THE Daniel O'Connell heritage trail has been opened in Cahirciveen, Co Kerry, by the Bishop of Kerry, Dr William Murphy.
The official opening of the trail took place a few days ago at the Barracks Heritage Centre in the town, and as part of the ceremony, a Cahirciveen seine boat, The Liberator, was taken up the River Fertha by her cox and 12 man crew. Seine boats are unique to south Kerry and regattas are held throughout the summer in the area.
The new heritage trail is funded in part by the South Kerry Leader 2 Programme. Tourist information, recommending where to go and what to see, is available. Walkers will have access to accounts of historical sites; colour photographs; and maps of the area.
The trail is four miles long, and according to Mr Kevin Murphy, of Cahirciveen Tourism, it should take no more than 2 1/2 hours to complete - 2 1/2 hours! A four mile walk should not detain any one longer than an hour. Does it mean they are doing it on their hands and knees? This one will have to be checked out!
At the entrance to Cahirciveen is a wonderful monument depicting the monks rowing out to the Skellig rocks, some eight miles off the coast.
The monks colonised the Skelligs - Great Skellig, Skellig Michael and the Little Skellig in AD 600 and founded a monastery there which contains the earliest example of beehive huts. The 44 acre Great Skellig rises 714 feet above sea level.
Some years ago, tourists were prevented from visiting the Skelligs because of concern over the preservation of the remaining sites. However, the Office of Public Works carried out remedial work on the monastery and the beehive huts, and tourists are once again allowed on to both islands.