Ten Years of Co-op Walks

October 2010

Co-op walks have been taking place for over ten years and always happen on the last Sunday of every month. Larry Gordon, walk leader, explains...

The walks started in Spring 2000 when Gerry Boland, the co-ordinator of the co-op at the time, asked me to lead a monthly walk, knowing that I was well acquainted with the Dublin/Wicklow mountains. Since then they have happened, almost, without fail on the last Sunday of every month, usually led by me but occasionally by someone else.

Walks have also extended beyond the Dublin/Wicklow hills to include many other places in and around Dublin, Meath, Kildare and even County Louth. They are not all mountain walks but include walks along the seaside, valleys, cliffs, bogs, woodlands, rivers and islands. In addition we have gone on walking holidays in summertime to such diverse places as Kerry, Clare, Donegal, West Cork and Wales.

The walks vary in length and difficulty from month to month. We might do a flat walk along the coast one month and then, next time, climb two or three mountains. It depends to some extent on the time of year, as I try longer walks during the long days of summer. But they generally tend to be easier rather than harder and walkers don't need to be very fit because we stroll, rather than march, at the pace of the slowest person.

We stop as often as people like and are very keen on looking around and taking in our surroundings, whether they be the views from a summit or the wildflowers growing along a track. I have a background in biology and we also frequently have the company of a friend, Terry Doherty, a wildlife ranger from the Parks and Wildlife Service, who has a great body of information on the history, archaeology, place names, land-use, as well as, of course, the fauna and flora of Ireland. Indeed we frequently have walks with wildlife specifically in mind, whether to Ireland's Eye or Bull Island to see birds, or a bog or woodland to investigate the flora.

We generally meet at a well-known landmark suitable to the walk in question, around 11a.m. Sometimes the meeting place is reachable by public transport but, if not, we can always organise lifts for anyone who needs it. After a short wait we may drive off to the starting point of the walk or start walking directly from the meeting point.

We suggest people bringing suitable, comfortable footwear such as hiking boots or walking shoes if on an easier walk. Warm clothes and raingear are also recommended in accordance with the time of year and weather conditions. In addition we encourage everybody to bring food and drink for a picnic lunch somewhere along the track.

The walks are generally advertised on the Co-op events page, in our electronic and print newsletters and posted up on the notice-board the day before the walk at the Saturday market. If you'd like any more information, feel free to contact me on 087-6832827.

Larry Gordon (Co-op Member)

Slideshow of Co-op Walk

Brockagh, 26th February 2010 - by Mike McGovern