When: 1st Tuesday of every month. We usually meet at St Philip’s at 1.30pm and car share, or at 2pm at the walk venue. We usually spend an hour or two walking at a leisurely pace and try to end with refreshments. Join us for good company, being in the open air, enjoying spectacular views and keeping up some exercise.
March – Baggotonia Area
After two false starts in February due to biblical rainfall, we finally got to explore the many literary connections to the Baggot Street area on a beautiful sunny afternoon. We started out at the Patrick Kavanagh bench on the Grand Canal banks and headed into the wonderfully restored Wilton Park. Deckchairs supported happy people who had forgotten what the sun looked like prior to this day. IPUT Real Estate restored the park and it certainly supports their claim to be in possession of one of the greenest portfolios in Europe. Native planting in the beds looks wonderful. There is a separate park especially for dogs! An Eilis O’Connor sculpture, Dipping the Other Wing, evoked mixed reactions – loved it myself!
A new enclosed street, Mary Lavin Place was our next stop. Mary Lavin was a decorated short story writer who featured in the New Yorker. A magnificent ceiling by James Earley is a must see and an exhibition of portraits by young photographers showed amazing talent. We wandered past former homes of Jack Yeats, Brian O’Nolan (Myles na Gopoleen), Elizabeth Bowen and former haunts of such luminaries as Brendan Behan, Anthony Cronin, JP Donleavy, Seamus Heaney and Patrick Kavanagh himself. The Catacombs at 13 Fitzwilliam Place was known as a particular den of iniquity – it looks very innocent now, housing captains of commerce within its walls. Myles na Gopoleen’s flat at 25 Herbert Place now has a statue of Mr Elvis Presley in full flight in one of the windows. We finished up in the very pleasant surrounds of the Mespil Hotel and made a presentation to Margaret Wynne for all her sterling work in organising walks over 14 years and bringing us all together. Frank Harvey
April – Dublin Mountains Way
Following Easter, the April walk of the Sandmill Strollers was originally planned as a route from Barnaslingan Woods to Carrigollogan, overlooking the Scalp, with a detour to the old Lead Mines chimney. However, a series of unforeseen circumstances including road and forestry car park closures due to ongoing development works, together with unpredictable weather, meant that we had to revise our plans. Instead, we chose to follow part of the Dublin Mountains Way, beginning at Rathmichael Church. After a sustaining coffee in the new Palmerston Park tearoom, our small group gathered at St Philip’s to car-share to Rathmichael and Castlegate.
The Dublin Mountains Way follows a gravel track for the first short stretch before becoming a rougher, stony path edged with blackthorn bushes as it winds through Rathmichael Woods. Along the way we passed Rathmichael Cross, an old granite stone cross – one of several in the area – believed to have served as a parish boundary or marker stone.
Continuing uphill, we reached the site of an ancient ringfort and Neolithic/Iron Age settlement, where the circular clay bank remains clearly visible. This area is rich in both history and archaeology, ancient and modern alike. (The old Rathmichael Church and graveyard are also well worth a visit.) The forestry track eventually joins the narrow Puck’s Castle Lane. Puck’s Castle, situated on private land, formed part of a chain of tower-house forts built by the Talbot family around the 1500s as part of the defence of the Dublin Pale. Some members of the group paused to admire the views and some forest artworks, while the remainder of our intrepid walkers continued on the short but steep ascent to the summit and the Lead Mines chimney, built in the 1850s and standing almost 26 metres high.
After a brief rest and a restorative round of Fruit Pastilles ‘for energy’, we retraced our steps to regroup before returning to Rathmichael. As on previous visits to the area, we adjourned afterwards to The Golden Ball in Kilternan for very welcome tea and coffee, and even a couple of careful “OOs” together with plenty of conversation before heading home.
My thanks again to all the group for their company, and especially to Margaret W. for her help and for acting as advisory leader. Ronnie H.
May – Molly Malone Walk
It was a case of quality over quantity when 6 strollers, expertly led by Gwen, undertook a most wonderful stroll around some south city streets! We started out at the Molly Malone statue and Molly is now somewhat protected from the touchy-feely hordes by holly bushes on raised beds. Gwen bemoaned the empty church behind Molly but told us that moves are finally afoot to revive the building. On to Grafton Street to examine the difference between the subtle old street signs compared to the modern versions. On then to Finns Hotel, immortalised in Ulysses. On then to examine Oscar Wilde on his magnificent stone throne in Merrion Square. Gwen explained that all the colours are natural, imported from India, Canada and many other countries. We chuckled again at the quotation’s including “only dull people are brilliant at breakfast”. On to the Alliance Francais and then a truly memorable stay in the WB Yeats exhibition in the National Library. It was something to hear distinguished voices including Seamus Heaney, Sinead O’Connor and Michael D Higgins read poems such as The Lake Isle of Innisfree and A Terrible Beauty is Born. These were accompanied by very evocative visuals. On to the Masonic building and a visit to their museum.
Finally, tea and coffee in Buswell’s Hotel and a very technical discussion on knitting – Sandra had a variety of recently purchased exotic needles for turning corners to give it its non-technical term. Thanks to Gwen for a very enlightening 3 hours. Frank Harvey