Dublin South RTA

ITINERARY

Tour to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Wed. 4 TH June 2025

9.00 am Leaving Club na Múinteoirí pick up – City North Hotel

10.. Tea break at Lusk, Applegreen.

11.30 Arriving at Hillsborough- a little time to walk down the Village.

12.15 Guided tour of the House- Group 1

12.30 Guided tour of the House- Group 2

1.45- 3.00 On exiting the House you are free to either go down to the Village

for lunch, or walk through the Gardens to arrive at The Weston Pavilion which

is their café. This is a downhill walk of 20 mins approx.

3.00 pm – 4.00 pm

You are free to re-visit the Gardens – entry through the Walled Garden.

4.00 pm Gather at reception for walk to appointed bus point for collection.

Booking Form BOOKING FORM

Day Trip to Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Co. Down

Date; Wed. 4 th June 2025

Bus leaving from Club na Múinteoirí at 9.00 am

Returning here at 6.00 pm

COST €45 pp (Coach and entrance fee).

All food for the day is purchased at your own time and discretion.

 

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Family Contact

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Bank Iban…IE71 AIBK 93210802747033

Bic ……AIBK IE 2D

Payee; Cumann Muinteoiri Scortha – it only takes 10 of those digits

 

I paid by Cheque …………………………….Bank Transfer ……………………..Cash………………………………

 

Phone ; Mary – 087 6166319

Post to ; Mary Enright, 7, May St., Drumcondra, D. 3. D03 KX26

Beautiful but quite demanding walk around the Sugar Loaf last Wednesday. Well done to the 18 people who did the walk in record time. Great company and a very enjoyable day. 

Our hike will be The Circuit of the Great Sugarloaf.

 Description: cars- Kilmacanogue South -Glencap -Shoulder of Great Sugarloaf – tracks. 

This hike will be along an undulating and rugged track with a very steep descent at the end. 

Hiking boots are essential and walking poles are highly recommended for this stretch. 

Have rain gear, a flask and something to eat.

Distance: 10km, ascent:350 metres, time taken 4-4.5 hours.

Directions to the start:

Exit 11 Southbound at Junction 9, over the bridge, go right and park along the verge beyond the “no parking” poles, not in the Glenview Hotel. As there is not a lot of parking try to car share if possible. 

 

Leaving at 11 am 

Leader: Helen Rohan 

Mob: 0868717696.

Our cycle on Tuesday next, 15 th April, is from Inchicore by the bank of the Grand Canal to Adamstown from where, we will cycle to Lucan village; we have our morning coffee / lunch in Lucan. From Lucan we cross the River Liffey and cycle on road via the Strawberry Beds passing the Anglers’ Rest and on towards Chapelizod where we cross the River Liffey once again to enter the War Memorial Park in Islandbridge / Kilmainham.

Our meeting point is the Blackhorse Inn (now closed) in Inchicore beside the canal and we set off from there at 10.30am. Please make sure that your bike is in good roadworthy condition and that you wear a helmet and hi-viz top.

Micheál Ó Gríofa

Pat Fitzgerald

The beautiful weather today attracted a crowd of 34 walkers, who all appeared to enjoy the coastal walk from Portrane to Rogerstown Estuary, braving a short stretch where we had to scramble over rocks to escape the waves! We watched the sand martins nesting in holes on the badly eroded dunes along the beach. Lunch was back in Portrane, after which we continued the walk on the coastal path to Donabate, taking us back through St Ita’s Hospital where we admired the fine red brick buildings, now mostly unused. The former staff houses, thankfully now being restored, were especially appealing. A very enjoyable day.

Leader: Una McDonald Phone 087 293 2572

Start: front of Bord Gais Theatre at red Poles on Grand Canal Dock

Dodder, Grand Canal Dock to Donnybrook, Return to Ballsbridge.

Route: Outwards: GCD, Southside of Liffey, Mouth of Canal + Dodder, Three Locks,

Dodder on left to Ringsend, Dodder on rt to Lansdowne Rd, to Ballsbridge.

South of Herbert Park Hotel and Herbert Park, Dodder on left, to Donnybrook

Greenway, Dodder on Left, Bective Rangers Football ground etc to right. Time 1.5

hrs

Return: to Ballsbridge. Time 30mins. Lunch or snack in Roly’s Restaurant if not too

busy. Reasonable prices. If not enough seating, depends on our numbers (a booking

would have to be made days ahead), we can go to Herbert Park Hotel, more

expensive but very spacious.

Public Transport: Dart to Grand Canal or Westland Row, Buses to Grand Canal

Quay Stop 353 C1,2,3,4 etc., Red Luas to Mayor Sq. North of Liffey, all within 10mins of start.

Our easier walk this month on Wednesday April 9th  , is a coastal one from Portrane to Rogerstown Estuary, back to Portrane and then along the coastal path to Donabate, returning to Portrane via St Ita’s Hospital.  Total time about 3.5 hours. 

Meet at Portrane beside the beach at 11am, to start walk at 11.15am. The later time is because high tide is at 10.27am and we need to wait for at least 45 minutes for the beach to be accessible.  

It takes about 40 minutes to get to Portrane from Rathfarnham/ Templeogue. Unfortunately, using public transport to get get there is not really an option, as people would have to be collected from Donabate.. 

Directions to Portrane from the southside of the city: 

Take the M50 to the airport exit, then follow M1 for about 6.5 km. At junction 4, take the R132 signed Rush, Donabate, Skerries. Turn right, crossing over the M1 to the next roundabout. Here, take the 2nd exit onto the R126 for Donabate, Portrane. Drive almost 7km to Portrane village, turning left just beyond the green area beside the beach. There is a small grey toilet block here. There is space for quite a few cars but it’s best to try to travel in groups, if possible.  

Parts of the path are very rough and stony, so boots or strong walking shoes are best. Bring lunch and a drink- nothing is open in Portrane at that time of day. Bring Binoculars also if you are interested in wildlife. Rogerstown Estuary is well known for its bird life. Also, a small seat or beach chair is useful and can be left in the car,  as we will be having lunch when we get back to Portrane, before we continue to Donabate. (Lunch can also be left in the car). 

If you need further information,   

Contact  

Deirdre McGloughlin  087-7741953. 

 

Next miscellany is Tuesday 8th April  @ 11.30 in the Teachers’ Club.

Nollaig Feiritéar will give a presentation for about an hour entitled 

A riot of words 3

€5 payable at door to cover a light lunch.

Hope to see a good crowd there!

Doreen & Carmel

A crowd of about 25 turned up last Wednesday on a glorious day for our walk in Howth led by Katriona and Isobel. A very enjoyable walk, taking in the Cliff path, the Bog of Frogs, the golf course, passing the placid Hylan Coos to descend by the old tram line, arriving back opposite the Dart Station after about 4 hours. Well done everyone !

16 Happy Cyclists hit the trail to Malahide today (April 2) in blazing sunshine !