The Sneem JFK 50 mile Challenge

Welcome to the Sneem JFK 50 Mile Challenge which will take place on the weekend of the 25th, 26th & 27th May 2012. The Challenge is to complete 50miles (80km) in under 20 hours. The walk will start and end in Sneem village on the Ring of Kerry. It is a loop walk on national, secondary, regional and minor roads with three gradual inclines which are highlighted on the route map.The challenge starts at 05.00am sharp on Saturday morning 26th May and continues right through until 1.00am on Sunday morning 27th May.The Festival promises to be a fun filled weekend with Street Entertainment, Trad sessions in the local pubs and Live Entertainment with Awards ceremony on the Sunday night to celebrate the challenge being completed.

About the Challenge

The JFK 50 Mile Walk first came about in the 1960s in the USA when John F. Kennedy announced that an endurance test of walking 50 miles was to be performed by U.S. servicemen to prove they were in ready military condition. To everyone’s amazement, a willing public took up the challenge and extreme walking quickly became a national obsession.

Online registration is now open on www.sneemjfkchallenge.com

A challenge not to be missed!

DERRYNANE WALKING WEEKEND

May 11/12/13 & June 8/9/10,  2012

A weekend of walking, talking, folklore, history and nature based at The Derrynane Hotel, Nature’s Spa.  The leader for the weekend is Seán Ó Súilleabhain, Guidebook Author, Founder of the Kerry Way, local Historian.

• FRIDAY 11^th MAY 2012

21:30

• SATURDAY 12^TH MAY 2012

09:30

Departure for Walk/Climb A: Eagles Hill

This gentle walk/climb starts along the Kerry Way walking trail to the Windy Gap, passing the site of prehistoric copper mines, before ascending Eagles Hill for panoramic views of fabled Glanmore and Lough Currane to the north and the Skellig Rocks sitting in the Atlantic Ocean and Kenmare River/Bay to the west and south.  Return to Caherdaniel by Coomnahorna.

Distance: 15km/9.5miles.        Ascent: 1,850ft/565m

10:00

Departure for Walk B: Derrynane Beach and Mass Path

• SUNDAY 13^th MAY 2012

09:30

Departure for Walk: Staigue Fort and the Kerry Way

We start by being driven to visit the spectacular stone fort of Staigue (c. 2,000 years old).  A 5km/3mile walk back to Caherdaniel along the eastern leg of the Butter Road (gentle descent almost all the way!) allows for an early finish to the day.

To allow for certain weather conditions or other factors, Go Visit Ireland and its guides reserve the right to alter Walks.  This will be done only as a last resort.

Package includes: 2B&B, 1D, 2 packed lunches, services of experienced walk guides, minibus transfers to/from walks.

Price: €129 pps

Turn Sneem Green’ for St. Patrick’s weekend is the catchphrase of the locals in the run-up to honouring our patron Saint, Patrick. Locals and visitors are invited to take part in a fun-filled schedule for the weekend in this great village on the Ring of Kerry. The fun starts with the Turn Sneem Green opening ceremony on Friday night the 16th in the South Square where there will be live music. On St. Patrick’s day itself, the parade starts at 12.15pm. There is a prize fund of €1000 for the best motorised and walking floats. Also this year there is a new prize for the best dressed spectator, so raid the wardrobe for that little green number! There is also a prize for the best St Patrick’s day window display. The Annual Cow Dung Draw takes place in the afternoon, one lucky winner will go home with a prize of €500. Sneem will be buzzing on St. Patrick’s Day with the usual market stalls, entertainment and good food in the pubs and restaurants. Also our local set dancers and musicians can be enjoyed on the Festival stage. On Sunday there is a guided walk in aid of the Paul Curran Trust, special menus in restaurants and pubs for Mother’s Day. Later that evening, there is lots of live music provided by our local publicans…. so, the motto is TURN SNEEM GREEN, have a great weekend and enjoy the hospitality that Sneem has to offer!