Photo: Courtesy www.upperchurch.ie
The beauty of the world hath made me sad, this beauty that will pass;
Sometimes my heart hath shaken with great joy to see a leaping squirrel in a tree,
Or a red lady-bird upon a stalk, or little rabbits in a field at evening,
Lit by a slanting sun, or some green hill where shadows drifted by,
Some quiet hill where mountainy man hath sown and soon would reap; near to the gate of Heaven.
Each time I read this text I often wonder if the poet Padraic Pearse, when penning this poem “The Wayfarer,” was writing about the magnificent wild unspoilt and uncontrolled heavenly beauty, that is Upperchurch, here in Co Tipperary. (Click on image for larger resolution.)
If you have not yet been to visit Upperchurch, to experience that of which I speak, then you need to halt awhile and pay your respects to one of the last areas left in this country, which offers a real Irish welcome without the commercialism, which one now expects to find associated with Irish tourism.
Your excuse for a visit comes next Sunday, March 11th, when a walk with all participants using the Irish language, (Well, as much as possible) will be held starting from Upperchurch at 4.30p.m. This event is part of Seachtain na Gaeilge activities and will take the Eamon an Chnoic Loop over 8 km in length. (By the way, excellent weather is forecast for this area.)
Registration is free and there will be an optional meal available afterwards at a cost of €10, if booked at time of registration. There will also be traditional Irish entertainment to kick off the St. Patrick’s week festivities. All are welcome including those with little or no knowledge of the Irish language.
Tá tráthnóna pléisiúrtha sultmhar sláintiúil geallta do chách. Bígí ann. (Translated: A healthy fun enjoyable evening is guaranteed. Highly recommended.)
Other planned walking events in Upperchurch will include the Easter Sunrise walk, beginning half an hour before sunrise this Easter Sunday, April 8th and a walking and cycling fundraiser on May 6th in aid of the local section of the Beara Breifne Greenway.
Further details of these and other walking and cycling events can be obtained at www.upperchurch.ie or Phone 0504 54443 any weekday 10:00am to 2:00pm or Phone: 086 0518934 or 0504 54284 at other times.
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