Though I’m trying to keep Sunday’s free of this kind of activity I couldn’t pass on this when I stumbled upon in the files during the week.
The photograph was taken on this Sunday in September 2001 and in the relative innocence of the world just two days before the awful September 11th ‘Twin Towers’ terrorist attack of that year.
Many are Called …
Back then in Castleisland, twenty six walkers had been chosen to tackle the 40 mile trek from Dingle to Castleisland on Friday; September 28 2001.
The walk was organised to aid in the refurbishment plans for the local community centre.
I wrote the following account in The Kerryman which appeared later in that week.
Spirit of the Pioneers
In the spirit of the pioneers of the project over a quarter of a century ago, the walkers have been pounding the roads over the past few weeks in order not to note themselves on the day.
Most of the participants are seasoned walkers anyway and while the journey is long they can be consoled by the fact that they are heading for home with every stride.
Group Sessions
They have had some group sessions to date and at 8-30am on Sunday morning they walked to Ballycarty cross and home. Sponsorship cards are doing the rounds at present and the organisers are appealing for a generous response to the fund.
Age of the Walkers
An interesting aside to the affair, and one which is generating great interest in the pubs of the town, is the chance to guess the accumulative age of the walkers.
Much talking and tracing is being done in an effort to put an exact date on the various walkers at a £1 a time – of course.
