Nenagh Walking Club’s 25th anniversary

June saw the 25th anniversary of the founding of one of Nenagh’s most enduring and endearing clubs.

Aonach a Siúl – Nenagh Walking Club – has grown over the years to offer people of all ages an appreciation of the wonderful hill walks around us. The club originated on June 7, 2000, when a meeting took place at Teach an Léinn in Nenagh. The meeting was organised by Aileen Bourke, public health nurse, who placed an advert in the Nenagh Guardian seeking interest in the setting up of a hillwalking club.

Those in attendance were surprised to find a strong turnout of 32 people. Among those present at that first meeting who are still walking with the club 25 years later are Mary Seymour, Pat Delaney and Aidan Dillon. For them, the club was a shared interest and an opportunity to forge friendships while enjoying a healthy social outlet.

Mary always had an interest in the hills around Nenagh, which she had long looked at and wondered what it would be like to walk them. “There’s something special about the hills,” she said. “You can walk the roads or paths, but up there you’re really getting away from it all. It’s a real escape.”

Pat had a background in hillwalking as an active member of the Limerick Walking Association. He saw an opportunity for the Nenagh area to have a hillwalking group of its own, one that would help local people to achieve a healthy work-life balance. He said that most of those who became involved over the years have remained friends for life.

EARLY DAYS

Aidan recalled how Nenagh Walking Club was in the early days run on a very informal basis. There was no committee or formal membership. People would offer to lead a walk on a route they already knew. Mary, for example, led walks at Coum near her home of Portroe, while Aidan brought walkers up Keeper. There was great sharing of local knowledge and people were often amazed at the variety of walks available on their own doorstep.

Initially, walks were organised every second Sunday. But they became more frequent over time, as did the trips to far away hills. The nascent walking club was quick to find its feet and spread its wings. A trip to Carrauntoohil was organised in September of that first year, a very wet day that remains vivid in the memories of those who took part. Important lessons were learned about the need for proper boots and wet gear.

MOUNTAINEERING IRELAND

In 2002 the club affiliated with Mountaineering Ireland in order to secure insurance cover for members. As part of this process, the club was put on a formal basis with a committee, constitution, and membership fees. Paddy Seymour of Portroe was elected as the club’s first chairman. The first secretary was the late John Daffy, who did a lot of important groundwork in setting up the club.

The club’s membership steadily grew over the years to the point where it now has around 120 members. The emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic probably helped the club as people looked to find outdoor pursuits closer to home, again pleasantly surprised to find such wonderful nature in their own locality.

There are now three walks organised every week, catering for all levels of members’ ability. These include the less challenging ‘Social Scenic Walks’ and the Thursday walks for retirees, dubbed ‘The Last of the Summer Wine’ walks.

Summer sees the club regularly venturing to the likes of the Knockmealdowns and Galtees in south Tipp, where there is more variety of walk. The Nenagh walkers can often be found on the slopes of Carrauntoohil and the lesser traversed members of the McGillicuddy Reeks, as well as the likes of Glendalough, Leenane, the Arran Islands and Dingle, with weekend trips away a popular aspect of club activities. There are trips abroad too, most recently to the Picos de Europa in Spain, where 16 members went walking earlier this year. The Nenagh club has also been to the Pyrenees between France and Spain, and England’s Lake District.

‘TALKING AS WELL AS WALKING’

In winter, the club tends to stay closer to home, generally doing various sections of the Lough Derg Way. But walking continues year-round and there is a Tuesday evening walk every week, taking in the Nenagh bypass in winter, ensuring that the spirit of camaraderie – “talking as well as walking” – built up by members remains steadfast.

Aonach ar Siúl is well regarded nationally having organised walking festivals in 2010, ‘11 and ‘12, bringing people from other clubs to visit the local hinterland. The Nenagh club also held two outings involving the Camino Society of Ireland.

The 25th anniversary was celebrated on April 6 when the club organised three local walks – the Silvermines Ridge, Glenculloo Loop, and a historical guided walk around Silvermines. Nearly a hundred people attended, including many past members as well as John Gerard Dwyer from the Thurles-based Mid-Tipperary Hillwalking Club, who was also present at that inaugural meeting of Aonach ar Siúl in 2000. He along with Paddy Seymour recalled some escapades from the club’s early days at Hickey’s in Silvermines after the walking. And there will be another opportunity to look back on 25 years of Aonach ar Siúl in July when an exhibition of photographs from outings and events organised by the busy club goes on display in Nenagh Library. The exhibition will be launched on Tuesday, July 8 at 6.30pm, and will remain on display thereafter. If you are interested in joining Aonach ar Siúl, you are invited to do three walks with the club free of charge, after which you can become a member for an annual fee of €50. Email aonacharsiul@gmail.com for further information.