September Special 2009: Walking in the Cooleys and Carlingford.

Friday Sept 11th - Sunday Sept 13th

Recession Busting Price : €189 with a 10% discount for all MCI members.

This Tour is Booked Out

Included in Price :

• Transport to and from Carlingford. Meeting St Stephen’s Green @ 8pm or Pickup along the way.
• 2 nights accommodation in wonderfully furnished and comfortable self catering accommodation, “the courtyard Carlingford”.
• 2 guided walks.

Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula (Irish Times article Why Carlingford is Ireland’s best Kept secret)
If ever there was a place designed for the hillwalker Carlingford and the Cooley Peninsula must be it. Carlingford lies on the south side of Carlingford Lough with Slieve Foy as a spectacular backdrop. The mountains of Mourne sit on the other side of the Lough altogether giving Carlingford a very unique blend of natural beauty.
As well as it’s splendid panoramic views Carlingford also hosts 7 very cosy pubs, 9 wonderful restaurants, craft shops, antique shops and much more. The medieval streets of Carlingford are wonderful with many of the original buildings still intact. It has more historical buildings than any other similar sized town in the whole of Ireland.
The area is also a land steeped in myth and legend with The Cattle-Raid of Cooley (Táin Bó Cúalnge). Queen Medb of Connaught gathers an army in order to gain possession of the most famous bull in Ireland, which is the property of Daire, a chieftain of Ulster. Because the men of Ulster are afflicted by a debilitating curse, the seventeen-year-old Cuchulain must defend Ulster single-handedly.

Slieve Foy is said to be the resting place of the great giant, Fionn Machuil. The shape of his body is said to be seen in the shape of the Mountain.

Itinerary of tour:

Day1: Fri Sept 11th
Meet: Stephen's Green @8pm and drive to Carlingford. Approx 1hour from Dublin. Book into accommodation and relax or you can visit the very lively town with plenty of little bars and live music.

Day2: Sat Sept 12th
Slieve Foye Loop Walk @11:30am

Ascent	670m
Distance	10km
Estimated Time	3hrs – 5hrs
Grade	moderate
Start and Finish	Carlingford Tourist Information Office
Terrain	minor roads, tracks, mountain path and open mountain

Slieve Foye

Moderate walk taken at an easy pace for group.

Panoramic views over the Cooley Mountains, Dundalk Bay and even the Isle of Man on a clear day are definitely worth the effort.
After our walk we can freshen up and go into Carlingford and enjoy an evening meal in one of it’s fine restaurants.

Sun Sept 13th
Day 3 : We will have another short walk near Carlingford on the Tain way after breakfast. For those of you who would like to try something alittle different other than the walk, you can visit the Carlingford adventure center which is very close by and enjoy many other types of activities there. For those wishing to do an extra activity please let me know before hand and Ill organise it for you.
16:00 we will say goodbye to Carlingford and journey back to Dublin.

Not Included in the Price: any extra activies, personal drinks, entrance fees to theatres, parks or museums etc. or gratuities.

Guidebook/Map: OSI Discovery Series Sheet 36.
The Táin Way Map Guide EastWest Mapping

What to bring:

• Hillwalking Boots
• Wind / waterproof jacket
• Socks Leggings / tracksuit bottoms ( not Jeans )
• Thermal top / T-shirt
• Fleece & spare fleece
• Hat &gloves
• Overtrousers
• Food & drink
• Rucksack with liner
• Reflective armband
• Spare socks
• Sun Cream