Hefty Force 5 Easterly Winds Most Of The Day In My Face.
When the wind was behind me leaving Achill, heading for Belmullet, there was plenty of opportunity to make good use of the tidal race surf! All in all an exhilarating and exhausting day.
Looking forward to some good old fashioned R&R!
30 April 2011
29 April 2011
Barry's Sea Kayaking Update
After a rough night's sleep listening to the wind tapping on the windows of the house on Clare Island. Difficult sleeping when you can tell the sea may be rough the next day.
Got up this morning to a sea covered in white horses and a good force 5 blowing. Got a break in the weather during the afternoon and made like the clappers to Achill Sound for shelter.
Some rough seas on the way with whirlpools swinging my boat in different directions. A good challenge. Got some provisions in town and a nice bowl of seafood chowder and pint of Guinness.
Then onto Bull's Head, aiming towards Belmullet...
Got up this morning to a sea covered in white horses and a good force 5 blowing. Got a break in the weather during the afternoon and made like the clappers to Achill Sound for shelter.
Some rough seas on the way with whirlpools swinging my boat in different directions. A good challenge. Got some provisions in town and a nice bowl of seafood chowder and pint of Guinness.
Then onto Bull's Head, aiming towards Belmullet...
Barry's Ireland Sea Kayak Update
First Update Received From Barry, Who's Part-Way Round A Solo Sea Kayak Journey Of Ireland's Coastline.
Click Here To Read About His First Section Of Journey
Got going on Tuesday Evening and managed to round Slyne Head with big swell thundering on the near reefs. Camped that night under Slyne Head.
Wednesday Morning headed off to Friar Island.
Had lunch in shelter from brisk winds.
Paddled onto Inis Bofin making good time with a nice steady southerly wind at my back, surfing my way there.
Calm and peaceful camp there that night.
Woke up Thursday Morning not able to see more than twenty metres in thick sea fog. Navigation, sea charts and compass all put to use!
Stopped off on Inis Turk for lunch, then onto Clare Island for a nice welcome from good friends, Niall and Luna. A few pints of Guinness later, some good food and a 'leaba' to put my head down.
Heading for Achill and then Belmullet today...
Click Here To Read About His First Section Of Journey
Got going on Tuesday Evening and managed to round Slyne Head with big swell thundering on the near reefs. Camped that night under Slyne Head.
Wednesday Morning headed off to Friar Island.
Had lunch in shelter from brisk winds.
Paddled onto Inis Bofin making good time with a nice steady southerly wind at my back, surfing my way there.
Calm and peaceful camp there that night.
Woke up Thursday Morning not able to see more than twenty metres in thick sea fog. Navigation, sea charts and compass all put to use!
Stopped off on Inis Turk for lunch, then onto Clare Island for a nice welcome from good friends, Niall and Luna. A few pints of Guinness later, some good food and a 'leaba' to put my head down.
Heading for Achill and then Belmullet today...
27 April 2011
Sunset Kayak Tour : Ireland - Kerry
Sunset & Spot Lights Illuminating Ross Castle
Sunset Over Innisfallen Island & Dingle
For More Sunset & Half-Day Kayak Trips Click Here
26 April 2011
Kingdom Of Kerry
May Bank Holiday Adventure Activities
This May Bank Holiday Try Something A Little Different In Kerry
Stand on the summit of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain; explore the limestone caves of Lough Leane by kayak, rock climb and abseil on sandstone cliffs in the Gap of Dunloe, or discover the delights of a relaxing sunset kayak.
At night sample the food and lively entertainment of Killarney, as you enjoy some well-earned relaxation after your day outdoors!
Suitable For All Abilities, From Complete Beginners Upwards
Sunset Kayak Trip
Saturday : Sunday : Monday
€50 per person
7pm - 930pm
Saturday
Climb Carrauntoohil, Ireland's Highest Mountain
€75 per person
9am - 5pm
Sunday
Kayak Trip on Lough Leane
€50 per person
10am - 1pm / 2pm - 5pm
Monday
Rock Climb in the Gap of Dunloe
€50 per person
10am - 1pm
Price For All Three Days: €145 per person
Equipment Provided
Beginners Welcome
For More Details Or To Book Contact:
info@outdoorsireland.com
+353 (0) 86 860 45 63
Full-Day Lake & River Kayak Trip Down River Laune
Stand on the summit of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain; explore the limestone caves of Lough Leane by kayak, rock climb and abseil on sandstone cliffs in the Gap of Dunloe, or discover the delights of a relaxing sunset kayak.
At night sample the food and lively entertainment of Killarney, as you enjoy some well-earned relaxation after your day outdoors!
Suitable For All Abilities, From Complete Beginners Upwards
Sunset Kayak Trip
Saturday : Sunday : Monday
€50 per person
7pm - 930pm
Saturday
Climb Carrauntoohil, Ireland's Highest Mountain
€75 per person
9am - 5pm
Sunday
Kayak Trip on Lough Leane
€50 per person
10am - 1pm / 2pm - 5pm
Monday
Rock Climb in the Gap of Dunloe
€50 per person
10am - 1pm
Price For All Three Days: €145 per person
Equipment Provided
Beginners Welcome
For More Details Or To Book Contact:
info@outdoorsireland.com
+353 (0) 86 860 45 63
Full-Day Lake & River Kayak Trip Down River Laune
20 April 2011
Easter Adventure Activities In Killarney
Here Are Some Outdoor Adventure Activities Happening Over Easter!
Fri 22nd April
Rock Climb In The Gap Of Dunloe
Time: 2pm - 5pm. Price: €50 Per Person
Equipment Provided : Beginners Welcome
Sat 23rd April
Kayak Trip On Lakes Of Killarney
Time: 2pm - 5pm. Price: €50 Per Person
Equipment Provided : Beginners Welcome
Sun 24th April
Kayak Trip On Lakes Of Killarney
Time: 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm. Price: €50 Per Person
Equipment Provided : Beginners Welcome
Sat 23rd & Sun 24th April
Howling Ridge Course
Time: 9am - 5pm Each Day. €200 Per Person
Wed 27th April
Sunset Kayak Trip
Time: 7pm - 930pm. Price: €50 Per Person
Equipment Provided : Beginners Welcome
Thurs 28th April
Family Rock Climb In The Gap Of Dunloe
Time: 2pm - 5pm. Price: €50 Per Person
Equipment Provided : Beginners Welcome
Sat 30th April
Carrauntoohil Guided Climb
Time: 9am - 5pm. Price: €75 Per Person
Hiking Boots Provided
To Book Or For More Details Contact Nathan/Ruth:
info@outdoorsireland.com
+353 (0) 86 860 45 63
19 April 2011
Barry Sea Kayaking Ireland Solo
Barry Coscoran, an Outdoors Ireland instructor and guide, is beginning the final stage of his 1200 mile solo sea kayak journey around Ireland this week. He's continuing on from near Galway Bay, heading for the Donegal coastline and then around to Dublin Bay...
We'll be keeping track of his progress here along with photos and stories he'll be sending us, over the coming weeks.
Click Here To Read An Irish Times Piece On Barry
12 April 2011
11 April 2011
Mountain Skills 2 Training - Kerry
Pitching Tents Near Colly, In Glencar
Timing & Pacing Techniques Towards A Spot Height
Compass Bearings Before Nightfall
Click Here For Details On Mountain Skills Courses
Kayak Tour Video - Killarney Lakes
Video Of An Outdoors Ireland Kayak Tour On The Lakes Of Killarney On A Spectacular Summer's Evening. The Kayak Guide That Evening Was Tadhg, Who You Will See Wearing A Cowboy Hat! Video Was Filmed By A Friend Of Ours, Greg Manahan, Of iDirect Productions.
Click Here To See Details Of Our Kayak & Canoe Tours
9 April 2011
Four Peaks Challenge - Navigation & Map Reading Training For Focus Ireland
Where Am I!?
Map Reading Training In The Wicklow Gap
Quick - Hide!
Seven People Out & Seven People Back - Always Good!
Debriefing The Day's Training Over Coffee
8 April 2011
First Kayak Tours Of Killarney Lakes
Ross Castle/Killarney Lakes Kayaking Today
Ross Canal Leading Into Lough Lein
Tea Break On Innisfallen Island
(Raspberry Tarts Courtesy Of 'Truffle Pig' In Kenmare)
5 April 2011
Spring & Summer 2011 - Killarney
Spring & Summer 2011 Are Barreling Towards Us Here In Killarney...
Outdoors Ireland, My Instructor Team & I are well and truly into our sixth year of operation at this stage. It's been a fantastic six years with a steep learning curve and some unforgettable experiences on our mountains, sandstone cliffs and pristine glaciated lakes.
We were gifted with incredible winter mountaineering conditions in Kerry's MacGillycuddy Reeks, Ireland's Highest Mountains, throughout December 2010...
Dave Roche and I spent most days between December 1st to 23rd either working or playing on Carrauntoohil, in places such as Curve, Central and O'Shea's Gullies; or further off in the MacGillycuddy Reeks, doing roped ascents of Cummeenagearagh Gully or traverses of Beenkeragh Ridge. During this period you could have easily have been mistaken for thinking you were Scottish Winter Mountaineering or Alpine Climbing!
After Christmas we continued our Mountain Skills 1 and Mountain Skills 2 Training Courses, run in both Kerry and Wicklow. Dave and Tadhg Boyden took on running most of these map reading & navigation courses, while I spent my days office-bound.
Our Kerry MS Courses are now run from Reeks Lodge, our new operations base, which is working extremely well - in fact on the first day we use the hills immediately around Reeks Lodge meaning there's no driving and maximum time spent on the hills.
Howling Ridge has been generating interest, with Dave and I running Howling Ridge Weekends, covering scrambling skills & rope work on Day One, followed by a roped ascent of Howling Ridge on Day Two.
Cormac Looney from the Evening Herald joined us for one of these climbs. Here's the article he wrote.
Over the past months, taking advantage of the quieter time of year, I've been working on a new website - which is now live - and coming up with different ideas to generate more bookings. We've also compiled a range of, much more in-depth, local information about the areas from where we run our Kayak Tours, Rock Climbing Trips and Carrantuohill Climbs; allowing us to properly share with people much more of the area's legends, stories and history!
The past month has seen me hiking across Ireland with Lucy The Goat and Cara The Dog, in search of the Irish Welcome.
Here's a recent RTE2 TV Program we featured on.
This week seems to herald the approaching summer season in Kerry, with enquiries coming in for our Kayak Tours on the Lakes of Killarney and our Killarney Sunset Kayak Trips.
Our new fleet of Dagger Blackwater Kayaks have their first trip on the water this Friday, with a morning trip across Lough Lein, exploring limestone caves and landing on Innisfallen Island & Abbey. Later in the week they have their first Laune River Kayak Trip of 2011, with Catherine Mac from the Irish Times!
Within the next two weeks my instructor team will be meeting for a day to plan for the summer; look at how we can continue improving and offering more value to our customers; and importantly have a couple of pints and chill out with each other, which is something we don't get to do often enough.
Looking ahead for the next few months we will be focusing on adventure activities such as our Day-Time & Sunset Kayaking, Rock Climbing in the Gap of Dunloe, Guided Climbs of Carrauntoohil, Two-Day Learn to Rock Climb Courses and Summer Solstice Night Climb of Carrauntoohil...
There's a great atmosphere in Killarney, Dingle and West Cork at the moment, with a lot of people I speak to looking forward to a vibrant, busy summer and great weather, although I'm sure we'll have a couple of wet and windy weeks thrown into the mix; it wouldn't be Ireland otherwise!
Outdoors Ireland, My Instructor Team & I are well and truly into our sixth year of operation at this stage. It's been a fantastic six years with a steep learning curve and some unforgettable experiences on our mountains, sandstone cliffs and pristine glaciated lakes.
We were gifted with incredible winter mountaineering conditions in Kerry's MacGillycuddy Reeks, Ireland's Highest Mountains, throughout December 2010...
Dave Roche and I spent most days between December 1st to 23rd either working or playing on Carrauntoohil, in places such as Curve, Central and O'Shea's Gullies; or further off in the MacGillycuddy Reeks, doing roped ascents of Cummeenagearagh Gully or traverses of Beenkeragh Ridge. During this period you could have easily have been mistaken for thinking you were Scottish Winter Mountaineering or Alpine Climbing!
After Christmas we continued our Mountain Skills 1 and Mountain Skills 2 Training Courses, run in both Kerry and Wicklow. Dave and Tadhg Boyden took on running most of these map reading & navigation courses, while I spent my days office-bound.
Our Kerry MS Courses are now run from Reeks Lodge, our new operations base, which is working extremely well - in fact on the first day we use the hills immediately around Reeks Lodge meaning there's no driving and maximum time spent on the hills.
Howling Ridge has been generating interest, with Dave and I running Howling Ridge Weekends, covering scrambling skills & rope work on Day One, followed by a roped ascent of Howling Ridge on Day Two.
Cormac Looney from the Evening Herald joined us for one of these climbs. Here's the article he wrote.
Over the past months, taking advantage of the quieter time of year, I've been working on a new website - which is now live - and coming up with different ideas to generate more bookings. We've also compiled a range of, much more in-depth, local information about the areas from where we run our Kayak Tours, Rock Climbing Trips and Carrantuohill Climbs; allowing us to properly share with people much more of the area's legends, stories and history!
The past month has seen me hiking across Ireland with Lucy The Goat and Cara The Dog, in search of the Irish Welcome.
Here's a recent RTE2 TV Program we featured on.
This week seems to herald the approaching summer season in Kerry, with enquiries coming in for our Kayak Tours on the Lakes of Killarney and our Killarney Sunset Kayak Trips.
Our new fleet of Dagger Blackwater Kayaks have their first trip on the water this Friday, with a morning trip across Lough Lein, exploring limestone caves and landing on Innisfallen Island & Abbey. Later in the week they have their first Laune River Kayak Trip of 2011, with Catherine Mac from the Irish Times!
Within the next two weeks my instructor team will be meeting for a day to plan for the summer; look at how we can continue improving and offering more value to our customers; and importantly have a couple of pints and chill out with each other, which is something we don't get to do often enough.
Looking ahead for the next few months we will be focusing on adventure activities such as our Day-Time & Sunset Kayaking, Rock Climbing in the Gap of Dunloe, Guided Climbs of Carrauntoohil, Two-Day Learn to Rock Climb Courses and Summer Solstice Night Climb of Carrauntoohil...
There's a great atmosphere in Killarney, Dingle and West Cork at the moment, with a lot of people I speak to looking forward to a vibrant, busy summer and great weather, although I'm sure we'll have a couple of wet and windy weeks thrown into the mix; it wouldn't be Ireland otherwise!
4 April 2011
Howling Ridge Guided Climb, Ireland's Ultimate Climbing Route In Kerry's MacGillycuddy Reeks
Gearing Up At Heavenly Gates & Getting That Last Sip Of Water Before Tackling Howling Ridge
Half-Way Into Our Climb, Overlooking Hag's Glen & Lough Gouragh
Belay Point With Des & Gavin; Eastern Reeks In The Background
Final Delicate Traverse Of Howling Ridge, Along 'The Pinnacles'
Close-Up Of Dave Roche, Sean & Ivor, Close To Topping Out
Howling Exposure - Not For The Faint Hearted!
2 April 2011
Mountain Skills Training Course In Kerry
Here's a photo of learning points taken from a Mountain Skills 1 Training Course last weekend in Kerry. Over the two days our participants learnt the skills and techniques towards becoming self-sufficient map readers and navigators in the Irish mountains.
1 April 2011
Rock Fall In Dalkey Quarry
Due to recent high winds there has been a major collapse in the Upper Quarry. The routes from Giant's Staircase rightwards all the way to Praying Mantis have been affected.
Mountaineering Ireland and DLRCC Parks Authority requests all climbers to avoid the upper section of the quarry until clearance work and stabilisation has been completed.
In a bizarre and grotesque twist a severed hand was discovered behind a fallen block in the proximity of Frenzy.
Gardai have been called to the scene and are currently investigating. They have stated that it is unlikely to be a climbers hand but have not ruled out the possibility.
Mountaineering Ireland and DLRCC Parks Authority requests all climbers to avoid the upper section of the quarry until clearance work and stabilisation has been completed.
In a bizarre and grotesque twist a severed hand was discovered behind a fallen block in the proximity of Frenzy.
Gardai have been called to the scene and are currently investigating. They have stated that it is unlikely to be a climbers hand but have not ruled out the possibility.
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