Local Tipperary Lions Club successfully complete four-county challenge

Members of Cashel Lions Club completed their planned Four County Challenge on Saturday, October 5.

The group of five hillwalkers left Cashel under cover of darkness just after 7am and were transported by Pat Maher to the carpark above Bay Lough near Clogheen which was the start of their hiking challenge through parts of Waterford, Tipperary, Cork and Limerick.

The car park was shrouded in dense mist and fog accompanied by a freshening south westerly wind which seems to have taken up a permanent residence in that part of the Knockmealdowns.

Just before 8am the four Lions, Willie Fahey, Cal Flavin, DJ Horan, Eddie Morrissey, together with TJ Carey from the Mid Tipp Hillwalking Club headed uphill, in full rain gear, onto the slopes of Knocknalougha in Co Waterford, and from there, onto Knocknaclugga in Tipperary.

The group navigated their way in dense fog and difficult underfoot conditions along the Blackwater Way until they arrived at the Crow Hill carpark where they had the first food break and were joined by Kate Fahey.

After this break, the group continued their westward trek along the foothills of the Knockmealdowns.

As the weather improved slightly, the group caught glimpses of the surrounding countryside and as the trail veered in a northerly direction they made their way safely through the highways and byways of north east Cork.

With Knokaneagh, the final peak in the Knockmealdowns, in the rear view mirror the group paused for a well-deserved lunch break where they were met by Cashel Lions Club President Tom Horan who delivered a welcome change of footwear for the remaining road section of the challenge.

The challenge team was also reinforced at this stage by Margaret Molan Ryan who joined the group and completed the remainder of the challenge.

Fortified by a healthy lunch and with a pep in their step, thanks to the change of footwear, the group navigated their way along a maze of rural roads to the west and north of Ballyporeen.

As the group headed for Skeheenarinky the storm clouds gathered and true to the weather forecast the final 7/8 kilometres of the challenge were completed in a proverbial downpour.

As the group left Skeheenarinky, they were joined by Monica Slattery, Mary Gleeson and Melissa Flavin who in spite of the deteriorating weather were true to their word and added renewed energy to the group as they completed the final leg of the 34.8 kilometre Four County Challenge.

The group of eight, consisting of Lions and friends were in high spirits as they crossed over the bridge on the Attycran River and into Co Limerick and on to the end of the challenge in Kings Yard.

With the water flowing down the final hill the group met, appropriately enough, a well-nourished frog who hopped off the road and into the grass margin to allow the splashing and increasingly sore feet of the walkers complete their trek without interruption.

The Four County Challenge was completed in just under eight hours.

As the group returned to Cashel, after a quick change of clothing, they reflected on the day’s exertions which were best summed up by a member of the group who still had the energy to remark that, 'the Lions will sleep well tonight.'

The Cashel Lions Club Four County Challenge is this year’s main fundraiser for Cashel Lions Club.

All funds raised by the challenge will be used locally to fund a number of club projects including the Senior Citizens’ Party, Christmas Food Vouchers, Senior Citizens’ Holiday and the purchase of a minibus for the Cashel Day Care Centre.

The club is delighted with the generous financial support received from local businesses and from the local community who contributed to the recent street collection, to the online fundraising page and by sponsorship given to members of Cashel Lions Club.

People who wish to contribute to the fundraiser may still do so by contacting any member of the club or through the online page.

Full details on the fundraiser and photographs from a most challenging and memorable day can be found on the Cashel Lions Club Facebook page.