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Lough Curra

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Lough Curra.

We were invited to Michael (Rose’s nephew) and Rachael’s wedding to be held in Aherlow, County Tipperary, and always a good reason to visit the Emerald Isle. I went to my usual set of internet tools to see what lay around the hotel. The Galtees, with Galtymore topping out at 3,009′ are Ireland’s highest inland mountain range and I found a nice circular route that took in Galtymore, Galtyberg and Cush a nice bit of exercise before the celebrations.

Nearer the time I started watching the weather reports and about 9 out of 10 days would always show “a chance of showers” which was not what I was hoping for.

Galtees smothered in cloud.
Galtees smothered in cloud.

On arrival I gazed out longingly across the lush green valley to the clouded peaks and came to the realization I had better not become a tourist statistic getting lost in the clouds the day before the wedding.

Below the clouds at 574 meters lies Lough Curra, the highest in the Galtees, and so we were off before it could get totally socked in.

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False start up the road.

We find the deserted car park, do the locals know something or are we just crazy?, and Rose impatiently heads out while I faff with my GPS. I follow, then pause to consult my trusty toy and shout out: “We’re going the wrong way”. Back to the car and, if I’d read the signs, take the correct gravel road to the right.

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Heading out.
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Looking back.
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Signage is always comforting.
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Out of the forest, over the stile and into the open.
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Quickly realize we’re in sheep country.
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Signage.

Our car is somewhere down there in the trees and our route had been on road or trail through the forest. After the stile we were on goat trails that crisscrossed all over the place but we headed up the slope looking for the above reassuring posts and wondering what happens at the end of them.

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Decision rock.

The way up to Galtymore is to continue upwards behind where Rose is standing. I had already decided to avoid the clouds and so we veered left along the upper converging cut line.

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Couldn’t help but take photo’s of the locals.
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The fashion color indicates who owns the sheep as this land is for public grazing.
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All woolly & cozy.
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Around the corner and the wind picked up.

The “trail” we are following is known as “the old ice road” which had been used to transport ice down from the lake to be used for refrigeration in the houses below.

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Lough Curra. The hooded anorak says it all – a cold blustery day.
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Water is flowing, no ice yet.
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Wild beauty.
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Another aberration of me & my camera, instantly created twin sheep.
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That’s Cush in the background, the smallest of the peaks I’d hoped to hike.
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Self-catering cottages where we stayed.
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Mother and Father of the groom.
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Ava and her dad who is also the grooms brother and best man for the day.
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Groom’s family photo.
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Niece Rosemary and fiance Kevin.
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Yes, we were there.
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Rachael & Michael.
Taking care of "Charley" for Ava.
Taking care of “Charley” for Ava.
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In vogue to have a vintage car for the wedding.
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A tent in the car park serving hot tea – minutes later it rained.
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Next day a walk around the hotel.
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The hikers.
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Atop Rock an Thorabh (the rock of the boar!).
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It was a short visit and we got the traditional Irish send off at Dublin airport.