A wide variety of events on offer at Wexford Walking Trail’s Festival 2018
September 21st – September 23rd
Walks at Gorey, Croghan, Oulart and Tara Hill.
This year’s Wexford Walking Trail festival has, we hope, something for everyone. It will provide walks
in the footsteps of the founding family of Gorey, in the natural beauty of our mixed forests, bring us
to see the equinox – weather permitting – in the wonderful surrounds of Tulach a’tSolais on Oulart
and give us a flavour of Wexford’s stunning coastline with music, heritage and history added in along
the way for good measure.
On Friday September 21st at 5.30pm, the festival will open with an easy walk in Gorey’s new town
trail, Ramsfort Woods. We will meet at the nearby Teagasc office – ample parking – and will walk to
the nearby trailhead following registration. Willie Willoughby, local historian, will tell the story of the
Ram family who founded Gorey, and on whose lands the new trail is situated. Following the trail,
everyone is invited back once again to the Teagasc office for refreshments and the official launch of
Wexford Walking Trail’s Walking Festival 2018. The launch will be performed by Colette Walsh,
recently appointed Wexford Trails’ Development Officer at approximately 7.15pm. There will also be
music at the launch.
On Saturday 22nd September, there is a variety of walks. The morning walk will start with registration at
The Gap pub, Ballythomas, at 9.30 am to give us time to get to Croghan for a 10am walk start. Here there will
be two options, a longer walk to the summit and a shorter easier route which has interesting local
historical features en route. We return to the Gap pub for lunch (€5 for soup, sandwiches, tea/coffee
/ biscuits) and then on to Oulart village for the next trail – 40 minute drive. During the lunch there
will be a showing of the short film Titania’s Palace, the magnificent doll’s house of international
repute, but with strong Wexford connections.
Registration at 3:00pm in the Church car park in the village of Oulart, then a short stroll around the
interesting monuments in this historical village. Led by local historian Brian O’Cleirigh, we will get
insights and information on Oulart’s important place in Irish history. Along the Jean Kennedy Smith
route, complimentary refreshments will be provided in the House of Stories.
All fingers and toes will then be crossed as we make our way to the summit of Oulart Hill in time for
the autumn equinox in the stunning setting of Tulach a’tSolais, in whose acoustic walls will be a
wonderful concert featuring Michael Fortune and other local musicians.
To finish off an enjoyable afternoon of walking, there will be a festival dinner in the Upton Court
Hotel, Kilmcuckridge at 8.15 pm. (15 minutes from Oulart) Guests can avail of a special rate of €25
for a three-course meal with tea or coffee. This evening promises to be a great social get-together
and everyone is welcome to attend.
The final day of the festival, Sunday 23rd September offers an interesting amalgam of the two Tara
Hill trails. Meeting at the Church carpark at 11 am for registration, today’s final festival walk will take
a 2-hour loop to the top of Tara Hill and back down, with many interesting features both natural and
man-made along the way.Lunch will be available afterwards in the local Tara Vale pub – €13.
Music will draw our festival to a close. In order to facilitate arrangements, walkers are requested to register
in advance if possible by emailing [email protected], or texting Mary on 086 1633341
or Catherine on 0874189740.
For further information on any of the walks please visit www.wexfordwalkingtrail.ie/festival.
Wexford Walking Trail would like to thank their sponsors Wexford County Council for their
assistance. For a full schedule of events please visit the website www.wexfordwalkingtrail.ie/festival
