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4th May 2020 :  Tullow Mountaineering Club &                          " The Carrying of the Cross". by Ann Murphy

26/4/2020

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​ Replacement of the Cross on Blackstairs Mountain 2005
On the 7th September 1983 a Cessna 182 left Birmingham for Kilkenny with 4 people on board. Unfortunately the plane crashed near the summit of Blackstairs Mountain resulting in the death of  3 men and 1 woman.
Chris Forrestal of Rathnure was one of  four people who had gone up in the middle of the night and found the crashed plane and established that all four occupants were dead.
Several agencies Gardai, Civil Defence, Ambulance Service, Mountain Rescue and locals helped to remove the bodies.
A cross was erected by Eric Binions Ballycrystal to commemorate the 4 people but over the years the cross became eroded and eventually fell down. In 2005 the late Paddy Looney of The Tullow Mountaineering Club decided to replace the cross. Michael Monahan met with Eric who had no objection to the Club replacing it.
Through the good offices of several individuals and organisations a cross was made.  It was  carried to the summit of Blackstairs Mountain by Michael Monahan and the late Paddy Looney.
 
Quote for Michael Monahan "Eventually I collected the cross and brought it to the Carrigalacan Gap. It was heavy and I felt quite biblical as I staggered up to Caher Roes Den. I left it there for Paddy to bring it the rest of the way at a later date. and  was fairly confident that it would not be stolen in the meantime."
 
The pictures supplied are the late Paddy Looney's from  the 20th July 2005.  On a Club Wednesday evening walk, sand and cement was carried up by Club members from the Scullogue Gap to erect the Cross. Some members were able to carry a bag themselves while others shared the carrying of a bag. The evening turned wet and misty as the pictures show. Some of the pictures show the new cross tied to the old cross before it was finally erected.  According to Club members sand was carried on a 2nd occasion. On a later day  Paddy and Micheal Brennan mixed the cement and erected the cross where it stands to this day.
 
There were 2 other aircraft crashes on Blackstairs Mountain in 1941 and 2015
The following piece is taken from a Facebook post by EastWest Mapping on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/693816783963064/posts/german-heinkel-aircrash-on-blackstairs-mountainthe-main-photo-here-is-taken-just/866424140035660/
"German Heinkel air crash on Blackstairs Mountain 1941
The main photo here is taken just below the top of Sturra or Blackstairs Mountain. We're having a break in the remains of the bomb craters left after a German Heinkel HE 111 Luftwaffe bomber crashed here on the 11th October 1941 during 'The Emergency'. It had taken off earlier from France to attack shipping on the Irish Sea and was heard crashing about midnight on the above date. There seems to be two varying accounts - first that the RAF went in pursuit and shot it down over Ireland and second that it just got lost and accidentally flew into the east slope of the above mountain. However weather reports suggest conditions were clear with just a light haze, so take your pick.
Either way, the four German airmen who died were Kurt Tiggemann, Wilhelm Böhmer, Ehrfried Kolwe, and Hans Szuflita. The men were first buried nearby in Rathnure and then later moved in the 1960s to the German War Cemetery in Glencree, pictured here. This featured in our last post, as the mass rock lies just above. You'll find a report here http://knightsandrebels.wordpress.com/…/death-on-a-saturda…/
The Irish army attended the crash site and I've heard that they exploded the bombs on the hillside, leaving these craters. Part of the undercarriage and wheel are on display in Enniscorthy museum.
The site is accurately marked on our Blackstairs, Mount Leinster & the Barrow Valley 1:25,000 scale map."
 
Cessna Crash 2015 on the western side of Blackstairs Mountain
Two men died when their light aircraft crashed into Blackstairs mountain after entering an area of low visibility, an Air Accident Investigation Unit report has found.
Paul Smith (57) and Bryan Keane (69) departed Athboy airfield, Co Meath, at 10am on May 24th, 2015. The two, who were also travelling with their two pet dogs, were en route to an airfield near Taghmon, Co Wexford, to attend a “breakfast fly-in” event.
The men, as well as their two dogs were fatally injured about half an hour later when the Cessna T182T failed to clear high terrain on the Co Carlow mountain.
A hill walker came across the wreckage at approximately 13.40hrs and contacted the Emergency Services.
The bodies of the 2 men were removed by Rescue 117, the Coast Guard Helicopter based in Waterford and the bodies of the 2 dogs by the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association.
Air Accident Investigation Unit link to 2015 accident
http://www.aaiu.ie/sites/default/files/report-attachments/REPORT%202016-016.pdf
 
Acknowledgements to the following Michael M, John F, Michael B, Deidre H, Michael C, Bernie B, Ann M, (Slyguff),
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April 19th 2020 . This week we have some photos from TMC members John & Padraig's archives:

18/4/2020

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 On Saturday 5th of August 2017 TMC members TJ ,Padraig and John set out from Cronin's Yard and reached all of the 3000 feet summits of the McGillycuddy Reeks on the same day, First peak was Cruach Mhor and all of the way out to Caher West before doubling back to take Carrauntoohill on the way to Beenkeragh before returning to the car park.
 In July 2019 TMC member Padraig spent 14 days in Canada. Trekking & camping in the Yoho, Banff & Jasper National Parks which are situated in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.These parks feature some of the most incredible natural wonders in the world. Taking in the turquoise waters of lake Louise before heading off to see the mighty glaciers along the Ice-fields parkway,
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27th April 2020 .Tullow Mountaineering Club and the Environment :  by Geraldine. Lily trekking in Nepal & Sharon climbing in Dalkey.

14/4/2020

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In May 2019 TMC Environmental Officer Geraldine attended Mountaineering Ireland's Ecology of Mountains workshop in Clonbur, Co. Galway. It was an action packed weekend from geology to plants and birds to the array of human interactions with the landscape.
A visit to the Western Lakes Geopark project In Clonbur woods on the shores of Lough Mask did not disappoint. Our Mountain Leader/ Lecturer interpreted the formation of this landscape because of the Ice Age resulting in glaciation and weathering . The irregular shapes of the various rocks on this limestone pavement resemble egg boxes or honeycomb.
Along the Srahnalong Valley in Maumtrasna there was an abundance of plant life to be discovered from flowers to grasses to mosses and liverworts. On occasion the sound of the meadow pipit and golden plover could be heard calling. In the evenings there were lectures on the geology, archaeology and wildlife in the area.
Each Spring the environmental officer organises a litter pick in the Mount Leinster area . A date is chosen for the event and advertisements are placed in the local newspapers and local radio. TMC members, Blackstairs Ramblers. Cloudy Loafers, Wexford Walking Club, Tyndall Club , The 795 Cycling Club , Mountaineering bike club and the local farmers are all invited to participate The Environmental officer of Carlow County Council supply us with bags , pickers and high-vis jackets to collect the rubbish. Other functions involve cutting back vegetation and ensuring the stiles are maintained and in place.
Photos taken by Geraldine & John
November 2017 Lily & Ann on a trek to Annapurna Base Camp , Nepal. Photos by Lily 

August !9th 2019 Sharon, Amanda & Lily joined the Wexford Club over a period of four weeks on an introduction to climbing. This was followed by a great days climbing in Dalkey Quarry .Also some photos of Kerry ,
​Photos by Sharon 
Dalkey
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We are all missing being on the Hills & Mountains, but we all know for now the right thing to do is; stay at home . This week we have a personal Journey & more photos from some of our members archives to share with you:

11/4/2020

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On 29th March 2017 TMC member Sandra embarked on a fund raising challenge to hike to all 27 county highest Mountains / tops in Ireland in 11 days, with a little help from family, friends & TMC members who joined her on some of the hikes.Sandra walked 169 KM to reach a total height of 16349 Meters over the course of this challenge. Sandra's  motivation for the challenge were for the following reasons:
​  To help reduce the rate of suicide by encouraging people to start talking about mental health well-being and letting people know it's OK not to be OK,
  To raise funds to help Pieta House continue their great work in providing a free counselling service to those who are suicidal, self-harming and those bereaved by suicide.
​In February 2016 Sandra and her family experienced the devastating effects of suicide when her brother Ray died by suicide.
TMC member Tony on Ben Nevis Summit ,Scotland . Mt. Brandon Kerry , At end of Mweelrea walk , Mayo. All in 2019
Barry and TMC members in Patagonia , January-February 2016
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Covid Responsibility For TMC Hillwalkers: Support the Governments' advice and support  Mountaineering Irelands' position.

5/4/2020

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Stay at Home . Stay off the Hills and Mountains. Avoid travelling for exercise.   ( Murrough Mc Donagh CEO MI )
As all TMC hikes and activities have been suspended until further notice we have decided to share some members archive photographs .
In February 2020 TMC member Anthony attended a Winter Mountaineering course run by Glenmore Lodge in the Cairngorms, Scotland. The Glenmore Lodge and Plas Y Brenin are the two national training centres where Anthony was provided with the highest possible standard of instruction from both centres on the course.  Photos are taken on the Fiacaill Ridge , Coire an Sneacta & Breanna Choireann East Ridge.
Ballycrystal Circuit in February 2020 taken by Con
Some from John's archives
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