​Walks and Trails Group Celebrate Their End of Summer Season

The local Walks and Trails group is a voluntary run group of friends walking, recently came together in late September  for their end of summer gathering in Brodericks, Kilconnell having enjoyed a new 10km walk in Woodlawn, taking the golden mile where Woodlawn house and additional buildings could be seen along with information signage;  thanks to Woodlawn Heritage group.

Over the last two months, they’ve enjoyed many new walks with loads of interesting groups in the locality. They also coupled with the Athlone to Ballinasloe greenway group for a walk in Blackwater, Co Offaly. Lawerencetown Community group also joined them for the Culliagh loop in August.  Other walks in 2020 included routes from town to Valerie’s in Aughrim, Spinning Wheel in Mullagh, Mother’s in Kiltormer, Dubarry to Millars, Ballydangan.

Twenty of their walkers completed a leader's course with Croi Ireland with the support of Galway Sports Partnership who also gave them a loan of some Nordic Poles which they have had the pleasure of spending some evenings out in Poolboy Bog and through Garbally College grounds. Walkers are encouraged to participate in recording data through the biodiversity.ie app where some rare sightings of the marsh fritillary butterfly and bee orchid were registered. 
With the support of Ballinasloe Area Community Development, Ballinasloe Tidy Towns and local litter warden, walkers organised three major cleanups in Poolboy bogs where some of the local community came out and gave their time picking rubbish to restore and preserve these areas of beauty. Their walkers continued to occupy these areas in Poolboy various times during the week to discourage illegal dumping.

They have a Facebook page where their regular bi-monthly walks are advertised. They also have a Whatsapp group where spontaneous walks are posted weekly. Some of these walks are in South Roscommon Area, Poolboy Bog or around the Aughrim Battlefield. They also meet spontaneously to get in some Nordic walking ; and as it is a friends group  your safety is your own responsibility.
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The whatsapp group is also a forum for people to meet companions to go walking so if you or someone you know would benefit from joining this group of happy walkers, please be sure to tell them about the group.
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For further details please contact 087 645 8979 or see their Facebook page for regular updates (see below)