Fancy a 500km trek to Cork?
Seamus Enright
The Beara-Briefne Way, a 500km walkway linking 10 counties from West Cavan to West Cork was officially launched last week at a ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
Involving over 60 community groups, 12 local walking trails and taking in the four provinces, from the Beara Peninsula in County Cork to Blacklion in west Cavan, the Beara-Breifne Way project is the largest community-based project undertaken in the country.
The Way follows the line of the historic march of the O’Sullivan Beara clan in 1602 in the aftermath of the Battle of Kinsale.
Donal Cam, chieftain of the O’Sullivan Beara clan, and his tribesmen undertook this epic 14-day march and today people can follow in their footsteps, taking in the Beara Way, Ballyhoura Way, Suck Valley Way, Miner’s Way and Historical Trail, Leitrim Way and Cavan Way.
Camino
At the launch last week, the Taoiseach described the walk as Ireland’s answer to the famed ‘Camino de Santiago’ which leads to Spain. The Taoiseach said he was delighted to witness the culmination of years of tireless work come to fruition.
'This initiative is a stunning example of communities working and linking together to create what I believe is Ireland’s equivalent to the Camino to Santiago in Spain,' he said.
'Fifty community groups, in 10 counties, worked with over 240 landowners, the local authorities, the IFA, Failte Ireland, Leader, The Heritage Council and others, to bring this project to the final stage it is at now.
'This trail will also bring added employment to each area, which will, in turn, boost the local and national economy, and will highlight each area’s heritage and wonderful scenery,' he said.
Activity-based tourism
Some 50 villages and towns are linked by the walkway and though it’s estimated over 40,000 people have walked sections of the route individually, its hoped by linking them together it will open up the length of the country to activity-based tourism.
As an added part of the initiative, walkers on the Beara-Breifne Way will collect stamps in their walking passport books based on the heritage of each town and village along the route which they visit.
Attending the launch were Seamus hUltachain, organiser of the Cavan Way, Ballyconnell, Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council Paddy O’Reilly and Seamus Gibbons, Leitrim Way, Carrick-on-Shannon.
It is envisaged the Beara-Breifne Way is to expand further in the future, linking up with the Ulster Way at Blacklion and allow walkers to travel from the Glens of Antrim to the Beara Peninsula in West Cork.