Tracks and Trails visits Tipp
The popular Tracks & Trails Series has been broadcast on RTE1 with six presenters exploring trails in Waterford, Offaly, Monaghan and Tyrone, Kerry, Kilkenny and Tipperary. In the final episode in this series, veteran journalist and political commentator Tommie Gorman visits Co Tipperary to walk part of an ancient trail taken by St Declan. A committed walker, Tommie weaves his love of being outside on the trails with connections he makes along the way through his deep knowledge of Irish history and politics. In this programme we follow just one trail, packed with places to stop and stories from our ancient past and our much more recent history and Tommie revels in every step of the discovery. With new places to uncover and quiet spots to stop and reflect, Tommie Gorman truly makes this trail his own.
Although St Declan’s Way follows the route that Declan took when going from Ardmore in Co Waterford to Cashel in Co Tipperary to meet St Patrick in the fifth century, on Tommie’s journey he starts out from the market town of Cahir and walks in the direction of the Knockmealdowns. There is much history and many sites of national significance along this trail, the first stop being right at the start of this walk in at the perfectly preserved Cahir Castle. After a wander inside the castle walls Tommie set off along the towpath alongside the River Suir where he arrives at Swiss Cottage. This is a beautifully restored cottage Orné hidden in the trees on the banks of the river. Tommie leaves the river behind and hits the quiet road sections of this trail through the Tipperary countryside. It is along one of these rural settings that he comes to the ruins of Lady’s Abbey, an old church and graveyard where he takes time to stop and reflect on times of deep significance in his own life.
One of the lovely features of this trail is the variety of terrain underfoot from towpaths, country lanes, forest trails and mountain paths. Nearing the last section of his trail at Knockbilliniry Forest Park he meets Dr Janice Fuller from Coillte who talks about the importance of forests in Ireland for recreation, for the protection of our wildlife and their role in protecting against climate change. With plenty to think about and the skies opening up he weaves his way through the forest to visit a site of huge national significance from our more recent history. It is here at the top that John G Dwyer a local historian recounts the fascinating story of Liam Lynch who died in this area during our Civil War and tells how his death here effectively brought the conflict to an end. The place is marked with a memorial where Tommie and John G part ways having shared their love of Irish politics and history.
To finish this trip to Co Tipperary Tommie walks the rugged and scenic route through the forest and up into the Knockmealdowns where he finishes the show with a reflection on all he has seen and heard looking across the rolling landscape and in the shadow on Sliabh na mBan.
PROGRAMME DETAILS
Friday – May 10, RTE1, Tracks and Trails: St Declan’s Way from Cahir to the Knockmealdown Mountains will be presented by journalist and former RTE political editor Tommie Gorman.