The Gazette 1995

GAZETTE

DECEMBER 1995

N E W S

Sol ici tors Take to the Hills

When I looked out my bedroom window at nine o'clock on the morning of Sunday. 12 November, the idea of a five hour hike in the Wieklow Mountains suddenly held little appeal. Ever the optimist however. I decided to venture out and brave the elements and miraculously by the time we reached Enniskerry the weather began to clear and had in fact cleared completely by the time we commenced the hike at Old Bridge on the end of Lough Dan. The seventeen hardy souls who ventured out that Sunday were rewarded with a beautiful hike around the Lough Dan area. Searr was an appropriate name for the main climb of the day. one very steep section leaving many of us physically scarred by the time we reached the summit. However, make it we all did and were rewarded with spectacular views of the Wieklow Mountains and of Lough Dan itself. I don't think I have ever seen the autumn colours so vibrant in Ireland. New England eat your heart out. MacDomhnaill, decided on the most direct route down the mountain and this in fact proved almost as difficult as the ascent. Negotiating our way through thick heather, waist high in some places, was indeed very challenging and I think all of us were glad of our hiking boots on that occasion as such a descent can be tough on the ankles. Our descent eventually led us to our lunch spot overlooking Glenmacnass Waterfall and river which had over the preceding few days been transformed into a raging torrent. No water shortage here: Frank Feeley take note! Our route back took us to the river which flows through the valley al the west side of Lough Dan which river we followed until we reached a small oak copse and from there we followed the path across country back to Old Bridge. Our hike leader, Cillian

• I :m M11 Solicitors' hillwalking group MM MM

expertly, even if he was making up the route as he went along!

To round off the afternoon, those of us who had brought a change of clothes adjourned to a local hostelry in Roundwood to pay our respects to Uncle Arthur and let me state that Uncle Arthur is alive and well in Roundwood! Many thanks to Frank Nowlan for organising the hike and in particular to Cillian MacDomhnaill for leading us so

There will be a further hike in January. If you are interested in going please contact Frank Nowlan al 667 1666 or Cillian MacDomhnaill at 671 071 I for further details.

Andrew Clarke

LAWYERS DESK DIARY 1996 NOW AVAILABLE Page - a -Day A4 & We ek - a t - a -Gl ance A4 O i s i n Pub l i c a t i ons Tel: 830 5236 Fax: 830 7860

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