Last of the autumn walks in Courtown 2024 Siulóidí deireanacha an Fhomhair i mBaile na Cúirte

It was Saturday September 28th, 2024, when I decided to discard my lethargy and comfort of Gorey Town Park strolling and to renew my acquaintance with the ancient woods of Courtown.

I drove down to Courtown and parked at the Boardwalk carpark. Having changed into walking boots I strolled down to view the sea and glanced over towards Cahore. The view was delightful and inviting. It was a great day to be down for a walk by the sea and forest.

 I started my walk along the sandy path towards the cricket pitch. The forest scene that enwrapped me was mindfulness supreme. I was instantly lost in thoughts of acorns and squirrels. I kicked up some leaves and the rustling, crunching sound was so relaxing. It released its own autumnal outdoor perfumes. The path was like was a ribbon through the forest with trees to the left and right and the blue hues of the Irish sea stretching out in the distance over to Wales.

Along the way I met a friend of mine whose husband passed away recently. We had a nice chat recalling walks and events in our lives over the years.She shed a tear and read me the poem she was putting on his memorial card.

As I rejoined the road to the Burrow the air was filled with the scent of pine trees while the Ounavarra river flowed gently along on its journey to Courtown Harbour and the Irish Sea. In the Burrow car park  I met an old neighbour and walking friend. We discussed the publishing of his new book of food recipes, life, pains and aches and growing old..

Having bade farewell to my friend I crossed the footbridge and rejoined the forest path on the Yellow Trail Walk. I walked along the woodland walk saluting fellow walkers on the way. As I climbed the gentle hill I passed Charlottes Well, a remnant of The Courtown’s Estate time. Here I met a young couple who had stopped to give their dog a drink.

I continued walking back along the sycamore bedecked forest path. Their lovely leaves were beginning to die off curling up at the edges and displaying a sickly brown. As I stopped and peered into the forest, I noted that each individual tree had its own distinctive bark and colour. Some were being strangled by the wrap around tentacles of ivy leaves and roots like an octopus legs. I was mesmerised by the range of russets, ambers, browns, spotted greens and copper colours abounding,

I just wanted to hug them all they were so beautiful, but I resisted as the intricate network of paths were inviting me to continue and relish more autumnal arboreal beauty. Some ash trees looked sickly and were on the death throes enduring ash die back disease, scientifically known as Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus. Nettles and ferns were browning and dying off at the end of another growing season. The dainty little purple flowered Herb Robert was displaying a bit of colour through the ferns.

As I progressed up along the gentle incline with Pine trees to the left and right, I gazed through them because the Irish sea was clearly visible. I just had to stop and internalise this all-absorbing scene.

The low autumnal sun was casting magical looking sparkles over the water. I viewed Cahore to my right. Here the water was providing a mirror like effect and was displaying dazzling diamond like images on the waters around Cahore.It was truly stunning, and I tried to capture some of its magic on my camera phone. I could have dallied here all day, such was the natural mesmerising light display being engendered by mother nature, but I accepted the invitation from the tree lined sandy paths to press ahead on my nature trek.

I just love this territory here along by fisherman’s lane with a stream babbling down, and a huge range of flora and fauna with the added bonus of a range of five walking trail options. There was a little added hazard here today because the recent heavy rains had washed away the soil and sands off the top of the path and exposed some snake like protruding roots of trees which you could easily trip over.

Now I walk a short few steps to view the Irish Sea. I stood there in my perfect silence and solitude as I saw a single fishing boat dropping its nets close to shore.

I dallied and thought about times and walks past, friends who had walked with me and were no longer with us. I look down at the beach now full of up rooted trees. I look around and see forest paths to my left and right, walks on the beach, back to Courtown, on to Ballymoney full of great fresh sea air with the bonus of sea and forest views.

I am gently reminding myself, in the autumn of my life, that my lifelong journey has been full of twists and turns, and I must keep choosing the best choices for survival and longevity on my earthly sojourn.

And so, I decide my best option now is to return to the car park via the path overlooking the beach. It is truly breathtaking as I am viewing the Irish sea out toward Cahore with some dazzling light displays on this beautiful autumn day.

Sadly, I note the shoreline is badly battered from years of strong winds and high seas with no rock armour provided for shoreline protection. The walking path is narrow and dangerous in places, and one must keep eyes peeled to the ground to avoid any mishaps.

I am now back at the Burrow where some hardy swimmers are dipping their toes in The Irish Sea.

To my right as I cross the footbridge, I hear the bang of an iron on a golf ball as someone is teeing off in the adjacent Courtown Golf Club. I now continue my journey home back along the busy Burrow Road.

I stop at the cricket pitch to take a photo of a healthy-looking ash tree but as I walk up the hill I observe two very sick looking dying ash trees, a sad sight indeed.

And so, I head into the car park, open the boot of the car, take off the walking boots and head for home to start prepping the omelette for lunch.

I felt super relaxed after stepping it out in the ancient woods of Courtown on one glorious autumn day in late September 2024.

Mick O Callaghan

29/09/2024