At a joint-meeting on Monday in Clogheen, the KMD Vee and their Tipperary counterparts met to discuss final preparations and get an idea of numbers registered for the St Declan’s Way Walk which got under way from Cashel on Wednesday.

The walk, from Cashel in Tipperary to Ardmore in Co Waterford goes on until Sunday. This is the first organised full-length walk of the route in many years. It will appeal to walking enthusiasts but also to visitors who have a connection with one of the many towns and villages along the route.

Walkers will have the option of joining the walk for portions of the route if they wish. There is a strong traditional link between St Declan and emigrants who have left West Waterford in particular. Walkers may join on any day but must register first for insurance and health & safety reasons.

The news from the Clogheen meeting was good – so good that a second bus will be laid on to bring the walkers each morning from the end point of the day’s walk to the beginning where there will be a short talk on what to expect on the day and some historical relevance. So, even if one isn’t walking, come along and learn a bit of local history, lore and (perhaps) lies.

A medieval fare of soup and blas will be prepared by KMD Vee Forum at Glenakeeffe as the walkers come down from Bottleneck Pass. Afterwards they will walk to Lismore and be entertained at the Lismore Heritage Centre and there will also be music and story-telling in the Lismore House Hotel (early evening).

Saturday will have ‘St Declan’ himself explain a bit of local history in the Lismore Millennium Park before the groups set off via Lady Louise’s Walk to the Round Hill and thence to Cappoquin and Aiglish. This offers a chance to sign up before 10am for the Lismore to Aglish stretch.

Sunday’s walk brings everyone into Ardmore in time to catch the final day of the Ardmore Pattern Festival – and partake in An Céili Mór with the Kilfenora Céili Band.

Go to www.kmdact.com/ for registration.