Blog – The Wandering Irishman

September 25, 2020September 25, 2020

Coumshingaun Lough

I had an Irish speaking friend years ago who laughed at my pronunciation of Coumshingaun Lough. He was right of course because I butchered it. Thankfully he told me how to pronounce it and I have since forgotten that information, like most good information it leaves my head. After a quick look on the trusty Internet, I have found how to pronounce it, at least by the locals which is good enough for me (Academics argue over the pronunciation). I refer to this article where it says the pronunciation is Com Shin-aun so basically drop the g.

Coumshingaun Lough is a beautiful walk which can cater for a range of different abilities. Here are the main routes

Coumshingaun Loop Walk

Length: 7.2 Km
elevation gain 627 m
Level: Strenuous
Time: 3 to 4 hours

Map of Coumshingaun — Map of the Coum Loop

Lake Walk

Length: 3.6 Km (Up and Back)
Elevation gain: 180m
Level: Moderate
Time: 2 hours

Coumshingaun Lough Walk

Both walks start at Kilclooney Woods or there is another car park just down the road. It can get very busy on the weekends so get up early to secure a parking place. Please park responsibly, walkers get a bad reputation for parking inconsiderately.

Kilclooney is mainly a coniferous woodland of Sitka spruce, native Scots pine, Norway spruce, European larch and Western hemlock with small pockets of broadleaves dispersed throughout. Foxes, badgers and fallow deer are regularly spotted, although elusive. The agile red squirrel may be seen from time to time foraging or darting up the trunks of trees and running along the branches in the canopy above. Try and spot the disguised radio tower on the left when you are walking up the forest trail. They have done a great job to make the tower look like a tree and it works pretty well.

The trail is pretty obvious from the car park just follow uphill and you will eventually get to the start of the mountain trail. This is a well-used path so its hard to miss. Keep following up and you will start to get some great views looking South and East of the patchwork of fields in Waterford. you can see the Saltee Islands on a clear day.

The Big Ridge

You can see the big ridge line now that will take you up and around the lake. It is an impressive ridge and is a pleasure to walk. It has a mix of rocky ground with some minor scrambling and some boggy sections too. If you decide to take the loop route it gains a lot of height quickly so breaks will be needed. You will be treated to views of one of Ireland’s best Corries, it is impressive and the scale of it is mighty. It is recommended to walk the loop in a clockwise direction because there is a few sections of scrambling climbing which is safer to climb up than climb down but the route can be done both ways.

Coumshingaun Lough — The Southern ridge line, the most popular route up.

Shorter Walk up to the Lake

If you opt for the shorter walk up to the lake you will not be disappointed. It is a fantastic walk with views Inside the corrie just as impressive as on top. This is a great walk if you have kids and don’t want to commit to the Bigger loop walk. The lake is packed full of brown trout and you can see fish jumping here regularly. Coumshingaun lake is 54 Metres Deep at its deepest point and can be as low as 6 degrees, So if your going in for a dip be mindful of that.

There used to be a hermit living in the Lake up till 1959 by the name of Jim Fitzgerald. Known as ‘Lackendara’. He Lived halfway up the Comeragh Mountains for over forty years. His home was a cave of sorts, with a roof comprised of bits of driftwood, stones and soil, and an entrance concealed by strips of hanging grain bags. A veteran of WW1, where he was said to have suffered shell-shock. He spent the remainder of his life in isolation in this rugged and unforgiving terrain in the foothills of the Comeraghs.

I am fascinated with this story. It would have taken a strong-willed human to live up in the mountains like this. If you would like to see the rock where he lived just click here. If you would like more information on this story there was a video made of him a couple of years back. I will link it here it’s worth a watch.

Crotty’s Rock

Crotty’s Rock is well worth a visit and is only a short walk away from the top of the loop walk. It can get very wet so be prepared for that. William Crotty was a highwayman who had a reputation for stealing from the rich and giving to the local people. He was betrayed by his long time friend and captured, he was hanged and quartered. His legend still lives on today and Crotty’s rock is a popular spot for walkers and climbers.

Final Thoughts

The Coumshingaun Lough is well worth a look for a Beginner or experienced walker. A lovely mix of terrain and the views are spectacular. There is plenty of history associated with this part of Waterford and is worth some further research if that’s your thing.

If you’re taking to the hills please remember to take some extra layers and food with you. The weather changes very quickly in the mountains and things can go wrong quickly. If you need more information on what to wear and bring with you to have a look at this.

if you would like to see any of my other posts please click Here

Directions to Kilclooney Woods

Youtube video of Coumshigaun

Video of Coumshingaun

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020

Bannow Island

Bannow Island is a beach in the south-west coast of County Wexford in Ireland, its a place that is very close to my heart as I grew up here and Its where I learned to explore.

A lot of my time as a child was spent looking in rock pools along the beach and walking in the fields trying to dodge the cattle and occasional Bull ( you haven’t lived until a herd of cows chases you).

Bannow has a rich history and the Norman conquest of Ireland began in Bannow Bay in 1169 when three ships commanded by Robert Fitz-Stephen arrived at the behest of Diarmait MacMurrough to support his claim to the Kingdom of Leinster. Another group of Normans under Raymond le Gros landed the following year on the far side of Bannow Bay, on the Hook Peninsula at Baginbun. There was a small promontory fort there, easy for the Normans to defend and thereby ensure a safe landing.

At Bannow Island, the ruins can still be seen of the 13th-century Norman Romanesque parish church of St Mary, originally impropriated to the monks of Canterbury. It consists of a nave and chancel. Another famous Norman soldier and an officer who landed in the first invasion was Meiler Fitzhenry, whose son adopted his father’s name, and thus began the Meyler family of County Wexford, who later were prominent in the Wexford Rebellion of 1798.

Bannow Island is a beautiful beach that is heavily affected by the tide. at low tide, the beach is much bigger and a is a lovely walk and you can walk around the corner and look at the mouth of the bay which leads up to Wellingtonbridge and Tintern Abbey. Check tide times for Fethard-On-Sea, Bannow is best enjoyed when the Tide is out and be very careful the tide can come in very quick here.

There are rock pools to be enjoyed at the right side of the beach as you walk onto it, loads of little creatures to be found.

If you’re looking for another beach close by you can check out Cullenstown, It’s only a few minutes down the road and well worth a visit.

Bannow Island is well worth a visit if you’re looking for somewhere to go for a few hours, it’s not very big but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. Bring a book and a chair and sit back and let the world go by.

Here is a video of Bannow I made:

Directions:

April 6, 2020September 4, 2020

Cullenstown Beach Wexford

When I was growing up I took for granted the area I lived in, I think most of us do. I grew up in a rural part of Wexford right at the bottom of this beautiful country. We use to spend our summers out and about exploring, riding our bikes and playing games. I use to think there was never anything to do and this place is boring. If only I lived in Wexford town where all the fun was happening. Little did I know that the kids in town were saying the same thing about being bored and having nothing to do. Life is what you make it and thankful I did a lot of exploring in my childhood.

One of the adventures we use to do was take a trip down to Cullenstown Beach. Our favoured mode of transport was a bicycle, this was to make the arduous journey short. The 3 km trip when you were 12 years of age was a big deal at the time. when I look back now I realise how lucky we were to have such a beautiful place to explore. But that’s enough of me reminiscing.

Cullenstown is a lovely quaint village with a great community. They take a lot of pride in their village and it’s always kept very tidy. There are a number of holiday homes and a guesthouse. There is also a pub called the Atlantic Bar where you can stop in and quench your thirst. there are toilets located at the beach in case nature calls. Thankfully there are a number of bins to so please practice a leave no trace approach.

On a fine day you could mistake it for a tropical beach, the waters are turquoise and the sand is white beneath your feet.

Birds eye view of Cullenstown Beach — Birds eye view

There is a ball alley at the beach which can be great entertainment, Many a game of wall ball have been argued about here. it can be great too if you bring a tennis ball and racket, just be mindful of the tide, if its a high tide and you hit the ball over your getting wet or losing a ball.

The famous Shell Cottage is located here in Cullenstown. It was built by Kevin Ffrench and took 30 years to complete. It is a beautiful testament to perseverance and it’s worth checking out. They have an Instagram page and Facebook page you can check them out. it is the highlight of Cullenstown Beach and well worth checking out.

The beach is a great spot for fishing, you can see fishermen beach casting and spinning here regularly and I have heard stories of 8-pound bass being pulled from here.

The Keeragh islands are located just 1.5 km off the beach. the islands are a designated Natural Heritage Area due to their importance as a breeding ground for seabirds such as cormorants. The islands are surrounded by treacherous rocky reefs and the ruin on the island was built around 1800 for survivors of shipwrecks but is now dilapidated . You can find more information here

The Saltee Islands can be seen from Cullenstown, they lie about 14kms off the coast. the islands are a must-see place and boat tours from Kilmore Quay run daily during the summer season. You will not be disappointed with this trip. I strongly recommend it. you can get more information here.

There is a lot of wildlife to look at in Cullenstown, You can see all kinds of Seabirds and you can spot the odd seal in the Water. Cormorants are a regular visitor. Barnacle Geese are a winter visitor from Greenland, occurring between October & April here during the start of spring, they come down from Greenland and Siberia where they breed.

Cullenstown is definitely worth checking out and it is reasonably quiet most of the year. you should put it on your list of places to go.

I made a video of Cullenstown Beach. I hope you like it. If you would like to check out my other posts you can find them here

Cullenstown Beach is located at the very bottom of the county of Wexford. it is about a 4 minute drive from the village of Carrig on Bannow and about 7 minutes from the village of Duncormick. You can find the map below.

March 16, 2020March 17, 2020

What to do during a lockdown in Ireland

This is a scary time in Ireland, there is a lot of uncertainty. People are unsure about what to do during a lockdown or how this will turn out over the next few weeks. An important thing we can all do for each other right now is to stay calm and remember to have empathy for people around us. People are clearing shelves in Supermarkets and buying suspicious amounts of toilet rolls.

We need to remember that Supermarkets will stay open and food supplies will be kept open. when we panic buy out of fear, the people we really hurt are the most vulnerable.

The Government has closed the Schools in Ireland to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus and now they have closed the Pubs so you know it’s getting serious. They hope to reduce the number of people infected and not overload the Health System in Ireland which is already under pressure.

We should all read the Health service Executives information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) this will give us solid fact-based information. Don’t believe Facebook memes or Instagram posts.

I would recommend reading up about the difference in Self-isolation and Self-quarantine. There is a big difference and it will impact how you live your life right now.

Here is a quick breakdown:

Self-quarantine means avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible. You will need to do this if you are in close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus and you are still well. Self-quarantine is to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Self-isolation means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. You will need to do this if you have symptoms of coronavirus. This is to stop other people from getting it.

You will need to self-isolate:

if you have symptoms of coronavirus

before you get tested for coronavirus

while you wait for test results if you have had a positive test result for coronavirus

What to do?

With all that said the majority of us have been asked to socially distance ourselves for the good of society and we should all get on board.

What is social distancing?

Put simply, the idea is to maintain a distance between you and other people. In this case, at least a metre. That also means minimizing contact with people. Avoid public transportation whenever possible, limit nonessential travel, work from home and skip social gatherings — and definitely do not go to crowded bars.

What to do during a Lockdown?

If you are happy you are social distancing yourself and are looking for things to do, there is no reason you can’t be sensible and get outside and enjoy what it has to offer.

The next few weeks are going to be a tough time for everybody and staying inside looking at the four walls is not going to do your body or mental health any good. So get out and use your meat machine, especially if you have kids.

Things you can do to keep your self occupied:

Go for a walk at your local Beach
Go to your local Forest or lake
Explore your local area, see places that are right under your nose
Learn a new skill
Start reading that booking you have on the shelf
Start Yoga
Do a workout at home
Climb a Mountain or Hill
Walk a Trail
Check on a neighbour
Volunteer your time to the needy
Do that project you have had no time for

The list is endless.

I hope this has given you some knowledge and inspiration to get out and about during this difficult time.

Please remember to stick together during this time even if it is a metre apart.

The Wandering Irishman

March 16, 2020March 19, 2020

Edenvale, a Hidden Gem

My sister first introduced me to Edenvale in Wexford when I was a teenager and I’m so glad she did. Edenvale is a special place with a secret garden feel to it. Don’t be fooled by the underwhelming entrance, it disguises A stunning trail filled with rivers, waterfalls, flora and fauna. One of the best trails in the Sunny South East.

There is a small car park at the entrance with a gate that is used regularly for access so be mindful not to block the entrance. Most of the walk is on a dirt track, it can be muddy at times so wellies or sturdy footwear is advised.

The walk leads down to the River Sow but if you want a slight detour you can follow the trail on your left which leads into a clearing. You can find an interesting carving in a tree in the middle of the clearing.

Edenvale is a place for exploration, if you keep your eyes open you will find some interesting shapes, colours and plants. This is a place to stroll through, take your time and remember to look left, right and most importantly overhead.

Edenvale is not a long walk, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. A lot of fun can be had here if you allow your inner child to come out and play. If you leave your busy lifestyle at the gate you will not be disappointed.

The trail leads on until you have to turn right and head downhill until you meet the main track, here you will see the first of Edenvales Waterfalls.

A strange beauty surrounds this place, There is an ancient feel to it, perhaps resembling what Ireland would have looked like long ago.

Ireland is a wild place and winter can bring powerful storms, a casualty of these powerful storms is a large tree after falling across the river which has made a stunning natural bridge. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to cross it.

When you continue the trail, once you have finished playing on the bridge you come to a small pumping station. Wexford County Council has owned this since and 1930’s and the river Sow which flows here provides water for many houses in Wexford.

If you follow past the pumping station you will find yourself on a walkway and you can start to hear the main attraction of Edenvale. A lot of water passes over these falls and you can really feel it. The noise is loud and imposing but stunning all the same.

As you go further up the river you will come to the rest of the falls, I could sit and stare at each of them for a long time.

As you go further up you will see an Old Mill on the opposite side of the river, it’s starting to become part of the forest but still standing tall. You can cross over the bridge and take a closer look at the old mill but be careful as its unsafe.

From here you turn around and go back the way you came and take in the waterfalls for a second time. You can continue and do a loop walk that takes in Randalls Mill.

This walk is short but has a lot of character. It is perfect for families who have small kids and want a manageable walk for the little ones. If you bring wellies you can play around in the streams and rivers. There is plenty of flora and fauna to see so you could bring along a good field guide to spot some of it. I love the Collins Complete Guide to Irish Wildlife its a really comprehensive guide and a must for anybody trying to learn more about nature in Ireland.

How to get here

Edenvale is located 1.5km from Castlebridge. if you head North on the R741 towards Crossabeg it is located on your right-hand side about 3 minutes from Castlebridge.

March 4, 2020March 5, 2020

Running for life

Growing Up I was never really sporty and if I was really honest with my self I would say I was overweight. Not obese but enough that other kids noticed and that is never fun.

” I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. “

I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. I was lucky growing up because we grow our own vegetables and we had our freezer full of our own animals so we had good healthy food and it was delicious so I got fat. later on, into my teens, I realised I needed to do something so I lost a bit of weight and I felt good about myself.

When I was about 18 I joined up for my first run it was a 5km and I absolutely loved it. it was the start of my running career and I haven’t stopped since.

“I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in. “

I have been doing one or two events a year usually a 10km since then, so although I enjoyed it I never really invested a lot of time into it. then in 2017, I decided to up my game and I started running more consistently. I ran a couple of events in 2017 mainly 10 km but I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in.

Then in 2018, I fell off my Motorbike and broke a few bones so I didn’t do as much running as I would have liked but still got in Turf Warrior in Galway which is an obstacle race. I got in a 5km, 10km and I was meant to do the Clonakilty half marathon but my Mam got sick and I couldn’t go down so I did it on a treadmill instead(Not the same I know).

In 2019 I really upped my Running, I felt like I had missed out a lot from the previous year so I wanted to make up for it so I ran

Run A Muck
10km Road
Tintern Abbey 8Km
Wexford 10KM
Viking Qtr Marathon
Stone Mad 10 Mile
Hell and Back
Greenway Half
Clonakilty Half

I had a good year of running and I enjoyed every second of it especially the hard times. I think it was during this year that I realised how much I need Running. I can easily wander and get distracted in life and I constantly need a compass pointing me in a direction and running gives me that. Even when life is not going to plan and things are falling apart I still have running to remind me to stick to the plan and keep working hard and move forward.

“there is no lying in running”

I love the challenge running brings to my life and the simplicity of it. there is no lying in running you can either run the distance or you cant.

I need challenges in my life especially physical ones. I find that if I slip into a routine where I don’t challenge myself physically I get into a rut and life becomes monotonous and boring and I get to a place where I don’t want to be. you learn the most from yourself when you’re challenging yourself. This is where true learning and development comes from. learning doesn’t come from just plodding along in life, you have to get up and rise to the challenge, not just in running but in work and relationships too.

Some of the best memories I have are of the times I had the hardest challenges.

” Get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later “

The name of this post is running for life and by that I mean, running gives me life. The energy I use when I’m training is given back to me in my self-esteem, dignity, self-worth and my overall energy levels. I cannot stress this enough, get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later on in life when you will be healthier and happier and probably richer because of potential future medical bills. if you hadn’t of looked after it.

I hope you enjoyed this post. the subject means a lot to me.

Shane

March 4, 2020March 5, 2020

Why is photography so appealing to me?

Nostalgia is Powerful

It seems to be a thing of the past now but when we were growing up we would pull out old photo albums when relatives arrived or when we were clearing out the attic. I use to love doing it, Even then as a young boy I was fascinated when I looked back at photos of my parents when they were young. I had only ever taught of my parents as being, parents. the taught that they use to be in nappies or threw tantrums as children just seemed unthinkable to me at that age, but I had proof now, right in front of me in the form of old pictures. We use to sit and listen to stories that were connected to the photos and I loved it. I think this is where my fascination with photography began.

I’m not sure if everyone does this or if it’s just me but when I look back at photographs especially old ones I try and imagine what was the general feeling or mood was like (probably a bit weird). I try and imagine how they would have interacted with each other. I try and get a sense of what it would have been like physically being there from the photograph. how would they interact with me, were they happy or angry and how different were their lives than to our lives now. My Mam tells a good story of when she was a child she remembers electricity coming to the house and her and siblings use to fight over who gets to turn on the magic switch. That story blows my mind, to think how far we have come.

Back to the main point

In recent years I have started taking more pictures and documenting my travels. at one point I bought a waterproof action camera (Olympus Tough 820) and it took some surprisingly decent pictures and videos. over a couple of years, I had travelled to many different countries and taken hundreds of photos and of course, I had backed them all up. I had a copy on my computer and on an external hard drive. then my computer completely failed on me and I lost all my photos on it but not to worry because I have a backup(you can see where this is going). then one faithful day I mistakenly formatted the hard drive. To say I was annoyed was an understatement. I tried recovering the hard drive but to no success. I had uploaded a couple of photos onto Facebook so I didn’t lose them but the rest were lost.

I then decided to take the leap and buy a half-decent DSLR camera. so I bought a Nikon D5600 and I have not looked back since. I love this thing. I am still learning the basics really but I am really enjoying the process. I will post up my progress with it every now and then and add some pictures to my gallery.

March 4, 2020March 4, 2020

My journey

I was in college back in 2010 studying software development and for the first year I really enjoyed the course, but when the second year came around and the workload increased I realised I only enjoyed it because it was a new experience and it was exciting. I decided to drop out of college and do something different with my life. I had always loved the outdoors and I had been a member of the reserve defence forces(Part-time Military) for a couple of years so I decided to look for something that was more in line with that.

“I really didnt know what to do when i left college, I felt like a failure”

I really didn’t know what to do when I left college, I felt like a failure, I felt like I had let my family down, it was not a nice place to be in. I knew I had to pull myself out of this pit and just move on with life so I started looking at what to do next.

“I knew this was the course for me, I had to get on this course”

Thank god for Google, I spent the next few weeks researching potential jobs and courses when I stumbled upon a course that taught outdoor activities. I knew this was the course for me, I had to get on this course. the course was almost a year-long and it involved learning how to kayak, Hill walk and rock climb. this was like a dream come through. this is exactly what I needed.

The course was the best year of my life, it was life-changing. it taught me skills I never knew I was capable of and by the end, I was a different person, the course had moulded me and had given me an identity and purpose. I cannot praise the people who ran the course enough, we had some of the best instructors in the county teaching us and they were just brilliant.

from this course, I gained many qualifications and I was able to get jobs in France, England, Wales, Sweden, Finland and Norway teaching many outdoor activities.

I absolutely loved doing this job, it brought me to different countries and I had some awesome experiences but over time the job can wear on you. The pay is not very good which I could handle but add that with the long hours, no weekends off and the lack of work in the Winter and you can get a little fed up with the job after a couple of years.

“I felt like I went from one extreme to another”

So in 2016 I Left the Outdoors and changed jobs and I started working in a school driving a minibus. I did this job for a year and a half and it was an OK job but it was very boring. I felt like I went from one extreme to another. I was going through a tough transitional period in my life. I felt like I knew who I was when I worked in the outdoors and I had a strong identity but when I left I started to lose my identity and I fell apart at the seams. I felt like I was shedding my skin and becoming something I didn’t want to become, a version of myself I did not like.

I was living in the UK when I had a big shake-up of my life and I realised I wasn’t in a good place so I made the decision to come back to Ireland for a while and try and work things out. I ended up getting a job in construction and while I was happier being back in Ireland and closer to friends and family I was still not happy in my job.

That is why I have started this website. I want to share my experiences with a community of like-minded people and hopefully bring some positivity into the world.

I hope that I can make a little difference and we can grow and learn from each other.

Shane