Old Bog Road Walk-Heritage Week 2021

Group ready for the walk
Eileen O'Malley
Eileen O'Malley
Eileen O'Malley
Eileen O'Malley
Eileen O'Malley
Eileen O'Malley
Eileen O'Malley
Mary O'Malley
Mary O'Malley
Mary O'Malley

The second of our outdoor events took place Sunday 22nd August 2021 as part of National Heritage Week. We participated in one of two looped walks in the Killeen area, the Old Bog Road loop or locally known as White Stone Bog Road.

This walk started at Killeen Church and takes the main road towards Carrowniskey following the green arrows till we reached the Old Bog Road. It is a very enjoyable low lying walk without any steep inclines or hills.

The views are spectacular along the main road you have Clare Island and Inishturk to your left and once you enter the Bog Road you have Mweelrea and Sheffrey in front of you with Croagh Patrick very visible to your left.

We were lucky with the weather too, it stayed dry and although cloudy it was perfect for walking.

The walk is 7.2km in total and we allowed about two hours for everyone to go at their own pace and take lots of photos. You are off the main road for quite a bit and it was so quiet and peaceful, nothing only the birds singing and the gentle chatter of the walkers.

We were really impressed by the beautiful wild flowers all along the verges and also in some of the fields. Even spotted some giant mushrooms.

Some locals still cut their turf up in these bogs and it was lovely to reminisce about long days spent in the bog, saving turf, getting eaten by midges and the hunger would be on you, then you’d have the most delicious picnic you could imagine.

Remember the empty glass whiskey bottle would be filled with tea and put safely into a woolly knitted sock to keep it warm. Chunks of homemade bread with butter and you felt like you had a feast! The many sunburns were recalled too!

When we came back onto the main road at Feenone many were dismayed that our walk was almost at an end as we could now see Killeen Church in the distance. But the welcome we received back at Killeen Community Centre put any disappointment or sad thoughts out with the tide!  All that talk of lukewarm tea had put a thirst on us and we were rewarded with tea/coffee, delicious sandwiches, cakes and treats.

What a welcomed banquet!

If you get the chance to take the Old Bog Road looped walk, we can highly recommend it.

Thank you so much to all who participated in the walk and shared the memories of your childhood.

Sincere Thank you to Bernie, Eileen and Padraig and all in Killeen Community Council for the wonderful refreshments in Killeen Community Centre. We are so grateful that you continue to be such wonderful guardians of the looped walks in Killeen and the beautiful community centre.

Looking forward to next year already!

 

 

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