At the weekend we decided to check out the boardwalk at Aughadahore near Carrigart and Glen village.  A number of people had told me it was great and worth a visit and I found they weren’t wrong.

The weather had been changeable all morning but when we arrived the sun was shining and the sky was blue with just a few fluffy clouds.  Which was lovely from inside the car.  Getting out of the car however, we found it was a different story!  Very, very breezy and the wind was bitingly cold.  On went the jackets (and a woolly hat on me) and off we went.

The boardwalk is very well made and winds its way through sandy dunes to the magnificent horseshoe-shaped Tramore beach.  It is also wide enough that people can pass each other without anyone having to stand aside. 

Along the way there are viewing points where walkers can stop off and take in the scenery including great views of Muckish mountain across the water.  There are seating areas in a couple of them but sadly none (yet?) further along the boardwalk.  Lazy walkers, like me, might appreciate a seat but as the boardwalk is only 1km long they aren’t really necessary. 
At the end of the boardwalk you can step off it and straight on to Tramore beach. 

The sandy beach is about 7km long so for people who want a long walk, it is there for the taking.  Along the beach you can enjoy views back to Muckish and across to Trabeg (the smaller beach that runs alongside the village of Downings). 
One thing I noticed about Mamore beach is the abundance of shells there.  Many beaches I go to are not as rich in shells as is this one.  However, the sand is a bit softer so quite arduous to walk at any pace on.  Probably good for toning the legs though.

We walked about 2km along the beach enjoying the sounds of the seabirds and the Atlantic rolling in to the shore. 
Once back on the boardwalk and back to the start I noticed the building at the entrance serves tea/coffee and cakes.  Fortunately it was still closed so no cakes were damaged in the making of this blog post.

TO GET THERE:
From Carrigart on the road to Glen you come to a fork in the road.  The road to the left takes you to Glen village and the road to the right takes you to Lackagh Bridge and on to Creeslough.  Take the road to the right and a little way along it you will come to the entrance to Cuan na Ri, a holiday resort.  Drive through the large gates and you will come to a carpark.  There you can park up and then walk over to the small green gate to the right of the building there and that takes you straight to the boardwalk.

NOTES:

1. Do NOT let dogs off their leads.There is cattle and sheep on the lands around the boardwalk and farmers do not want their animals disturbed by roaming dogs.I also noted a single wire running along each side of the boardwalk, attached to wooden posts, this may or may not be an electric fence.I didn’t test it but I am sure dogs would not like it should they touch it.
2. If you do take a dog and s/he does their business, pick it up and bag it.The boardwalk is completely clean of dog mess and I would hope it be kept this way.
3. Take a jacket.As I said, it can be windy.
4. And obviously, leave no litter.
5. If you want to make a really long walk/run of it, you can park at the start of Tramore Beach (near the Rosapenna Hotel, Downings) and walk the beach (7km), then the boardwalk (2km there and back) and back to your car (7km) making a total of 16km.

 

Exciting times for Donegal when the Venture Offshore Cup Race 2016 races into Killybegs. They arrive in Killybegs on Thursday the 16th of June on Leg 5 of the race from Galway and leave on Friday the 17th of June for Belfast with the leading boats expected around noon.

As the boats can’t race into Killybegs harbour, the Venture Offshore Cup organisers have added an extra Leg of the race especially for Donegal and this will take the racing boats past Killybegs and out to Muckross Head thereby affording spectators a chance to see the boats racing past in their full glory.

They then make their way into Killybegs harbour and the brand new marina there to board up for the night of festivities ahead.

Killybegs will have on-street entertainment for the boat crews and the many visitors expected in Killybegs that day to savour the excitement and join in the festivities planned. 

Muckross Head, County Donegal

Boat photos by kind courtesy of Aidan Foley, Event Director, VENTURE CUP

DETAILS
Thursday, 16th June 2016 (Leg 5) Galway to Killybegs, County Donegal
Friday, 17th June 2016 (Leg 6) Leaves Killybegs, County Donegal for Belfast

The Venture website: http://www.ventureoffshorecup.com/
Their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VentureOffshoreCup/

More about Killybegs and more photos of the town http://www.welovedonegal.com/killybegs.html 

Killybegs Tourist Office: http://www.killybegs.ie/

'GUTZ' COMES TO LETTERKENNY
'Gutz', an original musical written by David Oliver, comes to An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny this weekend.  The production includes a 10 piece live band, twenty five original songs, and a large cast of over 40, all of whom come from Donegal, Tyrone or Derry.

'Gutz' tells of the internship of a young woman called Casey Carson and her journey in New York City as she battles work, life pressures and sexism in the workplace.  It is a musical for today with something for all to enjoy.

The show has already sold out at the Alley Theatre in Strabane so book your tickets for this weekend in Letterkenny via any of the links below.  (Friday & Saturday, 15th & 16th April, at 8pm).  On the Saturday night there is an after show party in the Orchard Inn, Letterkenny where guests  will be entertained by the Gutz In House Band. 

Following the production in Letterkenny, Gutz will be at the Millennium Forum, Derry on Friday 13th and Saturday the 14th of May at 7.30pm. 
GUTZ
"These four begin their internship with the promise that one will be offered a full time position as an associate. This year in the life of an intern creates stresses ...

Casey Carson is a strong, fiercely independent, highly intelligent and very attractive 23 year old from Boise, Idaho. As she works within the ranks of Davis Power Inc, she ambitiously envisages an eventual position within New York City's business elite. In the cosmopolitan hotbed of a 21st century city, where success sees no colour or gender, Casey has left her quaint hometown at just the right time - or has she?  

 'Gutz' is an explosive, highly charged musical exploration of the seductive, hedonistic and deceptive nature of life in a metropolis, where the surface of 'progress' and 'yes we can' idealism hides the harsh reality that the more things change the more they stay the same. We meet a host of characters consumed with power, ambition and ego, who all, in some way, will have to face the truth behind the hollow mask of the neon lights. The themes of love, harassment, infidelity and personal struggle intertwine to reveal a story reflective of the times we now live in."

TO BOOK TICKETS:
http://www.angrianan.com/event/gutz-the-musical/
Or telephone An Grianan on 074 9120777 (from outside the Republic 00353 74 9120777).

Read more about the composer of Gutz, David Oliver, and his other works on his website: http://www.davidoliver.info/index.html

WEBSITE: http://www.gutzthemusical.com/