Recent events

Clogher Valley Show

Blackwater Bonanza at Benburb

Clogher Valley Show

25th July 2007

Click on the image below to view the slideshow

Clogher Valley Show 25/07/2007

Dungannon & District rambling club hosted a day-long celebration of walking based around the beautiful Benburb Valley on Saturday 21st July.

The recent heavy rainfall had left conditions underfoot somewhat muddy but only added to the glory of the River Blackwater as it charged through the limestone gorge in full spate.

A total of 57 ramblers from 16 different towns and villages on both sides of the border met at the Servite Priory where Brendan McAnallan of the O’Neill Country Historical Society set the scene for the day with a brief outline of the turbulent history of this area and the strategic significance of the Blackwater.

Walk leaders from the Dungannon club, May Walker, Joan Hughes and Bernie Shields then guided the ramblers through Benburb Valley and onwards along the Ulster Way route, following the river via Blackwatertown, Charlemont and Moy to the Argory.

In the afternoon Benburb Valley echoed to the sounds of childrens’ voices as eco-guides from both Dungannon and Armagh councils led a further group of 55 children and adults from Emyvale, Truagh, Aughnacloy, Derrynoose, Keady and Dungannon along the recently opened Ecotrail.

This was one in the series of rambling events organised by the Blackwater Regional Partnership’s community support programme with funding from Border Action through the INTERREG 111A Programme for Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Each of the rambling clubs within the partnership area of Armagh, Dungannon & South Tyrone and Monaghan have hosted events that showcase the best of what their area has to offer in terms of landscape, heritage and hospitality. These events are open to everyone – so please join us on our next ramble.

Join our Next Event!

On Saturday 25th August the Washingbay walking club invite you all to enjoy a walk with a little less effort along the flat terrain of the Coalisland Canal towpath and onwards along laneways, bog ramparts, minor country roads and riverbank, following the River Blackwater on its final journey to the Loughshore (approx 9 miles). Registration is at the Washingbay Centre at 10.30am. You can also choose to do a shorter 4 mile route with a later registration time of 12 noon. We have followed the course of the River Blackwater from its humble beginnings in the Clogher Valley and Sliabh Hills and now you have the opportunity to follow the last part of its journey to reach Lough Neagh – we hope you will join us!