The Avondhu area will tonight (Thursday) feature in RTÉ’s Tracks and Trails programme, as it explores the diverse walking trails in the area.

Local historian Christy Roche, who features in the programme, said the programme features Ballyhooly, Fermoy and Doneraile. The programme airs at 7pm on RTÉ 1.

The first walk Eleanor undertakes is a 15km stretch of the Avondhu-Blackwater Way, from Ballyhooly to Fermoy, which is a mix of open road an woodland walks.

Before she embarks on her walk she meets her guide, local mountain leader, Maureen O’Brien who tells her about the history and buildings of the village of Ballyhooly.

Starting their walk, the cross the Ballyhooly bridge and  walk through a forest which is parallel to the River Blackwater. Eleanor bids Maureen goodbye and continue on to Knockananig, which is one of the highest points on the route.

Local volunteer Christy Roche, who undertakes routine maintenance on the trail at Glenabo Woods, accompanies Eleanor for the rest of the journey to Fermoy following the course of the river into the town.

Eleanor’s second walk takes her to Doneraile Park, which was home to the St Ledger family. It is now in State ownership and is open to the public. Eleanor follows a path called the ‘Long Walk’ around the outskirts of the estate.

Accompanying her is Park Foreman Michael O’Sullivan who looks after the grounds day-to-day. At 5.3 kilometres, the Long Walk is the longest of the walks and takes about an hour.

Doneraile Park has seen many changes over its 800 year history and Eleanor meets Hugh Carrigan, the OPW superintendent for the demesne, who has a keen interest in the demesne from the many varieties of trees and plants found in there to the history of the St. Leger family who lived there.

Eleanor ends her journey with a treat as she is given special permission to take a look inside Doneraile Court and she gets to see the spectacular views of the Park from the fine Georgian house, which is the centrepiece of the estate.

blog comments powered by Disqus