Author: niamhmurray

Tracks & Trails Series, 11, begins Friday, 5th April 7.30pm RTE1,  and every following Friday for 6 Episodes.

Episode 1. Friday, 5th April 7.30pm, RTE1  Co.Waterford. 

The Boolas Loop and Dunmore East Coastal Path,

Presented by Journalist, Author and Podcaster Nicola Tallant.

Episode  2.  Friday, 12th April 7.30pm RTE1  – Co.Offaly.

Glinsk Forest, Croghan Hill & The Grand Canal Greenway from Ballycommon to Rahan.

Presented by Author of Adult & Children’s books, Sinéad Moriarty

Episode  3. Friday, 19th April  7.30pm, RTE1 – Ulster.

Gortin Glen, Co Tyrone and The Monaghan Way

Presented by historian, Professor Diarmaid Ferriter

Episode 4. Friday, 26th April, RTE1 Co.Kerry.

Tralee to Fenit and The Mass Loop Derrynane,

Presented by Camogie All Star and commentator, Ursula Jacob

Episode 5. Friday 3rd May, RTE1 Co.Kilkenny. 

 Kilkenny City to Bennetsbridge,on the South Leinster Way from Graiguenamangh to Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum,  Inistoige,

Presented By Director of Science for Society,  Dr. Ruth Freeman

Episode 6.  Friday 10th May, RTE1, Co.Tipperary.

On St Declan’s Way from Cahir to the Knockmealdown Mountains,

Presented by journalist and former RTE political editor Tommie Gorman. 

Tracks & Trails returns for its 11th Season with six episodes across 7 counties on the Island of Ireland.   Six presenters explore trails in Waterford, Offaly, Monaghan and Tyrone, Kerry, Kilkenny and Tipperary.   In this uplifting series, which represents what is best about our wild and natural landscapes our presenters take us on a journey along some of the most beautiful trails on the Island of Ireland.  In this season the presenters get outside into the wilds of Ireland and immerse themselves in the beautiful Irish scenery.   The presenters get a chance to link their passions for history and poetry, science and nature along the trails that they discover.  The people that they meet bring colour and context to where the trails take them and as a viewer we get a real insight into the presenter as they bring their own personality, pace and perception of their experiences to where they walk.  Each trail is challenging in its own way,  but all of these walks follow established national waymarked trails, including, St Declan’s Way, The Monaghan Way,  The South Leinster way, The Royal Canal Greenway, The Kerry Way as well as well trodden riverside and cliff paths.

Ulster

Irish historian and broadcaster, Professor Diarmaid Ferriter travels to Ulster to complete two trails on either side of the border, one in the Sperrin mountain range in Co.Tyrone and the other along the scenic Monaghan Way.

Starting out 10km from Omagh, his first walk is a 12KM loop in the Gortin Glen, an area beloved by locals for generations.  The area has many walk options and Diarmaid is following a trail which takes in the forest park, a waterfall, spectacular views across the Sperrins and of course no visit to Northern Ireland would be complete without an encounter with a giant.  Diarmaid is a lover of poetry and he finds plenty of opportunity to recall lines of verse that link with the landscape and with periods of history.   Diarmaid enjoys the company of local musician and writer Declan Forde and historian Dr Patrick Fitzgerald as they walk and talk about the people here and their deep connections with the land.  The route itself changes constantly and includes forest paths, wide pathways, proper mountain paths but is well waymarked .   This 12km loop is a challenging and beautiful hike with sweeping views and a variety of terrain underfoot.

Diarmaid then travels to Co.Monaghan to Patrick Kavanagh country.  He starts his walk from the Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Iniskeen where he meets the manager Darren McCreesh. Both men share a deep love and knowledge of the life and work of Kavanagh and enjoy swapping stories about Kavanagh and his links to this area.  This walk follows a trail for 18.5km along the recently upgraded Monaghan Way and is a combination of quiet country roads, cross country trails and riverside and lakeside approaches. Wanting to see first hand the landscapes that inspired Patrick Kavanagh, Diarmaid enjoys the time he has here with Kavanagh’s words and spirit. This is a varied walk and to complete this journey Diarmaid crosses fields, disused railway lines and quiet roads to end at beautiful Loch Muckno where he feels he has seen the essence of the place that inspired Patrick Kavanagh .

During the proceedings of Monaghan County Council’s monthly meeting, on Monday the 8^th of April 2024, local councillors, together with senior officials, received a briefing note update, via E-mail, from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth advising that “31 beds will be provided for people seeking refuge in Ireland who are International Protection Applicants in HQ Accommodation, 50 Main Street, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.”

Subsequent to this communique, representatives of Monaghan County Council contacted Department officials to advise that in relation to the proposal at No. 50 Main Street, Carrickmacross, there continues to remain a number of non-compliance issues pertaining to Fire Safety, Building Regulations and Planning, and respective statutory requirements under the Fire Service Act, Building Control Act and Planning Act. In response, the Department confirmed that the proposal to use HQ Accommodation as a temporary emergency accommodation centre has been placed on hold until all concerns are addressed.

The elected members of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District convened a Special meeting of the Municipal District Council on Tuesday the 9^th of April 2024, to discuss the wider public concern, and the lack of consultation by Department officials with the elected members prior to the release of the briefing note update on the 8^th of April 2024. Arising from this special sitting of the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District Council, the elected members sought an urgent meeting with Minister Roderic O’Gorman, Minister Heather Humphreys, local Oireachtas members, and senior officials from Monaghan County Council. Accordingly, a meeting with local Oireachtas members, including Minister Heather Humphreys, and senior members of the executive took place on Friday the 12^th of April 2024.

Arising from that meeting the elected members of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District have issued the following collective statement:

“As locally elected representatives, we are duty-bound to protect the interests, not only of the communities we serve, but also the wellbeing of those joining our communities. It is therefore paramount that we are kept fully informed on developments of this nature and the processes that apply in the selection of properties for use as temporary emergency accommodation centres. As recently as last November, we were advised by council officials that the property concerned was not considered fit for purpose as an emergency accommodation centre. At Friday’s meeting, it was confirmed to us, that in the considered opinion of the officials of Monaghan County Council, the property referred to as HQ Accommodation continues to remain unsuitable as an emergency accommodation centre. Moreover, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has advised that the proposal to use HQ Accommodation as a temporary emergency accommodation centre has now been placed on hold. This apparently contradictory communication from the Department, in the space of less than a week, does little to inspire public confidence and is totally unacceptable.

We are determined to ensure complete transparency in the procedures applied in welcoming international protection applicants into our communities. Fundamental to this, is ensuring that the accommodation provided meets the required standards. Providers of  facilities must be held to account, and greater oversight exercised in the selection of prospective properties. Basic humanitarian needs, including fit for purpose accommodation, medical care and education provision must be prioritised in the selection of suitable facilities. Public monies cannot, and must not, be spent on sub-standard facilities. Over the coming week, we the elected members of Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District, through the offices of our respective parties, shall be seeking an urgent meeting with Minister Roderic O’Gorman and his department officials to provide answers. The current situation cannot continue.”