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Mountaineering Ireland October Get-together Sligo 2024

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Many assembled at the Great Southern Hotel on Friday.  I was rescued from an historic tour of the town, (and hypothermia), by the arrival of Jack Bergin and Carol from Waterford, to the warmer recesses of Hargadon’s Bar. A pleasant evening in the hotel was followed by a day out on Kings Mountain on the extraordinary Annach Re Mhor.  We were a diverse bunch of climbers from Belfast, Sligo, Waterford and of course Colmcille CC. Most had not done it before, and it was as impressive as always.  We finished up Ireland’s shortest Via Ferrata, a broken decorators’ ladder out of the bowels of Alt Na Ceo. 

I went to the Q and A session at 6.30, so missed the Munster, Leinster Game. Didn’t miss much apparently- according to a Munster man of course. The dinner at night in the hotel was well attended.

The forecast was OK for Sunday morning, so we headed for Happy Valli crag, where Colmcille Corner was climbed, Ronan led ‘Higher In Time’, Peter Cooper’s HVS, Poltroons got a rattle, and Margaret Quinn got her money’s worth out of Snow White  (only after I had fallen off it!)- grade needs looked at Severe 4b methinks. It was dry and cold, but turned wet, as predicted, after lunch.

Good to see the club so well represented at an MI event, with the chair and Honorary Sec both there, and about 10 ccc members/associates in total. It was great to connect with Sligo Climbing Club in particular.

Clearly, climbing is thriving in NW Ireland.

Club Chairperson, Ronan Duddy climbing in photo below on “Higher in Time”.

Logbook, News

Pyrenees Summer Meet 2024

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To The Enchanted Mountains.

A personal account from Alan Tees.

Photo: Gully on Gran Encantat

Thursday 22nd August  We drove to Waterford to stay with pals  -mountaineer Jack Bergin and his partner Carol. It was painless, except for getting through Waterford City. Jack was not in great form over the death of his friend, climbing pioneer Stephen Gallwey.

Friday 23rd August We had a day to kill, while Jack and Carol attended the funeral so we visited Hook Lighthouse, Tintern Abbey and had a nice lunch at Kilmore Quay, but we were far too early for the boat at Rosslare and did not get on till after midnight. We met up with PJ, Anthony, Valli and Nigel.

Saturday/Sunday 24th/25th August . Now at sea, we  had a meal in the restaurant on Sunday. Though first there at Rosslare, we were the last off at Bilbao. We caught up with the others at Arenas for coffee and a swim. Then we drove to Jaca to overnight in a Campervan carpark.

Monday 26th August. On to Torla, a nice site. The others were active, but we spend most of the afternoon in a bar waiting for the tourist office and shops to open.

Tuesday 27th August. There was a long queue to get the bus into Ordesa/Pradera. A great (and full on) day : along a ledge, very high up, and down by a Via Ferrata (sans kit). Valli and Margaret Tees did a similar traverse, but lower down. Beers followed then a bus down.

Wednesday 28th August. The others left. We had a lazy day.

Thursday 29th August. We left at 7.00am for Espot in the Pyrenees. Ainsa, Campo, Leidha. We arrived Espot early afternoon. Margaret Quinn, Derek and Martin were already there.

Friday 30th August . The original plan to do the Amitges changed as Margaret Q was not well from a nasty reaction to antibiotics. Instead myself and Margaret T did Pic De Ratera 2862m. It was a long enough day, ended with a meal out. The others were well pleased at getting the Gran Encantat 2749m.

Saturday 31st August. A rest day. We shopped in Sort, down the valley. ‘A’ team did Agul D’ Amitges. Not impressed, as they geared up to the nines for a hill walk! ** Note for Ball Bearing Award.

Sunday 1 st September. Walked a GR 11 to Estais with Derek and 2 Margarets . We met Valli on the bike. We had tasty lunch in Espot.

Monday 2nd September. We took the Jeep to San Maurici lake, and Margaret Q and I did the Gran Encantat. It was 41 years since the last time. We met climber Felix from Alicante and shared the descent. I was well pleased, and so was MQ.  Margaret T and Derek walked up the Monastero Valley and we met back at the Rifugio Malafre for beers,  coffee and cake.

Tuesday 3rd September. A wet morning. It cleared up in the afternoon but the forecast was not good. Time to leave?

Wednesday 4th September We left. Made it back to sunny Culdaff 10th September via rainy stop-offs through France.

 

News

Virtual AGM 2020

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The club AGM was held via Zoom call on Thursday 15th October 2020 at 8pm. Minutes can be downloaded here.

In attendance: Geoff, Sean, George, Damian, Alan, Neil, Valli, Neeku, Anthony, PJ, Andrew, Sarah.

Apologies: Alfie, Finbarr, Margaret

In summary, the following were decided.

Membership fees for 2021 were set at £35. £1.50/€2.00 for associate membership (for those who are MI members individually or via another club).

Climbfest 2021 is planned for Maghery, on the usual bank holiday weekend at the beginning of May.

All club officers re-elected to existing positions for the coming year.

Club Facebook Group to be changed to private group, to avoid all posts being in the public realm. Club FB Page to be used for public posting.

Tentative meets list for Winter 2020 to be put together and circulated. Spring 2021 Meets List TBD when restrictions have eased.

News

CLIMBFEST 2020 CANCELLED

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Due to recently re-imposed coronavirus restrictions, we are unable to go ahead with the Climbfest in Culdaff this weekend 22-23 August. The club feels it would be irresponsible to invite climbers to travel from around the country to Donegal, given the recent spike in outbreaks.

Hope to see you again at Climbfest 2021.

Climbfest, News

Climbfest 2018 Info

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Climbfest 2018 May 4th -7th

The venue is Malinbeg, and there is camping down by the harbour, near the crags GR 494 798 ( OS Sheet 10). A limited number of campervans could park there, but there is lots of room at the nearby
carpark for Silver Strand (Trabane), if you don’t mind a slight slope. (Also a new coffee shop there).

There is a hostel at Malinbeg which sleeps 29 in a variety of rooms from single room with double bed and ensuite, to rooms with up to six bunks, and prices vary from €15 upwards. Ring Frank at 0749730006 or email malinbeghostel@oceanfree.net. We have spoken to him and he knows about the event.

Malinmore is not far away and there is a bigger hostel there, Aras Ghleann Cholm Cille Tel 02035644853. We had our AGM there a couple of years ago.

A short drive away are Skelpoonagh Bay, An Port, Sail Rock and Muckross Head, see CCC online guide book for details, if you don’t have Iain Miller’s rock climbing guide to Donegal.

There will be a registration fee of some sort, depending on whether or not we are able to rent the house down at Malinbeg as a wet weather base for campers.

News

Climbfest 2016 (29 April – 1 May)

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Culdaff Climbfest is on the usual Mayday bank holiday 29th April- 2nd May. Culdaff continues to be the venue of choice for this event due, in part, to the availability of the superb indoor wall in Derry/Londonderry as a wet weather alternative. Last year proved difficult, not just because the weather proved disappointing, but Bunagee harbour was undergoing extensive renovation making access to the campsite problematic. The work is now complete, and in addition, the camping area has since been drained and reseeded.

The campsite at Bunagee will have a number of routes of various grades with pre-installed top ropes within 100m of the tents. Other crags such as Dunmore, Warm Bay Point, Dungloon, Malin Head and Port a Doris, are less than half an hour’s journey by car. (Dunmore Head is 5 minutes).

Fair Head is not much more than an hour away, using the Greencastle to Magilligan Ferry, should it receive funding and continue this year.

There will be the usual beginners’ session at Dunmore Head on Saturday morning, and the Saturday night barbeque and party. There will be a fee to cover camping, and expenses, with surplus funds going to the local community association to ensure continued access.

This is a good opportunity to enjoy the 450- odd quality easy and middle grade routes on Inishowen, in a venue just awarded the prestigious accolade as one of the 10 best beaches in Ireland.

Comprehensive online topo guides, covering all of the routes on Inishowen, can be downloaded here.

This event, the longest running climbing festival in Ireland, complies with the Mountaineering Ireland Events Policy, and ‘Leave no Trace’ Ireland.

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AGM 2015

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AGM 5.30 Saturday 3rd October. Geoff has suggested a session at the wall first, then take a room at the Arena (£8 each including tea and coffee) then maybe go for a pint and a bite in Derry. Possibility of outside climbing, instead of the wall if it is a dry day.
Come with ideas for days out during the winter, and suggestions as to how we take the club forward. Anyone volunteering for Secretary?
You are probably aware that the rugby world cup kicks off tomorrow, and McGrorys are showing the Ireland v Canada match with some sort of a meal deal. The forecast is good so what about climbing at Dunmore in the morning and those who wish to watch the game can adjourn to the pub.
I have a new route to go ( Margaret Quinn knows about this) and it soon will be too cold! All welcome- meet at Dunmore Head 10-10.30?
Floor space, or possibly a bed, available for anyone who wants to stay over.

Climbfest, News

Update: Climbfest 2015

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The Donegal Climbfest will be once again held in Culdaff on the 1-4 May 2015.

Camping will be available behind the pier as previously, with toilet facilities provided. Due to renovation work on the pier, parking will not be possible on the pier, but further back on the road to Bunagee. We hope to have access on the track up to the campsite, so campers can drive up, deposit their gear, and then park their cars back down on the road.

As usual, on Saturday morning there will be a beginners session, for anyone to come along and have a climb. Gear, belayers and instruction will be provided from Colmcille Climbers club members and Gartan instructors. The beginners session will be at Dunmore Head (out past the beaches).

At some point during the weekend, there will be a gear sale to raise money for the Nepal Earthquake (www.dec.org.uk/Nepal). Club members will be selling all kinds of used and less-used gear, please bring along anything you would like to donate to the gear sale. This will most likely take place in McGrory’s, enquire with Colmcille members on the weekend for more info.

Topo guides for all of the local crags are available for viewing and download from this website. The files are quite large, so get them downloaded to your smartphone before you head off! Paper copies will be available on the weekend.

Registration fee for the weekend is 10 euro.

The new climbing wall in St Columb’s Park in Derry is now open. At the moment, weather on Sunday is looking particularly bad, so it might be an opportunity to check out this brand new facility!