Green Friday

DIGITAL DETOX

Shopping Free Week end

Take a digital detox and reconnect with yourself & nature

Imagine yourself nestled in an eco-lodge overlooking the rolling hills and valleys in Ireland's county Leitirm with the smallest coastline and the biggest welcome.

Weekend break €189/aparment

Free walking maps
Free welcome pack
All services included in price;
To book; e mail tawnylustlodge@gmail.com
Phone 00353 (0)879172143
Visit; www.tawnylustlodge.com

Rainbows and more Rainbows in Leitrim

 There was a Rainbow at the start, one at the finish and several in between on the 10th annual fundraising ramble and walk for Peruvian charity Warmi Huasi

Rainbow Ballroom at walk start

Ramble in Glenfarne Demesne, Leitrim

Fabulous scenery, great hospitality and excellent guiding helped to create a memorable day for the 62 walkers who turned up to support the recent fundraiser for peru. The holey Soles hill walking club and Leitrim Landscapes Guided Walks co-ordinated the event and saw the walkers safely on their chosen walks.

Glenfarne Demesne was the venue for the ramble and clothed in its autumn golds, walkers were charmed with the route. Views out over Lough MacNean added to the enjoyment as did the visit to pieces on the Sculpture Trail, Big Myles Stone and the site of the Tottenham estate home Glenfarne Hall

Sunshine in Glenfarne Forest


Hill Walk on Ballinabehy Mountain Leitrim

Those who opted for the hill walk had the pleasure of hearing about the Red Grouse project on Boleybrack Mountain from John Carslake, Ireland's only gamekeeper. This is a flagship project involving upland farmers and Glenfarne Gun Club. Beautiful views over Doo Lough and Avanny with rainbows appearing and disappearing over the Leitrim Hills were enchanting.

Red Grosue gamekeeper explains about the habitat

For those who wanted a challenge the walk turned off from The Leitrim Way onto rough terrain. It was a bit of a slog over holes and heather but well worth it for the spectacular views on top.
Walkers were very grateful for refreshments afterwards in the Rainbow Ballroom Glenfarne and availed of the opportunity of their visit there to visit the museum of showband memorabilia
Many thanks to all for raising €1141 for Warmi Huasi charity;

CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON WARMI HUASI PROJECT

See pics below from Rita, Rob & Nuala

Group on top of mountain

On the way home

Cliff hanging rainbow!

Homeward bound in Leitrim

Golden mile Leitrim

Annual Hill Walk & Ramble for Peru

Annual Walk for Peru

Sunday Nov 6th

Come join us for a wonderful hill walk on Ballinabehy Mountain, Glenfarne, home to Ireland's famous Red Grouse Project or a Ramble in Glenfarne Demesne, Leitrim 

Ballinabehy Mountain

Hill Walk

The route goes from Ballinabehy to Two Sisters giant rocks, Lackagh Mountain. The walk will start in the townland of Moneenlom, Glenfarne and will follow the Leitrim Way South for 6 km to the townland of Dergvone. Walkers will then leave the Leitrim Way and walk 3km due East to Lough Carran. You will then turn right and walk West for .75km to Lackagh Lough and the Two Sisters. The Two sisters are two giant rocks overlooking Lackagh Lough, each rock is about the side of a semi detached house. (This is difficult terrain and walkers will have the choice to avoid it and walk back to the start of the walk along the Leitrim Way). After reaching the Two Sisters, the walk will then go due East for 3.5km back to the Leitrim Way and walk six km North to the start.


Total Distance is: 16km approx. The Walk along the Leitrim Way is easy but the trek to Lackagh Lough is challenging over rough ground. Highest point is 440 meters. The ascent is gradual. Duration will be 5 to 6 hours approx, depending on the group, shorter if walkers stay on the Leitrim Way.

This walk is suitable for the fit and is under the watchful eye of the Holey Soles Hill walking club.

Please wear hill walking boots, waterproofs and bring a packed lunch and hot drink

Ramble

If you prefer something more pedestrian, opt for a 2 hour ramble in Glenfarne Demense. Enjoy stunning views of Lough MacNean and across to Fermanagh and Cavan

Autumnal shades in Glenfarne Forest

This walk on gravel paths is easy paced. Participants will see some of the pieces on the MacNean Sculpture trail and will visit the site of Glenfarne Hall of the former Tottenham Estate.

Please wear strong walking shoes/boots and waterproofs.

The walks are in aid of Warmi Huasi women's & children's project in Lima. This is operated by a friend, Fr. Ed O'Connell. Donations welcome on the day.

CLICK HERE FOR INFO ON WARMI HUASI PROJECTS

Meet at the Rainbow Ballroom of Romance at 10.30 am for both walks. Complimentary refreshments served afterwards 

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO RAINBOW BALLROOM OF ROMANCE

Equinox walk in Leitrim

Trip To Thur Mountain Glenfarne Co. Leitrim to see the Autumn Equinox sunrise interact with ancient Megaliths.

Sunlight projected onto rock at equinox

Thursday Morning 22nd September 6.15

Leaving from the Rainbow Glenfarne at 6.15am Sharp going via Loughross bog to middle Thur. Time taken to walk up from parking position at Loughross is approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Actual Sunrise is around 7.15AM .

Sunrise over Lough MacNean

What to bring
Warm clothes, Torches, Wellies/hiking boots, Camera. (Warm drink/snack optional).
What You will see (weather permitting)
Equinox monument first photographed in September 2014. Here the sun shines in through two large rocks and casts a “pencil” of light on a flag stone positioned behind. In addition another stone has been shaped so that a “V” of light is visible at sunrise. There are some other alignments that have never been photographed so hopefully the weather will be kind this year.

There are many other monuments and prehistoric megaliths on Middle Thur and you will get a brief tour of some of these.

There is no cost and everyone will be hiking at their own risk.

No need to book . Contact Frank White 087 2520346 for further info

View from Thur

Step Back inTime - Glenfarne Leitrim

Hurling, unveiling and dancing 1916 style in Glenfarne on September 10th

Local historian Francis White believes that the last time Sean Mac

Diarmada, the 1916 patriot, left from the Railway Station in Glenfarne was

October 1915.

The Station house is now Francis's beautifully restored home and he will

kindly open his doors to the public for a very unique event on Sept 10th.

At 7.00pm the flagstone on which Mac Diarmada stood for the last time as he

departed on the train will be unveiled. A beautiful inscription has been

added by a local artist in Mac Diarmada's memory.

Some of the very words spoken by the patriot will be narrated. Spectators

are invited to come dressed in period costume to recreate the atmosphere of

the era.

From the Station house the gathering will walk the short distance by

lamplight to The Rainbow Ballroom of Romance for a vintage tea party.

At 9.00pm the"Step back in time" dance begins where there will be a full

bar. Refreshments will be served after the dance.

Where does the hurling come in you ask!

Hurling was Mac Diarmada's sport so, in his memory,earlier in the day, at

5.00pm Kiltyclogher/Glenfarne G.A.A. club will host the first ever under

twelve hurling match followed by a football match on the Glenfarne pitch.

After the games the young sports people will be led by a pipe band to

The Railway Station close by, for the unveiling ceremony.

On Saturday September 10th come join us in any or all of these unique

events;

The Hurling and Football at 5.00 pm

The Railway Station unveiling at 7.00pm

The Rainbow tea at 8.00

The Rainbow dance at 9.00pm

Come on your high nelly, your pony and trap,your vintage car or just come

as you are. All are welcome.

Let's create the magic of the time on a day that is shaping up to be a

very memorable one.

This is a 2016 commerative event jointly organised by Glenfarne

Development Committee and Kiltyclogher/Glenfarne G.A.A. club.

Leitrim's Red Grouse Project is FACE's project of the Month

THE PROJECT OF THE MONTH: PROTECTING IRISH RED GROUSE ON BOLEYBRACK MOUNTAIN
4 Aug 2016

Article and picture courtesy of  FACE

 http://www.face.eu/about-us/resources/news/the-project-of-the-month-protecting-irish-red-grouse-on-boleybrack-mountain#.V8HQMe3I4HI.facebook


The latest national survey conducted in the Republic of Ireland suggested that Irish Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus hibernicus) suffered a 70% decline in 40 years to a population of roughly 4,200 birds. While many projects were initiated in response to this, the Boleybrack Mountain Red Grouse Project stands out as a best case example.



Glenfarne Gun Club began a habitat management program to increase the red grouse population on neighbouring Boleybrack Mountain Special Area of Conservation.

In doing so, Glenfarne Gun Club collaborated with other conservation organisations, the local farmers, state wildlife and farming agencies and the National Association of Regional Game Councils to begin a program of:
controlled heather burning in order to create the patchwork of heather preferred by grouse;
predator control;
grit provision to aid heather digestion by grouse;
public awareness, education and stakeholder consultation measures.

The Boleybrack Mountain Red Grouse Project is lauded as a huge success, not just because it increased the local red grouse population and the populations of other upland birds including breeding waders and raptors, but because its educational activities have supported a new generation of upland managers and farmers.

It has helped shape agri-environmental measures for the Irish uplands as well as conservation policy and action (i.e. it has provided a best-practice template for other red grouse projects to follow).

Contact and Sources

John Carslake (Project manager) – Email:johncarslake@gmail.com

Project Brochure
Related Page:
Nature Conservation
Biodiversity

Visit Ireland's Tallest Waterfall in Glencar, Yeats' country Co. Sligo Irish Times

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Walk for the weekend: Ireland’s highest waterfall

It’s best to visit after – or even during – a downpour on a wild Atlantic day 

Irish Times

Michael Guilfoyle

0

It’s a ‘spate’ river, so it’s best to visit after (or even during) a downpour on a wild Atlantic day of south-westerly gales; the waterfall then can appear to ‘smoke’


Poetry and good descriptive prose can wonderfully enrich one’s perception of the natural beauty of a place – making it much more than just a visual experience. Indeed, a good poet or writer can bring the magic of a real or imagined place to his/her reader, without her/him ever having to put on the boots and get all muddy and cold.


And nowhere on our beautiful island is that more true than in Sligo and Leitrim. Here
Yeats has impregnated a visually beautiful landscape with a spirit of magic, wonder and mystery.


Glencar is a case in point. It’s waterfall, “where the wandering water gushes from the hills above Glencar”, attracts visitors by the thousand; however, that beautiful verse of the poem The Stolen Child takes the reader/visitor high into the hills above the waterfall to meet mischievous fairies, tiny pools and stars, weeping ferns, trout and “unquiet” dreams; and, having carried the reader/visitor into this imaginative and magic space, Yeats (via the Fairies) seduces us (the “human child”) to come and stay.

And few of us can deny sometimes feeling that pull to escape into his “waters and the wild” – though perhaps not with a dodgy kidnapping fairy!


Glencar waterfall in Co Leitrim is more than worth a visit; but one’s imagination can be crowded out by coffee shops and neat lawns and paths and facilities. About a kilometre west, however, is another less well-known waterfall, called “the Devil’s Chimney” – despite the name more suited to quiet contemplation, though without the help of a caffeine injection.


Officially, it’s Ireland’s highest waterfall – in Irish, “Sruth in Agaidh an Aird” (the stream against the height). It is accessed via a new woodland path that climbs 120m up the talus slope above Glencar Lake. The walk is short but very rewarding. Its “feel” is of quiet deep woods and wide vistas, wild flowers, birdsong and glimpses of beautiful Glencar Lake.

It’s over private land, access being kindly granted by the landowner and has been put in place jointly by the counties of Sligo, Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh under the EU-funded Border Project. The roadside CP has an information panel which sets out clearly the geology, flora and fauna of the place while another warns you that this “is NOT Glencar Waterfall”.


I’ve been there in late spring and have loved it, despite the waterfall being in a quiet mood. It’s a “spate” river, so it’s best to visit after (or even during) a downpour on a wild Atlantic day of south-westerly gales; the waterfall then can appear to “smoke” – be blown back into the sky and recycled over and over again – and you’ll understand why perhaps it got its name!


There are seats to sit on and woods and space to shelter you, and give permission to the child in you, or with you, to be “stolen” for a while in this lovely place.


THE DEVIL’S CHIMNEY, CO SLIGO Map: OS Discovery Series, number 16 Start/Finish: CP on north side of Glencar lakeshore road, 1.5 kilometres west of Glencar Waterfall CP, about 10kms from Sligo town Effort: 120mts of climbing, 1.2kms, about an hour Suitability: Easy, good shoes required; dogs permitted but under control

Glenfarne Community Festival- Leitrim

Glenfarne Community Festival-July 24th-Aug 1st.

Step back in time with the Glenfarne Gala, coming soon from July 24th to Monday 1st August. Now in its 47th year its fast becoming a must for your Summer calendar. Immerse yourself in Ireland's musical heritage with the launch of the original Ballroom of Romances' Museum of Showband Memorabilia on July 24th followed by music on the night by John McIntyre, A romantic interlude with bring you back to the time of the ballrooms famous founder John McGivern, a scene brought to the big screen by William Trevor's famous book. It is truly set to be an evening of nostalgia in this wonderful iconic setting.
From children's fancy dress disco on Thursday 28h and treasure hunt on Saturday the 30th, along with the Sport and Cultural day on Sunday 31st the Glenfarne Gala has a program designed for all ages. There's also a chance to hop on the new Glenfarne/Kiltyclogher heritage tour.

The hugely popular Derek Ryan will be playing during the festival on Friday 29th.

On Sunday 31st the family friendly Sports and Cultural day which has become one of the highlight of the Glenfarne festival will take place. With turf footing and rope making on the itinerary it will bring Irish heritage alive. Find out more below.

Small but mighty pub. €3 Guinness, Leitrim

Connolly's bar in Manorhamilton is a delightfully old school spot for a pint

Article from The Daily Edge July 2016 Here'st he link; Connollys bar Manorhamilton
Small but mighty. And €3 Guinness!


WITH ALL THE new-fangled bars and restaurants springing up around the country weekly, who could blame you for wishing for a pint in an old-fashioned Irish pub.





Source: Google Maps




Connolly’s Bar in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, is one of the precious few truly old school pubs left in Ireland, and it’s a delight.


Customers say it’s been the same for 50 years



Source: Facebook/Leitrim Equation


And sure if it ain’t broke…
There isn’t room to swing a cat in it



Source: Facebook/Foghorn Stringband


There’s room enough for 20 customers. The whole place is a snug.
But the pints are top notch

View image on Twitter







You have a choice of a pint of either Smithwicks or Guinness for the princely sum of €3. What more could you be wanting?
Most importantly, there are Emeralds behind the bar



Source: Twitter/@1759holygrail


No fancy pub food, but you certainly won’t go hungry.
And if you’re lucky, owner Joe Connolly will sing you a song

Joe is renowned in Manorhamilton for his beautiful singing voice, and claims to knowthousands of songs - his wife Ita is often on hand to sing backup:


https://youtu.be/l9KMDmhiehI

Source: cgmurphy82/YouTube

So if you’re passing through Manorhamilton, you know where to go for a pint and some tunes. To Connolly’s!

Three Leitrim Glamping sites make it to the Irish Times top 50

Article by Róisín Finlay

Pink Apple Orchard

Co Leitrim


All guests – all of the adults, anyway – are treated to a carafe of home-made organic cider when they arrive at this glamping site set among the trees of an apple farm on Lough Allen, 20 minutes from Drumshanbo. Almost everything here is home made, including the weatherproof communal area, three yurts, tepee and bow-topped gypsy caravan, all decked out with double beds and stoves. The site sleeps 21 and is ideal for families, couples or quiet hens. It’s a back-to-nature retreat with lots of walking nearby. The play area is centred around an old boat. Ecocredentials include compost toilets and an organic garden.


Glamping accommodation starts at €50 per person per night;irelandglamping.com




Teapot Lane

Co Leitrim


If you want to bring your camping to new heights, this site in Tawley has a tree house floating a lofty 3m off the ground. It sleeps two or three people and has a pot-belly stove, a small kitchen and a deck for lounging among the leaves. Other accommodation includes a dinky 1970s caravan, four yurts (sleeping two to six people) and a cottage (sleeping eight). Woodland campfires surrounded by rustic seating, jars of marshmallows for roasting, spa treatments, a fairy garden and kids’ tree house all add ambience. Professional catering, DJ or acoustic musicians can also be organised.


Accommodation costs from €150 per night for two people; glampingireland.ie






Battlebridge Caravan, Camping & Glamping Park

Co Leitrim


In the perfect spot to exploit the Shannon Blueway cycling, walking and kayaking trail, this site offers pods, stilted cabins, shepherd’s huts and a vintage caravan, as well as traditional tent and caravan pitches. You’re right by the water, with wild swimming, and boat and kayak hire nearby, and there’s a small kids’ playground too. In the evenings you can kick back in the lovely old pub onsite, where excellent food and regular trad sessions lend a lively atmosphere. Leitrim village is a short walk away if you want a change of scene.

Tent pitches start at €15; caravan and motorhome pitches from €20; other accommodation from €200 for two nights; battlebridgecaravanandcamping.ie




To read the full article go to: Top 50 Glamping sites in Ireland

Walking in the Footsteps June 9th Kiltyclogher, Leitrim 4.30-6pm

Walking in the Footsteps and Seeing with their Eyes

Follow the route taken by Sean Mac Diarmada from Corracloona NS to the Mac Diarmada House.

 Views of a Revolutionary, Window of Sean MacDiarmada's Cottage

As part of the Sean Mac Diarmada Summer School join in this wonderful walk. Hear the history of the school and see the sights that Mac Diarmada and his siblings would have enjoyed on the route to and from school. The profusion of colours and wildlife in this magical spot in June is a feast for the senses. The purples and pinks of the Herb Robert, Rhododendron, Ragged Robin and Speedwell

Rhododendron




Fields of Bog Cotton and White Thorn line your route

White Thorm


Stunning views over Lough MacNean across to Fermanagh and, if the evening is clear, the Donegal Mountains, all the while Big, Middle and Little Thur mountains keep a watchful eye on walkers' progress. Hear about Thur's archaeological monuments which catch the sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes

Views over Lough MacNean

Meet at Kiltyclogher Heritage Centre at 4.15 for registration and bus to start. Walk is approx 2.8 Km and slow paced. Please wear walking shoes. History and wildlife guides will accompany you.

Mac Diarmada cottage will be open for tours after walk at 6pm.Walk and tour are free of charge.

For more information on the Summer School visit;

SEAN MACDIARMADA SUMMER SCHOOL

Irish Times Walk for the Weekend: Journey through the ages in Cavan Burren Park Michael Guilfoyle 2/3/2016

This new visitor park rewards a leisurely perambulation in the snow





The Giants Grave


The plan had been Slieve League that mid-January day. But an overnight change in air mass, from clear and cold to misty and milder, would have meant an unrewarding (and possibly unsafe) slog in low cloud and wet snow.


A hastily put together “Plan B” emerged – to visit Cavan Burren Park. This new (2014) park is about 4kms outside Blacklion in the intriguing and unfrequented Borderlands of west Cavan. And so a short drive from our base in Sligo into increasing snow cover – consistent with entering the traditionally coldest area of our island – took us to the park’s tasteful stone-built visitor centre.


A deeply chilling mist enveloped us as we arrived, and hung over the car park and high snowy limestone plateau land of the park. It stole in and around the open exhibits and information panels of the centre, and only the tracks of a lone visitor and her dog disturbed a snow cover abandoned now to a slow thaw in the changed air mass.


The panels in the centre (and en route around the park) introduced us to the fascinating story of the Cavan Burren – starting with a “deep space view” of Earth’s tectonic plates repeatedly embracing and pulling apart in their slow dance, and ending with the ancient and modern social history and archaeology of the park area.


And in between we read of sedimentary processes in long-gone rivers and seas, of Ice Age landscape formation and deformation, of pre-glacial fossil ‘dry’ valleys and waterfalls, of active subterranean water flows and cave systems – and of our early farmer ancestors and their enigmatic stone tomb creations, sometimes laboriously assembled from glacially-shifted boulders of sandstone.


And thus equipped we set off in the snow, guided over the park’s many trails by the clear maps available there, to witness the geological and prehistoric signatures left by a restless Earth and the labours of our ancient ancestors.


We wandered through hundreds of millions of years of ancient “frozen” geology, many tens of thousands of years of mindless glaciation and erosion and at least 6,000 years of a mysterious though mindful human story. This we did along easy prepared paths and boardwalks, intersecting the Cavan Way as we went.


Natural and man-made features were carefully and clearly explained on information panels cleverly embedded in trailside wooden posts. They mixed and evoked stories of both science and mystery, with the clinging mist and snow conjuring more of the latter than the former. Indeed, a slightly unsettling aura seemed to us to surround the icy-cold stone tombs of these long-gone ancestors of ours. And the absence of distant reference points that day gave us feelings sometimes of wandering lost in a fairy ring.


This is a fascinating and wonderfully educational park. It is well worth a visit to cavanburren.ie, and then a slow journey on foot around this very special park. Do it on an elemental day, because it’s an elemental place.


Cavan Burren Park details


Map: OS 26 and maps at Visitor Centre


Start/finish: Visitor centre 4kms from Blacklion; left onto R206 off the N16 just west of town, signs for Cavan Burren


Suitability and effort: easy, prepared tracks, selection of trails (including Cavan Way)