It has been a year full of activity since the 2023 AGM November 4th in Newcastle. Club Membership grew to 64, with 44 Full and 20 Associate members.
3 Mountain Log editions had entertaining articles from Club Members – Ronan and Fiona on the Alpine Summer Meet 2023, Anthony on Kashmir Expedition 2023, Alan’s quirky Everest Diary 2074. Plus we have the new Inishowen 100 Guide by David. Andrew had an article on Kashmir 2023 accepted by the Himalayan Journal.
There were 12 official club meets plus the regular Wednesday Wallies coffee/climbing club.
The first meet was in November. 5 Cillers did a Muckish Miners Path clean-up. Alan’s write up made the news & a Highland radio interview ensued. A budding influencer?
In early December on the annual Wassail Abseil, a bouncy gang of 6 & 2 dogs overnighted in a Glenveigh ”bothy”. There was a fire, music, song, craic, beer, whiskey…. a somewhat less bouncy gang (dogs excepted) abseiled the next day, along with new clear headed arrivals Sean and Martin.
The Lynam Lecture in Dublin by Calvin Torrans had several of our members there.
A storm forced the January Connemara Winter trip into a windy Maghery Beach hike, led by locals Anne and Ronan O’Murchu.
In February-March many got onto the snow in Scotland. On separate trips were Philip (for a month!), Abe, Keith and Neil. Rian was up Errigal’s Tower Ridge. There was a Ciller ski trip with Valli as guide to a wonderful ski area around Saas Felden, Austria,. Of note was Anthony’s remarkable graceful slow motion arret with knee twist.
In warmer climes, spectacular climbing spot, Caminito do Rey, Spain, had an invasion of Irish – many Cillers (Alan, Finbarr, joined Jack Bergin & Robert Marchant plus Jackie, Helen, Maeve. Gerard O’S) . The few left here were out in the Bluestacks or Mournes.
The first Spring summer meet was an April recky of Port Na Sionnach, Inishowen . A terrific day’s climbing was had there a few weeks later in fine sunshine. Martin climbed in Srahalong Valley, Mayo while Abe opted for Cabeco D’Or, Costa Blanca. Thanks to Sean & Philip who did some Culdaff cleaning.
The Arran Island April trip had great weather for PJ, Anthony, Nigel, Rob and Martin & included a scramble on A Chir Ridge Glen Rosa. A May. excursion to Scotland of Sean, Finbarr, Martin and Alan were in Lochaber, and climbed North East Buttress and Observatory Ridge on the Ben.
May Climbfest had a great turnout at Malin Head with camp at the Seaview Tavern. Now an international event with a Welsh team of 5 led by Geoff, Tim from Kent plus climbers from Sligo, Claire, and Dublin. A good number of new associate members were recruited. The super Inishowen 100 guide by club scribe David Walsh was launched (not to be confused with the other author David Walsh also in attendance).
Over the summer, there were a few mid-week Inishowen evening climbs at Finbarr’s Wall & Dunowen & Port Na Sionnach, Leenan including various members such as Lisa, Jack, myself, Alan, David, Sean, and Finbarr. Tees adventure tours included a Cave of Lights on the Leenan outing. Port Na Sionnach was the scene of Sean’s agony hair-pulling atop of “Holy Mother of Jesus Get me Out of here”
Alan and returnee Marty were also out around Inishowen including the Music House. June 19th Sean and Alan climbed the almost forgotten classic Catriona, in Glenveigh, surviving man eating ferns and ticks, but good climbing in the upper half and a new variation done.
Fiona & Ronan were out at Dunseverick. Martin was very active in Mayo with climbing pal Ales Soucek at Kilary crag and Knock roadside crag & Srahlong Valley.
Further afield Rian climbed Gran Paradiso, Aosta Valley. Keith narrowly missed a devastating deluge in La Bernarde in Ecrin.
June 1st Martin Boner hosted a meet in Connemara (postponed from January). A fabulous sunny weekend. Day 1 was a hike up Allebaun, a lough Glenawough dip, a Beck scramble, & a slab climb & scramble on Intermediate of Joss Lynam. An overnight at Lenaune, then hiking & a new Martin route on Barrslievenaroy, Galway. Next day Alan & Martin did an amazing slab route in the Srahnalong valley. At the same time the Club campsite was getting a makeover: Valli transformed the Rope Store with fabulous climbing murals, Anthony never looked happier in a digger creating a drain with support from PJ & Gerry.
The same weekend there was the Fair Head Meet. It has a great write up in the Club website from Ronan.
June 28 Tory Island trip gathered a dozen of all ages! It started with a gut wrenching crossing. Bike-towed gear bags & a great camp spot on a NW cliff with handy beach & resident seal present all weekend. Jack & Lisa joined with their youngsters. Top entertainment came from boy band Pol, Paul & Alan. A new route put up by Alan, Tinneas Na Mara. Also sea dips and hikes around & the stunning spur of AnEochair Mhor.
Philip climbed at Bosigran Penzance getting back after a shoulder injury.
Aug 10th George Beaumont hosted a great Wicklow meet. There were more Man ( and Woman) eating ferns and ticks, and a lesson in humility at Luggala on Pine Tree Buttress (which also has a lot of gorse & a tricky holly tree). A few climbs were had on Day 2 at Glendalough. The same weekend Paddy, Frank & Martin headed to Achill Beg & climbed a sea stack & one other route on loose rock. Fiona & Ronan climbed in N Wales. Hugh & Les were out in the Mournes.
Super fit pair Andrew and Sarah had also ran the arduous Art O’Neil Challenge In the summer they ran the Laugavegur Ultra Marathon, from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk/Thorsmork (55km). Then they went to Skogar and walked the Fimmvörðuháls (Fimmvorduhals – Five Cairn Trail) back to Thorsmork (32km). Next they travelled up to the Western Fjords & explored Hornstrandir & sampled various hot springs
Late August was a Club trip of 9 to Espot & the San Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees some in 3 campers. Of note – a via Ferrata at Baquera Baret was completed without gear! The highlight was climbing the wonderful Grand Encantat.
September16. An IMC group came to Malin Head & 5 Cillers joined them. The forecast was terrible. Worse, there was a 2 day rave at the Seaview (which Neil said was good). Climbing switched to dry Port a Doris then a move to Culdaff camping.
Over the Autumn Abe was out on the Sturrel. Philip was very active & did Classical Revival, Lough Belshade. Sean & Philip were out on Jims Jaunt, Hen Mountain. Sean went a slip sliding on Big Slabber. It was also a sad faced Sean at the Poison Glen which was wet & trippy. Myself and Alan climbed Heads Together at Skelpoonagh Bay, Glencolmcille. Nigel, PJ & Ant climbed at Altnadue Querry, noted as a wonderful accessible bolted gem. Hugh was climbing & scrambling Sierra de Gredos, Spain for 2 weeks (& he is making a report for the club on it).
October 12-13 was the Sligo MI meet with 10 Club members. We had a fine hike & abseil at Kings Gully with 4 climbing clubs represented and a morning climbing happily at Happy Valli Crag. Great to meet Sligo climbers Josef and new club member James on these outings.
Recently “two of Derrys finest Sperrinists” Sean &, fashion icon, Finbarr were in the Bavarian Alps & had great hiking up the Hollental and the Alpsitze. And Martin & Ales climbed at stunning Arco Italy.
Hopefully this coming year will also bring plenty of opportunities for climbs, hikes, kayaking, coffee and craic!