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Ireland
TRAVEL
By
Train www.irishrail.ie
By bus www.buseireann.ie
By air www.corkairport.com
My Ireland Tour Guided Tour Ireland
Local weather www.ireland.com/weather/cities/cork.htm
Local links
The Lee Valley is West Cork's best kept secret. Known as West Cork's lake district it abounds with mountains, lakes and rivers and a quiet rural landscape all of which are relatively unexplored by visitors. With the historic town of Macroom as its capital, this is Art O Laoghaire country, Sean O Riada country
Lee Valley Walking
Bespoke day treks, walking breaks, hiking holidays
T 026 45642 M 087 2231225
Of
The Wood Native Irish woodturning
Viewing by appointment at Coolnacaheragh
(a mile from Ballyvourney on the N22)
T 087 2130471 See Facebook gallery click here
Traditional
Music sessions and An Siopa
Host to Lee Valley Walking mid-week breaks
www.millsinn.ie T 026 45237
Four Star Castle Hotel, Macroom
Host to Lee Valley Walking weekend breaks
www.castlehotel.ie T 026 41074 / 1850 924 123
Tir na Spideoga Fishing Lodge
T
026
47151
E irishpike@gmail.com
Findus House Farmhouse Guesthouse
www.findushouse.ie T 026 40023
Gougane Barra Hotel
T
026 47069
F 026 47226
The West Cork Hotel
Prince August Toy Soldier Factory Shop Kilnamartyra
www.princeaugust.ie
www.edmancollection.com
T 026 40222
Macroom Bookshop
T 026 41888 www.macroombookshop.com
Coolavokig Pottery
T 026 40172 www.coolavokigpottery.com
Denis Cronin - fly angling guide
T 086 1713909
Carrig Waterski and Wakeboard centre
087 2311179 (Sean)
086 8594327 (Cormac)
C&H Cab and Mini-bus hire
Contact:
Chriostoir Desmond
T 086 8364061
THE LEE VALLEY
The
Lee Valley
Geographically,
the area that has become known as the Lee Valley comprises the catchment
area of the River Lee, incorporating within its borders the distinct
valleys of its major tributaries including the Sullane, Foherish, Laney
and others.
The Lee rises in the hills above Gougane Barra, the spot that St Finbarr chose for his 7th century hermitage which today remains a centre of pilgrimage. After many riverine adventures the Lee joins the sea below Cork City which was also founded by the Saint. The journey of the river mimics the saints own life-journey from a hermetic and idyllic setting among the Shehy Mountains - one of the most spectacularly beautiful settings in Ireland - to the busy, people centred city of Cork, also known as the ‘real capital’ of Ireland.
The upper Lee Valley is encircled by the Shehy (Carran 567m), Derrynasaggart (Paps 694m) and Boggeragh Mountains (Mushersmore 644m) and the glaciated valley displays a range of geographic features and their consequently beautiful landscapes.
Travelling downstream on the Lee, we meet Ballingeary (Beal Atha an Ghaorthaidh) in the parish of Uibh Laoire, also containing the villages of Inchigeelagh, Kilbarry and Toonsbridge. This is the Lee Valley’s Lake district, with four miles of unspoilt lake and mountain scenery.
Kilmichael famed in song and in story also lies downstream on the Lee and the events surrounding the historic 1921 ambush still remain controversial today.
Downstream of Toonsbridge the Lee transforms itself into the extensive alluvial forest of the Gearagh - the only one west of the Rhine. The network of narrow channels demarcate islands growing oak, ash birch and willow. The Gearagh is a world heritage Ramsar site and is protected under both Irish and European environmental law.
Further downstream again, the river forms the Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra reservoirs set in rich rolling countryside.
The
Múscraí Gaeltacht
Within the Lee Valley catchment lies the culturally distinct are of
the Múscraí Gaeltacht one of the few remaining Irish speaking
areas in Ireland. Here you will find the villages of Baile Bhúirne
(Ballyvourney), Baile Mhic Íre (Ballymakeera) and Cúil
Áodha (Coolea) on the river Sullane, Beál Átha
‘n Ghaorthaidh (Ballingeary) and Guagán Barra (Gougane
Barra) on the river Lee and the villages of Reidh na nDoirí (Renaniree)
and Cill na Martra (Kilnamartra) astride the ridge that forms a watershed
between the two valleys.
The way-marked-way the Beara Breifne Way traverses this region from Gougane Barra and Ballingeary to Ballyvourney and onwards north to Millstreet taking in some of the most unspoilt and varied countryside en route. The Múscraí Gaeltacht is the only Irish speaking area on the entire route lending particular importance to this section.
It was in Cúil Áodha that Sean Ó Riada lived and worked composing some of the most memorable Irish music of the twentieth century.
Macroom
Macroom which lies on the Sullane River is the main market and economic
centre of the region. It boasts a wonderful traditional market square
and the remains of Macroom Castle and its demesne which, bequeathed
to the townspeople forms a centrepiece to the town. Tuesday is the main
market day with a second on Saturday when the livestock mart also takes
place. Bealick Mill, which historically powered Macroom as the first
town to have electric street-lighting in Ireland has been restored and
is open to the public during the summer months. The town also boasts
a thriving E Park which promotes environmentally freindly practice in
business.
To the north of the town lie two regions in which the local heritage has been particularly well-preserved; Carriganima and Aghinagh which lie in the Foherish and Laney valleys respectively. Both have way-marked trails with excellently preserved examples of archaeological and historical sites.
The Lee Valley is ideally situated as a base to explore further west in Cork and Kerry while still having access to the cultural life of the 'real' capital.
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