonely in Gaul so he went to visit his relations in Britain. While he was there he had another vision in which a man arrived from Ireland with many letters, including one for himself. The letter said “We ask you boy to come and walk once more among us”. Patrick was delighted and went to Ireland immediately.
The people of Ireland at this time were pagans under the influence of the Druids. Patrick had first to rid the country of these “magicians”. This is symbolised by the banishing of the snakes forever from Ireland.
He now set about converting the people to Christianity. His deep faith and belief in the Blessed Trinity made this doctrine a centre piece of his instruction. To help explain the mystery he used the simple 3 leaf shamrock to illustrate 3 persons in one God.
St Patrick died in 461. By this time he had created an established structured church throughout the country. His converts were across the entire social classes from Princes to slaves and many of his priests and deacons were from the youth of Ireland. He is still to this day the most famous figure in Irish history and is one of the best known figures throughout the Christian world.
February 27th, 2008
Leinster are preparing for their Heineken Cup clash at Leicester on Saturday 19th of January.
While the Leicester side is strong, Leinster coach Michael Cheika is confident they will be able to get a result.
He said: “What we’ve got to do is go up there and make sure we keep sowing a bit of doubt in
their minds in their home base, where they don’t lose very often.
“We’ve got to make sure we continue to play well…and try to sneak a win up there.”
Leinster’s preparations were given a boost with the news that both injury worries Shane Horgan and Ollie le Roux have recovered enough to be included in the squad. They will face fitness tests oon Thursday, but are expected to be at near 100%.
The full squad to face Leicester is:
Forwards (15): Cian Healy, Ollie le Roux, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O’Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Backs (12): Guy Easterby, Chris Keane, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Gordon D’Arcy, Christian Warner, Brian O’Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan,
Girvan Dempsey
Ireland duo Gordon D’Arcy and Malcolm O’Kelly, need only three more appearances for Leinster to equal who both joined Reggie Corrigan’s record for the province.
Over 1,000 Leinster supporters are expected to travel to Leicester for the Heineken Cup match, which kicks off at 3.30PM at Welford Road.
January 16th, 2008
There’s a lot going on at Donnybrook, as Leinster prepare for the new season.
First, a new Rugby Development Officer has been named. Everyone at Leinster Rugby is delighted at the appointment of David McAllister.
The former Leinster and Ireland Under-21 out-half will be responsible for the North Midlands area. Hopes are high that his experience will help him unearth some exciting new talent.
But that’s not all. You can now sport the colours of your favourite team, as the new home jersey for the 2007/08 season is now available at the Leinster Rugby Store. Short sleeved jerseys are only €77, with long sleeved shirts costing €80.
The 2007/08 season looks to be a very exciting one for Leinster. Season ticket applications have almost doubled since last year. Priced at just €199, a new batch of Bronze season tickets has been released after the initial tickets were snapped up within weeks. Make sure you get yours quickly to avoid disappointment.
For devoted Leinster fans who can’t make it to all the home games, Leinster Supporters Memberships are available for next season.
Exile packages (€50) are designed for those Leinster fans all across the globe. The kids can join the Leinster Cubs for just €30.
Look out for more rugby news as the 2007/08 season approaches.
July 24th, 2007
For the ninth and final section of the Grand Canal Way, walkers will have to begin their short journey at Armstrong Bridge and keep walking till they reach Shannon Harbour. This section of the walking trail is located in the Leinster province in the county of Offaly. This route is easy and stretches to a distance of about nine and a half kilometres. There isn’t much climbing involved on this route and most walkers shouldn’t need more than three hours to complete this walking path. The walking terrain on this route mostly consists of track. The north bank on this towpath features a lot of trees and hedges where birds can be heard chirping and adding to the peaceful ambience of this charming place. The north bank at Belmont might be a bit boggy so walkers might want to choose the south bank due to its soft bed of grass. Gallen Priory is located on this route. This is a house of Georgian architecture that reeks of Gothic influence. It used to belong to the Armstrong family but these days it has been converted into a convent.
March 5th, 2007
The eighth section of the Grand Canal Way stretches from Pollagh to Armstrong Bridge. This section takes walkers through County Offaly in the eastern province of Leinster. This section is about ten and a half kilometres in length and not too hard on the average walker since there is little or no climbing to do here. Due to the relatively short length of this section, most walkers will easily complete this walking section in about three and a half hours of constant, steady paced walking. The walking terrain on this trail consists of road, track and grassy path. The final part of this section involves walking on a quiet road that will surely please those seeking peace and tranquillity. Pollagh at the beginning of this walking trail might be thought of as a small village but it really is just a scattering of houses on a bog. A little far from Pollagh towards the north, walkers can enjoy the view of the silvery patches of Brosna River amidst green mounds of grass.
March 2nd, 2007
The seventh section of the Grand Canal Way will have walkers exploring the route between Tullamore and Pollagh. This section of the route is also located in County Offaly. The route is easy to navigate and stretches over a relatively long distance of fifteen and a half kilometres. There isn’t much climbing to do on this route so it shouldn’t pose a lot of difficulties for old timers. Four and a half hours will be needed to complete this route. While in Tullamore, the roads can be fairly busy so care is needed while crossing the roads there. Once Tullamore is left behind, the roads become quiet and peaceful, making the trek quite enjoyable. After the walkers are past Rahan, the canal will take them on a pleasant stroll through the countryside. The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre at Bury Quay is worth a visit for those interested in the culture and traditions of this area. Shra Castle, Ballycowan Castle and Rahan churches are all interesting attractions on this walking trail that will appeal greatly to the walkers.
March 1st, 2007
The sixth section of the Grand Canal Way takes walkers on a charming trek through the serene wilderness lying between Daingean and Tullamore. This section of the walking route is located in County Offaly in the Leinster province. There aren’t many difficulties awaiting the walkers on this route. This part of the route stretches over a relatively long distance of fourteen kilometres. This distance involves minimal climbing and requires about four and a half hours to complete it in its entirety. Sections of the road on this walking trail are pretty quiet in general so walkers can look forward to a nice and relaxing walk with minimum disturbances in the peaceful atmosphere. The countryside on this trail is not very populated. This trail follows the canal to Tullamore. Crohan Hill and the towers of Tullamore are some interesting sights that walkers can expect to enjoy during the walk.
February 28th, 2007
The fifth section of the Grand Canal Way starts at George’s Bridge in Edenderry and ends at Daingean. This section of the walking trail is located in County Offaly in the province of Leinster. This section of the walking route is easy and stretches over a relatively long distance of seventeen kilometres. There is not a lot of physical exertion involved on this route because climbing is minimal. Walking at a relaxed pace, most walkers shouldn’t need more than five hours to complete this walking path. The surface terrain of this route consists of road and grassy path. This section takes the walkers along the canal to a countryside that is still untouched by human settlements. This is a deserted and peaceful place where walkers will enjoy the sight of many animals and birds that are rarely seen in populated areas. These animals include otters and buzzards. After the walkers cross the Toberdaly Bridge, they will get to witness a magnificent landscape comprised of peat bog. Also situated near this bridge is the Toberdaly Castle and some other ruins from different time periods that will surely entice those with an interest in exploring historical sites.
February 26th, 2007
The third and final section of the Offaly Way introduces walkers to the sights and sounds of the route between Leabeg and Lemanaghan. Like the first two sections, this part of the walking trail is also located in County Offaly in the Leinster province of Ireland. This section is fairly easy to complete for most walkers so there should be nothing to worry about here. This route stretches to a distance of about twelve kilometres. There is very little or no climbing involved on this route so senior citizens will appreciate walking here. Walkers will need to set aside about four hours out of their busy schedules to finish walking on this path. The road on this walking trail is normally quiet. However, parts of this trail consist of narrow and winding road that might not allow enough space for walkers so care should be exercised on such parts of this trail. There’s a nice man-made artificial lake to be enjoyed on the peat land of the Turran Nature Reserve. Walkers will also be charmed by the beautiful scenery of the Lough Borra Parkland. There’s also a monastic site on this route that is worth visiting.
February 19th, 2007
The second section of the Offaly Way starts from Kilcormac and ends in Leabeg. Just like the first section, this section is also located in the eastern region of Ireland in County Offaly that is part of the province of Leinster. This is an easy route that measures about seven kilometres in distance. Climbing is minimal so walkers who hate too much physical exertion will appreciate walking on this trail. This route should easily be covered in about two and a half hours. Walkers will get to experience various types of landscapes on this route. Grasslands, forests, wetlands and lakes can all be found here. Bird watchers will take great pleasure in walking here as the bird life in this region is quite fascinating. Those who fancy archaeology will take much delight in visiting the Mesolithic site on Lough Boora that tells us how our ancestors might have lived almost seven thousand years ago. Loch an Dochais on this trail is a lake with angling facilities for disabled people. The meaning of its name is “Lake of Hopeâ€. This remarkable coarse fishing lake hosts the annual All Ireland Competition for disabled anglers. Bird watchers will derive immense joy from visiting the Boora Bird Hide.
February 16th, 2007
The Offaly Way is an enjoyable walking trail stretching over a distance of twenty nine kilometres. This trail connects the Slieve Bloom and the Grand Canal Ways together. For the convenience of the walkers, this route is divided into three sections. Each section can be completed about half a day which shouldn’t be much of a problem for walking enthusiasts. Starting in Cadamstown and ending in Lemanaghan, the first section of the Offaly Way is located in County Offaly in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. This route is pretty easy to cover even for amateur walkers. This route is about nine kilometres long and normally requires about three hours from start to finish. The path on this route involves minimal climbing so even old people can enjoy walking here. The road on this route is usually very quiet. However, traffic can be quite fast so caution is advised. Be careful of five electric fences on this route. Although they are clearly marked as dangerous, it is better to stay on the road on this route to avoid any unpleasant incidents. Walkers who like to explore tourist attractions can find an old mill and a riverside park on this walking trail.
February 15th, 2007
The fourth section of the Slieve Bloom Way consists of the walking trail starting at Forelacka and ending at Coolcreen. This trail is located in County Offaly in the eastern region of Ireland in the province of Leinster. It is a relatively easy walking route that extends to a distance of about eight kilometres. The highest point on this trail is about 250 metres high. It’s a relatively short route so walkers should easily finish it in about three and a half hours. This path can sometimes be wet. Also, the first kilometre of the road can be quite busy with traffic so care should be exercised while walking here. Walkers will also come upon two small rivers that they will have to cross over small stones. Watch your step carefully and don’t walk too fast here. A firm foothold is necessary here or the chances of slipping might become too great. Walkers will enjoy walking in the forest area of Glenregan along the Camcor River. Some of the trees here were planted as far back as 1935. On their way to Coolcreen, walkers will greatly appreciate the splendid views in Glenletter.
February 9th, 2007
The third section of the Slieve Bloom Way will take walkers on a short and wonderful journey starting from Glendine Gap that will end at Forelacka. There is a road at this place that leads to Kinnitty. This section of the walking route is located in County Offaly in the eastern region of the province of Leinster. The route consists of a road that is often quiet with little traffic to disturb the serene atmosphere of the surroundings. However, the road is narrow so care will be required walking on this road. Parts of this walking path are quite rough and muddy so walking here will require some effort. It is for this reason that this section of the walking route is graded to be moderately difficult. This section of the route runs about eleven and a half kilometres in length. The highest point on this route is only seventy five metres high which means that climbing is minimal on this track. Most walkers will complete this route in about three and a half hours if they keep walking at a steady pace. The route is comprised of country roads with very nice views of the surroundings. At Glenafelly, walkers can expect to admire a stretch of beautiful woodland. The highest point of the Slieve Blooms is the Arderin and it is located towards the south of Glendine Gap. Fidlens Rock near Glenafelly Bridge is worth checking out. Archaeology buffs will be delighted to know that at Forelacka, they can visit an ancient grave mound dating from the Bronze Age.
February 8th, 2007
The Castle Kitchen in Birr Castle in County Offaly is a restaurant where you can rest assured that the cooking of dishes will always deviate from the norm. This provides you with unique tastes that will simply stimulate your taste buds with more joy and pleasure than they can handle. In regular restaurants and coffee shops, potato salad is offered with mayonnaise. But in Castle Kitchen, you can enjoy this potato salad with olive oil vinaigrette that tastes much better. Pepper salads and homemade soups prove to be nice indulgences. The stuffed pancakes prepared here are some of the best you will ever eat. The irresistibly delicious and sumptuous marinated venison with juniper berries is prepared from game acquired from the castle’s own estate grounds. The desserts offered here are mouth-wateringly tempting, especially the praline cake which simply must not be missed if you visit this fantastic restaurant.
December 22nd, 2006
The mountain range of Slieve Blooms is located in the counties of Offaly and Laois. The highest peak here is about 529 metres high and goes by the name of Arderin which means the height of Ireland in the Irish language. History buffs will particularly appreciate this place a lot due to the presence of loads of monuments that are as old as 4500 years. This place is also famous in Ireland for its mythology. It is said that the Irish Giant Finn MacCool grew up here. Slieve Blooms features many exciting walking paths. It is most well known for the Slieve Bloom Walking Festival in April. However, the walks don’t have to be too long. There are many shorter tracks through the wooded glens. One of the most beautiful of these walks is the Capard Loop that invites you to enjoy the beauty of the valley here. On this walk, you get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the River Barrow, the impressive Clamphole Falls and the mountain track of the Ridge of Capard. The historically significant monastic site of Clonmacnoise found here is also a must visit place.
December 20th, 2006
