Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you've got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they're always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You want to be where everybody knows your name.
- Gary & Hart
“My gratitude extends beyond the limit of my capacity to express it.”
I couldn't think of a better way to say thanks than Ian M. Banks did. It’s a fine summation of a quote.
As the sun sets on another successful year of our challenge I’m struggling to think of a single word to describe everyone that takes part and supports the event in any way. So here are fifteen words instead : Amazing, Fantastic, Terrific, Fabulous, Extraordinary, Exceptional, Incredible, Wonderful, Formidable, Great, Colossal, Immense and Marvellous, Towering and Stupendous.
There’s no doubt in my mind that those who take part in difficult challenging walks are masters-level athletes, recreational or not, living their best life on their own terms. They choose what’s difficult, extend themselves, and deal with the aches and pains. Our very own Olympics, for the year that’s in it.
We get a tremendous amount of goodwill from within and beyond the hillwalking community and we greatly appreciate that. I just pull it all together but there are many (many) contributions from a broad spectrum of people and businesses.
Congratulations to Galtee Walking Club on being crowned All-Ireland Hillwalking Club Champions in 2021. A massive 26 points. Probably a year in the planning, because that’s what it takes, so well deserved.
The Trailblazers do their stuff every year and it is fitting that they should take away the Epic Effort Award - 2021. Their continued support, the work that they do in promoting this event, the walks they put on to bring new blood to the event every year and they had two walkers this year who took in the Seven Seven Challenge walk a few days before our event. Also, if I tempt folk by making the walks more difficult than they already are, someone in that group will give it a go.
I love what we do because it’s a great leveller and there are no barriers to entry, other than being able to navigate and look after yourself. Each year someone blows my mind with an exceptional performance. One such person is Joan and, after a few years of not being able to take part for injury reasons etc., did the three days. Thus becoming the most senior person to do that. Bualadh Bos.
Participants
Catherine Barry, Patrick Boland, Karol Caulfield, Kasia Chodnicka, Anne Coffey, Fintan Cooney, Eric Crowe, Killian D’Arcy, Patrick Dennis, Seán Doherty, Orla Duggan, Kevin Finn, Aoife Fitzgerald, Steven Forde, Sean Freeman, Kealan Gallagher, Jenny Kelly, Irene Lawless, John Lonergan, Seán Lonergan, Joe Mangan, Jason McAndrew, David McDonnell, Áine McGirl, Gerry McVeigh, Joan Neill, Peter Neville, Alan O’Brien, Joe O’Brien, Josephine O’Brien, Liam O’Brien, Mary O’Brien, Johnny O’Connell, Mary O’Connell, Joe O’Connor, Fiona O’Leary, Trevor O’Leary, David Power, Pat Riggs, Barry Upton, Mark Vesey, Marian Wallis, Cormack Walsh, Justin Walsh, Philip Walsh, Rowan Walsh and Mark Whelan.
Sign-In/Sign-Out, Stand-By
Lian, Martha & Pat.
Event Statistics
75 Registered
47 Participated
32 did 3 days
7 did 2 days
8 did 1 day.
15 Participants were new to the event and 8 of those did 3 days.
Clubs and Walking Groups Represented:
Ballyhoura Bears, Bishopstown Hillwalking Club, Galtee Walking Club, Limerick Climbing Club, Mid-Tipp Hillwalkers, Nenagh Walking Club, Na Sléibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, The Wayfarers Hiking Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group.
Well done Steven Forde on doing every day of the challenge, for the last eight years.
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