20 nations represented at Castlebar International Four Days Walks
ALL arrangements are in place for the 52nd annual Castlebar International Four Days Walks, Ireland's oldest and most celebrated walking festival.
It takes place from tomorrow (Thursday) to Sunday next, July 4 to 7, and over 20 nations will be represented.
The organisers announced last week that it will no longer be possible to register for the 2019 rambles while entry to the 10km or 20km road walks closed on June 30.
According to the festival president, Mick Baynes, Castlebar continues to be a huge magnet for overseas walkers with visitors coming from over 20 countries, including Japan, Lithuania, Israel, Panama, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Holland, France, America, Denmark, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Taiwan.
Three different walks are held each day, a 20k road walk, a 10k road walk and the 30k ramble.
The road walks start from the festival HQ at the TF Royal Hotel at 8.30 a.m. on each of the four mornings.
The buses to the ramble routes on Thursday (Letterkeen), Friday (Achill) and Saturday (Mulranny) leave at 8.45 a.m. sharp and all ramblers participate in the 20k road walk on the Sunday.
All walkers are advised to attend the brieï¬ng session at the TF Royal Hotel at 7 p.m. tonight (Wednesday) evening.
The Letterkeen walk, to take place on Thursday, offers a combination of spectacular scenery and remote wilderness together with the variety of terrain.
Walkers will experience wonderful views of the mountains surrounding the Bangor Trail and, on their return, spectacular views of the Nephin and Bellacorrick areas.
The Achill Loop, scheduled for Friday, proved a huge success last year. It starts in Derrens and takes walkers to the seaside near Dooega on the coastal road.
The Mulranny walk, which takes place on Saturday, is partly along the seafront before progressing through some of west Mayo's most scenic locations overlooking Clew Bay.
Stated Mr. Baynes: "There has been a very positive response to our introduction of new rambles over recent years and transport to and from the walks is provided free of charge."
Ramblers will be brought by coach from the TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, to the respective starting points before being bused back to the hotel later in the day.
Apart from the ramble, there is a choice of road walks covering established 10k and 20k routes. The 10k event is designed for families with young children.
Registration takes place in the festival headquarters, TF Royal Hotel, until to 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, July 3), with a briefing and opening ceremony at the same venue at 8 p.m.
Mr. Baynes encouraged more local people to become involved and enjoy one of Ireland’s greatest festivals on their doorstep.
The Parade of International Flags, which was reintroduced two years ago, takes place on Saturday after 7 p.m. Mass at the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar, and, led by Castlebar Concert Band, it promises to another memorable occasion.
The route is Chapel Street, Tucker Street, Linenhall Street, Main Street, Ellison Street, Mountain View and finishing at the festival HQ.
The festival concludes on Sunday night with the traditional Blister Ball.