Posts filed under 'Wicklow'
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
The eleventh and final section of Wicklow Way will lead walkers on a marvellous trek from Raheenakit to Clonegal. This is a pretty easy route so walkers can look forward to a fun time on this walking path. This route stretches to a pretty long distance of about sixteen kilometres. The highest point that walkers might have to climb on this route is about three hundred metres high. Most walkers going at a normal pace should be able to complete this route in less than six hours. Shillelagh is a beautiful village found on this walking route. The stone houses and the courthouse of this village are truly a sight to behold. This village is situated close to the Shillelagh River below the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. Tomnafinnoge Oak Wood is also worth visiting for it is one of the largest oak forests in Ireland. The Irish weapon Shillelagh is also named after this village and consists of a blackthorn stick. These weapons are very popular with tourists and bought by them for keeping as souvenirs. The Coolattin Estate is also a wonderful place to explore here.
January 18th, 2007
The tenth section of the Wicklow Way will have walkers traversing a path stretching from Tinahely to Raheenakit. This route is pretty easy with the terrain being quite forgiving in terms of difficulty. This walking trail extends over a pretty long distance measuring about fourteen kilometres. The highest point you will have to climb here is about three hundred metres high. Most walkers will finish this route in about five hours if they keep walking at a steady pace. The market town of Tinahely is located in a very beautiful area which has to be seen to be believed. This place is relatively unknown to tourists which is unfortunate and a pity, because this town has that traditional Irish village feel to it, with the warmth, friendliness and hospitality of the locals making this a must visit place. The courthouse in Tinahely is located in the centre of the square and is a great place to get acquainted with the heritage and culture of this area. It features exhibitions, concerts and theatre. The annual Wicklow County Agricultural Show is also held in this town with plenty of interesting activities to keep tourists happy. Avid explorers can also enjoy the enchanting beauty of the Derry River valley and the Coolatin Woods on this pleasant walking route.
January 17th, 2007
The ninth section of the Wicklow Way is comprised of the route from Ballycumber to Tinahely. The route actually ends about two kilometres before Tinahely. The difficulty grading of this walking route is easy so walkers shouldn’t have any difficulty on this route. This route stretches to a distance of about seven kilometres. The highest point on this walking trail is no higher than 170 metres so there is very little climbing involved. Average walkers will easily complete this route in about three hours. This path might be a bit wet in some places. Also walkers will have to cross the River Ford on this path. The beauty of this place cannot be described with words only. Walkers will be delighted by the exquisite views of County Carlow available from Muskeagh Forest. Avid explorers and hikers will appreciate the fact that Croghan Mountain and Croghan Valley are located close to this route, providing them with a chance to explore them too.
January 16th, 2007
The eighth section of the Wicklow Way takes walkers on a spectacular short journey from Aughavannagh to Ballycumber. This is a relatively easy route to walk on and does not present any nearly insurmountable hurdles for the casual walkers. This walking route is pretty long and stretches to about thirteen kilometres. You can expect a little bit of climbing on this route. The most you will have to climb here is about two hundred and fifty metres. Walking at a normal pace, most walkers should be able to complete this route in less than five hours. This walking trail is pretty pleasant with little or no wet or muddy paths. The climbs are also not too steep so even first time walkers will enjoy this route. There are a lot of attractive summits to be found on this walking route where walkers will enjoy delightful and breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The beautiful village of Aughrim is located on this route. This town features artistically designed granite buildings and has been voted as the cleanest town in County Wicklow since 1996. There is an attraction here called Angling For All where even disabled anglers can enjoy the sport of angling to their heart’s content. The nearby village of Macreddin is also worth visiting for its quality organic produce.
January 15th, 2007
The seventh section of Wicklow Way extends from Glenmalure to Aughavannagh. This walking trail is moderately difficult to complete for average walkers so expect some challenges ahead. The trail is also a bit long at about eleven kilometres. The height of the highest point you can expect to climb here is about three hundred and fifty metres. Most walkers will take around a little bit less than five hours to complete this walking route. There is steady climbing involved on some parts of the route and the path can also be wet and muddy at places so be careful, tread slowly through slippery terrain and most of all, wear quality hiking and trekking shoes with a good grip. Walkers can expect spectacular views of the Avonbeg River and the mountains surrounding this route. They will also come across the Iron Bridge passing over the Ow River. Glenmalure Waterfall will prove to be a sight of awe for many. Rathdrum is a town close to this walking path. This town is located high on the western side of the Avonmore Valley. So if you feel like enjoying some breathtaking views of this beautiful valley, the vantage point of Rathdrum is the best place to do so. Avondale House near this walking trail is a popular tourist attraction. Other places of interest that walkers might want to check out are Greenane Farm Museum & Maze and the Clara-Lara Fun Park.
January 12th, 2007
The sixth section of Wicklow Way takes walkers from Glendalough to Glenmalure. This trail is ranked to be easy as far as difficulty in traversing it is concerned. This track is a bit long at thirteen kilometres. The highest point on this track is about four hundred and twenty metres high. An average walker can be expected to complete this walking path in about five and a half hours. The path is muddy in some places. You will encounter hundred metres of very steep climb at one point during the walk. There is also a muddy descent through trees so be careful there to avoid slipping and getting hurt. Glenmalure is one of the most beautiful glens of Ireland. You will have a fascinating time walking through this enchanting place in the Wicklow Mountains. There are plenty of craggy mountains and massive broken rocks to be found here that enhance the rugged beauty of this place. This is indeed a place worthy of being called a walker’s paradise.
January 11th, 2007
The fifth section of Wicklow Way extends from Oldbridge to Glendalough. This walking route is easy to complete for average walkers. The route will take walkers through nine kilometres of relaxing scenery. The highest point on this route is about three hundred metres. Most walkers will manage to complete this trail in about three hours. You will come across some steep areas as well as forest road. When you are almost near the end of this walking path, be sure to watch out for tree roots lest you should trip over them and get yourself hurt. This walking path will introduce walkers to some truly spectacular scenery. Expect to enjoy refreshing mountain walks and pleasant woodland trails. The lakeside walks here are a delight to take. The villages of Annamoe and Laragh on this route are a nice place to stop and relax a bit. Tourists will find themselves mesmerized by the sheer beauty of Glendalough. This area is part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Expect to see various kinds of wonderful animal and plant wildlife in this area. Walkers will be enthralled by the superb views of the valley and the lakes and rivers in Glendalough. The city of Glendalough is historically significant with monastic churches and other archaeological sites that make this a must see place for explorers.
January 10th, 2007
The fourth section of the Wicklow Way takes walkers on a pleasant walk from Lough Tay to Oldbridge. As far as difficulty is concerned, this walking route is deemed to be easy to complete. This walking trail is about eight kilometres long. There is hardly any climbing involved on this walking path as the highest point is only a mere seventy metres high. Average walkers will easily complete this route in about two and a half hours. On the way, you will have to deal with forest road and a little bit of steep climbing. Some parts of the path can also be muddy. The beautiful village of Enniskerry is located close to this route. Be sure to check out Powerscourt Estate for its fabulous gardens. Adult tourists will enjoy the recreational facilities of Victoria’s Way located near this trail. If you fancy catching some fish, head on over to Annamoe Trout Fishery. Do note that fly fishing is the only type of fishing allowed here. The Djouce Mountain Golf Club close to this path is a fine place to cure your golfing fix. The shimmering lakes of Vartry Reservoir will delight anyone with an eye for natural scenic beauty. Yet more splendid views of lakes can be had at the Lugalla Estate that is also located on this path.
January 9th, 2007
The third section of the Wicklow Way is comprised of the route from Glencree to Lough Tay. This route is graded to be moderate as far as difficulty is concerned in traversing it. This walking route stretches to a distance of about nine and a half kilometres. The highest point you are likely to reach on this trail will be no more than four hundred metres high. Average walkers can expect to complete this route in about a little more than four hours. This path can be muddy and wet at places so be careful. Be especially wary of the boardwalk on this route since it is very slippery when wet. There are many exciting places to visit on this walking route. The beautiful and charming village of Enniskerry is located close to this path. You can choose to explore the enchanting beauty of the glen of Cookstown and the Glencullen River. There are many pleasant walks to be had in the woods around Enniskerry. If you are interested in enjoying the sight of rare Irish species of plants and animals, be sure to pay a visit to the Leafed National Reserve in Knocksink wood near Enniskerry. The highest waterfall in Ireland, the Powerscourt Waterfall, is also situated nearby. The Powerscourt Estate and Gardens is a splendid tourist attraction with an excellent variety of gardens where you can stroll away the afternoon. You can also enjoy a nice shopping experience as well as an exhibition in the delightful Palladian House.
January 8th, 2007
