Colmcille Climbers

It’s a long way to Dingle, so it is,

It I hadda knew it was that far, a mightnae a went, if a hadnae a hadda go!

Dingle or An Dangan? Apparently they can’t agree on the name. What sort of people are they?

Anyway, it took us about 8 hours to drive down from Derry/Londonderry/Doire Colmcille/The Maiden City/Stroke City.

Finbarr started on Wednesday, and had a day’s walking done above Connor Pass, before we met him for an excellent pint of Guinness in O Connors, Cloghane, on Thurs night. After a blustery night in the pub carpark, we picked up Dennis (who had travelled from Strabane to Dingle free on his bus pass) outside Benners Hotel, and went out to Slea head to climb Mt Eagle. It was misty on top, but there were great views on the Blaskets on the way up.

The first item on the weekend’s activities was a presentation by Perkins Slade, the MI’s insurance brokers, on Friday night, but Leinster were playing London Irish on the telly at the same time. What to do, what to do? Finbarr and I, both being true insurance professionals, had no doubt,- we went to the pub and watched the match. On leaving, I recognised the accordion player in the front bar as the hungover young guy who played in Mc Grorys with De Dannen two weeks previously!

After coming back to the hotel someone (me) had the bright idea of returning to the pub for another pint, (bringing most of the MI, and BMC crowd) , oh dear!

Unable to eat my fry in the morning, I nevertheless made the start of walk 1, termed “V Strenuous”, with Margaret, Bonny and Finbarr. We went steeply up the SE ridge of Brandon Peak, then across to Brandon, and down by the Paternoster lakes, but I had to run the last bit to get to a board meeting due to start at 5,30. The walk leader was called Pat (surprisingly) and they gave him a yellow jacket and a whistle to keep his group together. An armalite with telescopic sights would have been more effective!

The board meeting finished just in time for the dinner, where I had the honour of introducing the guest speaker, Dermott Somers. I was knackered, and needed a clear head for the morning, so went to bed early (about one)

There was another board meeting at 8.00, so I missed breakfast again, and then had to excuse myself at 10.30, as I was due to chair the Mountaineering Co ordination meeting between MI, BMC, BMC (Wales) and MCof S, on matters of common interest. This finished at 12.00, and I rejoined the board meeting until lunchtime.

Vincent McAlinden, Patrick O’Sullivan, Ross Miller, Bonny, Margaret and I went to have a look at the new superb indoor wall in Dingle town, had a walk on Inch strand and then a pint in Tom Crean’s bar, The South Pole, before most departed for home, whilst M and I went to look for an ideal overnight location for the Hotel California.