Image: Valerie O’Sullivan
KILLARNEY will celebrate the ancient rite of the Summer Solstice during the first ever Killarney Walking Festival which takes place this June.
Killarney’s incredible landscape and ancient cultural heritage will be celebrated with a series of walks, talks and photography.
The Summer Festival, which takes place from Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22, is a weekend-long adventure complete with spectacular guided walks, a series of photography workshops, boat trips on the Lakes of Killarney and nightly entertainment including the Summer Solstice night of fun and traditional music.
Participants can discover the hidden valleys, mountains, reeks, lake shores and all that is beautiful and untamed about Killarney and its world famous National Park where Druids and Na Fianna once roamed.
Organisers have stressed that the festival is for everyone, including families, walking clubs and anyone who loves the great outdoors. The schedule of walks has something for all ages and abilities, from strenuous category three hikes to easy low level category one walks.
From the challenging McGillycuddy Reeks hike to the leisurely Tomies Wood trail, there will be 12 guided walks to choose from.
Experts John O’Sullivan and Ray and Mary Walsh, along with experienced local guides, will host the series of walks and treks. All of the associated maps and trekking guides can be viewed on www.activeme.ie
Image Valerie O’Sullivan
This year’s signature walk is called Capturing the Light and it will involve climbing the ancient sacred summit, of The Paps of Danu on the border of Cork and Kerry.
The Paps are associated with mythology, mysticism and majesty. The Goddess Danú represents all that is earthly fertile, abundant and protective.
Participants will depart Killarney in the dead of night in order to capture the first light of the Summer Solstice sunrise. This walk will be led by award-winning photo-journalist Valerie O’Sullivan.
And the fun doesn’t stop there. The Gleneagle Hotel, the festival’s headquarters, has a packed programme of post walk entertainment lined up so the festival feeling can carry on late into the night.
For more information log on to HYPERLINK “http://www.killarneywalkingfestival.ie” www.killarneywalkingfestival.ie.
