Ballyhoura International Walking Festival 2016

Walkers braved the wind and rain to attend the 22nd Ballyhoura International Walking Festival last weekend, which gave walkers an opportunity to explore some of Ballyhoura Country’s stunning countryside in the company of guides from the Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club.
The Festival featured a packed programme of walks for all abilities, from the half marathon on Saturday morning, to pleasant guided walks on heritage, archaeology, history, flora and fauna.
Registration for Saturday A and B walks took place at the Village Inn Ballyorgan. The weather did not provide for pleasant walking conditions, however it didn’t dampen the spirits of the walkers who took part. These walks covered over 35km in total and given the tough weather conditions, walkers were glad of the hot refreshments post walk at the Village Inn!
This year the festival line up on Sunday included a range of walks; a river and forest walk, animal sanctuary walk, archaeological walks at Lough Gur, Knocksauna Kilmallock and Galty Castle Wood. It was unfortunate for some, that the weather conditions did affect turn out.
Spot prizes on the day were kindly sponsored by the Charleville Park Hotel and Deebert House Hotel Kilmallock. Congratulations to our winners Helen Stafford from Richardstown Doneraile and Pat Walsh Ballindangan Mitchelstown.
Chairperson, Ben O’Sull-ivan of Ballyhoura Failte acknowledged the support and assistance of the Ballyhoura Bears Walking Club, the voluntary guides in communities for organising the Sunday walks, all volunteers who helped on the weekend and to our generous sponsors and funders.