‘A Cross to Bear – Or Three’
BER ratings, the merits of ‘Hello Fresh’, roof tents, injuries, Caminos, cycling becoming the new hiking, the Fleadh, cat-sitting, Meetups, shortcuts, osteopaths in the North-East, good coffee beans, supplements - chats that ranged from Gaza to Greystones, McDonald’s to O’Donnell’s..
It was only when a brief but fatigued discussion ensued over whether to use ‘bare’ or ‘bear’ in the title of this article that it was clearly the last day of the Fei Sheehy Challenge and the imminent end of every random conversation had over the three days. We were scraping the barrel, both mentally and physically…
Year twelve of the annual Fei Sheehy Challenge came and went with calm, thorough planning and the usual commitment to making things work by all. This followed a year of preparation by the Na Sleibhte committee and the minimum of drama by the hardy participants taking part. Routes are well known by now and in fact, it’s becoming very clear who knows the best shortcuts around the three ranges of the Comeraghs, Galtees and the Knockmealdowns. Something that can make all the difference.
Day 1: Day one started at the forest road leading to the Mauma Road car park after registration in Hillview Sports club, Clonmel. The first group photograph was taken and the gang headed off, enthusiastic and ready to take on the day. The weather was overcast but calm, cloud just touching the first summit around 600m. Blue skies and a fresh breeze swept that early cloud away by the Knockaniffrin ridge, always a good spot to stop for a picnic and enjoy the views. The long walk towards and around the Punchbowl brought us to the beautiful views of Clonmel, the Suir Valley and Slievenamon from the shrine. Day one a success.
Day 2: ‘On the Road again’ – Reminded of the Willie Nelson song, day two started in Paudi Gallahue’s field in Anglesborough, all proceedings taking place from the boot of Derek Lyon’s car. The weather remained good, except for some wind and a small skiff of rain on the top of Galtee Mor. The lovely refreshments back in the field are a highlight of the day – sitting on a camp chair nattering away, wolfing coffee cake into you washed down with a mug of hot tea. Hard to beat! Thanks, as always, to the ladies who kindly offer to do this for us.
Day 3: ‘As my Mama told me, there’ll be days like this’. The Knockmealdowns on Day three reminded those with any bit of energy left of why this is a challenge like no other. That energy soon evaporated as the three days took their toll. The conversations started drying up, unlike our clothes which were soaked through in less than an hour. It was a day to just get ticked off. But once again, the promise of sandwiches, treats and hot drinks back in the hall in Ballyporeen
made it all worthwhile.
________________________________
Another resounding success marked the end of the 2025 event as those heading off gathered in the hall one last time before departing to the four corners of the country. ‘I’ll definitely be coming down the stairs on my bottom for work in the morning’ overheard at one point.
It is difficult to sum up the sense of achievement, contentment and satisfaction in that hall after taking part in one, two or three big days on those hills. It is even more difficult to define a unique, incomparable atmosphere where kindred spirits gather to listen to presentations in honour of a little girl, Fei, so warmly spoken of over the weekend. Love can truly move mountains. For all the thinking and ruminating I do over the three days hiking on those mountains, I’ve yet to find the words to define that.
With much fanfare and applause, and in the narrowest of margins, it gave the committee great pleasure to award the Peaks Mountaineering Club the Club Trophy stealing the five in a row off the Galtee Walking Club. They worked so hard over the years, rallying the troops and this year their efforts paid off in earnest. There was quite literally a hare’s breath between them and the Ballyhoura Bears so great excitement (and relief) when their award was announced.
The second award, the Epic Effort Award, was up for contention next. A definition of ‘epic’ can mean different things to different people. For one person, it may be helping an injured hiker off the mountain, for another it might mean adding in two extra peaks. Discussion ensued over a kind gentleman who offered someone a litre of water after a mishap with their own supply, ensuring they could actually take part that day. Perhaps it wasn’t going to be given out at all this year, no feat standing out above any other. After very little discussion, it was agreed that the award should be given to a stalwart of the event, a person who represents all that is good in people, having the biggest and gentlest heart. This was Na Sleibhte and Peaks member Josephine O’ Brien. Josie works tirelessly every year encouraging her club members (and others) around the hills with unrelenting enthusiasm, upbeat spirit and energy. Speaking of helping out a few strays, she is also someone who has every feral cat in Cahir fed by 5.30am on a work morning. As I said previously, she is a lady with the kindest heart and a truly well-deserved winner.
And with that, as another year draws to a close, I wish to acknowledge all those who contributed in any way to the success of the event. I wish to highlight the efforts put in by the Na Sleibhte committee members of 2025. They worked tirelessly behind the scenes all year planning and organising the event – ordering and collection of merchandise/ certificates/ food/ awards, handling club finances/ accounts, form-filling, data collection, answering emails from participants, hosting online Teams meetings or simply not walking on one of the days so they could help out with registration. Those involved included Seán Doherty, Jennifer Kelly, Derek
Lyons, Fiona O’ Neill, Ulla O’ Riordan, Gerard Sheehy and Mark Vesey. Special thanks to club member Seanie Lonergan who volunteered to pick up an injured hiker off the mountain on Saturday. It all added to the success of the weekend.
We also thank the volunteers outside the club who do a huge amount behind the scenes – the sponsors, those who provide the venues, the ladies who prepare scones and cakes after the hikes and the generosity of those who quietly support the event year in, year out. It is all appreciated so much.
Roll on 2026 and another year of the challenge and the Na Sleibhte Hillwalking club. We hope to see some new faces at the open hike in the Galtees in October and be sure to keep an eye onthe club’s Facebook page for info, updates, videos and photographs of all events.
Beneficiaries: This year, our chosen charities are The Irish Kidney Association and The Women’s Aid. We also continue our annual contribution to the Mend the Mountain fund.
2025 Raffle Winners: We had a raffle for 2025 participants and the results were as follows:
Free entry to FSC 2025 – Paul O’Brien
Landers Tralee €50 Voucher – Jack Hayes
Portwest €50 Voucher – Tom Ryan
Event Statistics: 52 people participated over the three days. 16 did one day, 8 did two days and 28 did all three days.
Clubs and Walking Groups Represented: Ballyhoura Bears, Galtee Walking Club, Limerick Climbing Club, Na Sleibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group, Wayfarers Hiking Club, Trailblazers, Ireland Fermoy, Nenagh Walking Club, The Mountain Blazers.
2025 Participants: Aisling Mullins, Alan O Brien, Ann Marie O'Byrne, Anna Leveque, Annette Kavanagh, Anthony Fitzgerald, Catherine Horgan, Catherine O’Brien, Catriona O Riordan, Conor McCarthy, Conor Molloy, Darragh O Meara, Diarmaid McIntyre, Eileen Cahalan, Gerard Barrett, Gina Mcloughlin. Graham O’Reily, Irene Lawless, James Dunne, Joan Neill, John Fitzgerald, John Nyhan, John Staunton, Josephine O’Brien, Karol Caulfield, Keith Curley, Ken Warne, Kevin Bowen, Kilian D’Arcy, Martin Murphy, Maria DeCharmant, Marie Carey, Mary O'Looney, Mary O’Connell, Michael FitzGerald, Niamh O'Reilly, Noreen Mahony, Johnny O'Connell, Padraig Hackett, PatrickConelly, Paul O Brien, Robert Martin, Roger Seaward, Rowan Walsh, Sean Doherty, Sylvia Cooke , Timothy O'Mahoney, John O';Mara, Tom Ryan, Tommy O’Brien, Ulla O’Riordan, William Cooke.
Author: Fei Sheehy Challenge – Karol Caulfield, Committee member 2025
BER ratings, the merits of ‘Hello Fresh’, roof tents, injuries, Caminos, cycling becoming the new hiking, the Fleadh, cat-sitting, Meetups, shortcuts, osteopaths in the North-East, good coffee beans, supplements - chats that ranged from Gaza to Greystones, McDonald’s to O’Donnell’s..
It was only when a brief but fatigued discussion ensued over whether to use ‘bare’ or ‘bear’ in the title of this article that it was clearly the last day of the Fei Sheehy Challenge and the imminent end of every random conversation had over the three days. We were scraping the barrel, both mentally and physically…
Year twelve of the annual Fei Sheehy Challenge came and went with calm, thorough planning and the usual commitment to making things work by all. This followed a year of preparation by the Na Sleibhte committee and the minimum of drama by the hardy participants taking part. Routes are well known by now and in fact, it’s becoming very clear who knows the best shortcuts around the three ranges of the Comeraghs, Galtees and the Knockmealdowns. Something that can make all the difference.
Day 1: Day one started at the forest road leading to the Mauma Road car park after registration in Hillview Sports club, Clonmel. The first group photograph was taken and the gang headed off, enthusiastic and ready to take on the day. The weather was overcast but calm, cloud just touching the first summit around 600m. Blue skies and a fresh breeze swept that early cloud away by the Knockaniffrin ridge, always a good spot to stop for a picnic and enjoy the views. The long walk towards and around the Punchbowl brought us to the beautiful views of Clonmel, the Suir Valley and Slievenamon from the shrine. Day one a success.
Day 2: ‘On the Road again’ – Reminded of the Willie Nelson song, day two started in Paudi Gallahue’s field in Anglesborough, all proceedings taking place from the boot of Derek Lyon’s car. The weather remained good, except for some wind and a small skiff of rain on the top of Galtee Mor. The lovely refreshments back in the field are a highlight of the day – sitting on a camp chair nattering away, wolfing coffee cake into you washed down with a mug of hot tea. Hard to beat! Thanks, as always, to the ladies who kindly offer to do this for us.
Day 3: ‘As my Mama told me, there’ll be days like this’. The Knockmealdowns on Day three reminded those with any bit of energy left of why this is a challenge like no other. That energy soon evaporated as the three days took their toll. The conversations started drying up, unlike our clothes which were soaked through in less than an hour. It was a day to just get ticked off. But once again, the promise of sandwiches, treats and hot drinks back in the hall in Ballyporeen
made it all worthwhile.
________________________________
Another resounding success marked the end of the 2025 event as those heading off gathered in the hall one last time before departing to the four corners of the country. ‘I’ll definitely be coming down the stairs on my bottom for work in the morning’ overheard at one point.
It is difficult to sum up the sense of achievement, contentment and satisfaction in that hall after taking part in one, two or three big days on those hills. It is even more difficult to define a unique, incomparable atmosphere where kindred spirits gather to listen to presentations in honour of a little girl, Fei, so warmly spoken of over the weekend. Love can truly move mountains. For all the thinking and ruminating I do over the three days hiking on those mountains, I’ve yet to find the words to define that.
With much fanfare and applause, and in the narrowest of margins, it gave the committee great pleasure to award the Peaks Mountaineering Club the Club Trophy stealing the five in a row off the Galtee Walking Club. They worked so hard over the years, rallying the troops and this year their efforts paid off in earnest. There was quite literally a hare’s breath between them and the Ballyhoura Bears so great excitement (and relief) when their award was announced.
The second award, the Epic Effort Award, was up for contention next. A definition of ‘epic’ can mean different things to different people. For one person, it may be helping an injured hiker off the mountain, for another it might mean adding in two extra peaks. Discussion ensued over a kind gentleman who offered someone a litre of water after a mishap with their own supply, ensuring they could actually take part that day. Perhaps it wasn’t going to be given out at all this year, no feat standing out above any other. After very little discussion, it was agreed that the award should be given to a stalwart of the event, a person who represents all that is good in people, having the biggest and gentlest heart. This was Na Sleibhte and Peaks member Josephine O’ Brien. Josie works tirelessly every year encouraging her club members (and others) around the hills with unrelenting enthusiasm, upbeat spirit and energy. Speaking of helping out a few strays, she is also someone who has every feral cat in Cahir fed by 5.30am on a work morning. As I said previously, she is a lady with the kindest heart and a truly well-deserved winner.
And with that, as another year draws to a close, I wish to acknowledge all those who contributed in any way to the success of the event. I wish to highlight the efforts put in by the Na Sleibhte committee members of 2025. They worked tirelessly behind the scenes all year planning and organising the event – ordering and collection of merchandise/ certificates/ food/ awards, handling club finances/ accounts, form-filling, data collection, answering emails from participants, hosting online Teams meetings or simply not walking on one of the days so they could help out with registration. Those involved included Seán Doherty, Jennifer Kelly, Derek
Lyons, Fiona O’ Neill, Ulla O’ Riordan, Gerard Sheehy and Mark Vesey. Special thanks to club member Seanie Lonergan who volunteered to pick up an injured hiker off the mountain on Saturday. It all added to the success of the weekend.
We also thank the volunteers outside the club who do a huge amount behind the scenes – the sponsors, those who provide the venues, the ladies who prepare scones and cakes after the hikes and the generosity of those who quietly support the event year in, year out. It is all appreciated so much.
Roll on 2026 and another year of the challenge and the Na Sleibhte Hillwalking club. We hope to see some new faces at the open hike in the Galtees in October and be sure to keep an eye onthe club’s Facebook page for info, updates, videos and photographs of all events.
Beneficiaries: This year, our chosen charities are The Irish Kidney Association and The Women’s Aid. We also continue our annual contribution to the Mend the Mountain fund.
2025 Raffle Winners: We had a raffle for 2025 participants and the results were as follows:
Free entry to FSC 2025 – Paul O’Brien
Landers Tralee €50 Voucher – Jack Hayes
Portwest €50 Voucher – Tom Ryan
Event Statistics: 52 people participated over the three days. 16 did one day, 8 did two days and 28 did all three days.
Clubs and Walking Groups Represented: Ballyhoura Bears, Galtee Walking Club, Limerick Climbing Club, Na Sleibhte Hillwalking Club, Peaks Mountaineering Club, Trailblazers Hiking Group, Wayfarers Hiking Club, Trailblazers, Ireland Fermoy, Nenagh Walking Club, The Mountain Blazers.
2025 Participants: Aisling Mullins, Alan O Brien, Ann Marie O'Byrne, Anna Leveque, Annette Kavanagh, Anthony Fitzgerald, Catherine Horgan, Catherine O’Brien, Catriona O Riordan, Conor McCarthy, Conor Molloy, Darragh O Meara, Diarmaid McIntyre, Eileen Cahalan, Gerard Barrett, Gina Mcloughlin. Graham O’Reily, Irene Lawless, James Dunne, Joan Neill, John Fitzgerald, John Nyhan, John Staunton, Josephine O’Brien, Karol Caulfield, Keith Curley, Ken Warne, Kevin Bowen, Kilian D’Arcy, Martin Murphy, Maria DeCharmant, Marie Carey, Mary O'Looney, Mary O’Connell, Michael FitzGerald, Niamh O'Reilly, Noreen Mahony, Johnny O'Connell, Padraig Hackett, PatrickConelly, Paul O Brien, Robert Martin, Roger Seaward, Rowan Walsh, Sean Doherty, Sylvia Cooke , Timothy O'Mahoney, John O';Mara, Tom Ryan, Tommy O’Brien, Ulla O’Riordan, William Cooke.
Author: Fei Sheehy Challenge – Karol Caulfield, Committee member 2025
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