Ballyheigue , Co. Kerry

When the John Murray show on RTE Radio 1 put out a call to action recently the response was overwhelming. Johns request was for a scenic location to hold a community walk. Towns and villages across Ireland made their pitch but in the end the lovely seaside town of Ballyheigue in North Kerry was chosen.

Thanks to Rena O’Connor who organised the event in no time at all along with many volunteers. It was a roaring success. .  A great crowd gathered at the Community Centre at the beachfront. The rain had fairly hit hard and looked like it was here to stay but as the photos demonstrate it quickly cleared and the heat took over. What a stunning place for a walk.  I’ve been waking Ballyheigue  for 13 years but never Kerry Head.

 Ballyheigue Castle.

Up past the playground by the shore and through the Castle gates, climbing steadily till we reach the castle ruins and the entrance to the golf course. The castle was built in 1810 and is now the focal point for the magnificient Ballyheigue golf course. What a view. Taking a moment to look back I saw John & Rena chatting and the view would take your breath away. The rain had cleared the way for the splendid  vista of Ballyheigue beach all the way out to the tip of the Dingle peninsula. I never tire of that band of mountains snuggling the beaches of north and west Kerry. Out of this world.

Ballyheigue is on the Wild Atlantic Way route that is fast becoming one of the worlds most popular driving routes.

A great group of walkers & volunteers snaked their way through the golf course and through a tunneled walkway sheding layers as the sun appeared. The heat was climbing! Refreshments and entertainment provided for a little rest along the way. A welcome distraction for our little fellas! We decided to bring the boys which was a bit of a gamble since they are only 4 & 5 and the 9km might be a stretch for them. Despite a few moans here and there and the promise of an ice cream of their choice at the end was enough to keep them trotting along  But they did well. On we went. On top of the head we marched, the pace faster now, momentum building, and turning left eventually to make our way back into the village.

The view from the hill is massive. Everyone notices the sheer width of it…. from as far left as we can see to and far right. The Atlantic stretches unimaginably wide and endless. Fantastic. John interviews the boys at one point complimenting them on their efforts to walk the ‘long’ route. A large ice cream topped off our arrival back into the village.

Johns crew paid a visit to O Neills Bed and Breakfast on the way back into the village.There he chatted with Don O’Neill who is the father of world renowned fashion designer Don O’Neill and creative director of THEIA. He is now based in New York but makes regular trips home to catch up on whats happening in Ballyheigue.

Finally it was back to the community centre in Ballyheigue to rest the legs and grab some refreshments. There was a great buzz in the hall as local musicians and dancers entertained. All in all a fantastic event. Thanks John for choosing Ballyheigue. If you are thinking of having a holiday in Ireland this year please check out www.ballyheigue.ie

For more pictures have a look at the youtube video below. Please share this post using the social icons on this page. Thanks