Slí na gCaisleán’ (‘The Way of the Castles’) represents a guided ‘Off the Beaten Track’ heritage cycle tour along a 40km looped trail that encompasses seven castles on the north and eastern side of Galway city and into Galway county.
The tour will start at the Plots on the Dyke Road and continue to the vicinity of castles at Terryland, Menlo, Cloonacauneen, Killeen, Ballybrit, Castlegar and Ballindooley.
This leisurely cycle will journey over hills, along botharins (boreens), past abandoned farms, ruined castles, karst outcrops, bogs, lakes, dykes, turloughs and meadows.
The tour will introduce participants to the wonderful natural and built heritage that exists not far from the hustle and bustle of a major modern built-up city. There will be opportunities to tour local historical sites and beautiful rural landscapes, to enjoy a group picnic and to have a light lunch on route.
Please note that participants should wear suitable clothing, and bring water and a puncture repair kit. Children should be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Slí na gCaisleán is organised by Tuatha of Terryland Forest Park as part of Bike Week 2023 made possible with the support of Galway City Council.
To register go to Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/44GtMiO
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Winter heliotrope is one of the invasive species in Terryland Forest Park |
The Aliens have landed! Tomorrow
(Tuesday) we are tackling the alien species that have invaded Terryland
Forest Park and which are colonising large areas within the park
forcing out the native plant life.
As part of Invasive Species Week 15th – 21st May, Galway
City Council, LAWPRO and Tuatha Terryland Forest Park are conducting a
walk through Terryland Forest Park tomorrow May 16th to areas infested
with terrestrial and aquatic non-native Invasive Alien Species (IAS).
IAS are extremely difficult and costly to control and eradicate, and
their ecological effects can be irreversible.
All are welcome.
We
will look at the identifying the species, risks to the environment and
infrastructure, management measures and best practice such as the
’Check Clean Dry’ protocol for water users to minimise the spread of
aquatic invasives. Working with volunteers, we will trial a
herbicide free method of controlling winter heliotrope (see photo)
within the woodland.
The invasive species being discussed include Japanese Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Canadian Waterweed (Elodea canadensis).
Invasive
Species Week is an annual national event to raise awareness of the
impacts of invasive species and to celebrate action being taken to
prevent their spread. Organisations across the UK, Ireland, Jersey,
Guernsey, and Isle of Man join together to lead activities and share
information on the simple things that everyone can do to help prevent
the spread of invasive species. Each day will involve focusing on a
different theme: https://invasives.ie/what.../invasive-species-week/2023-may/
The walk will commence at 11am Tuesday 16th May at the Sandy Road entrance to Terryland Forest https://maps.app.goo.gl/hnW2gB4gQi1LLuUX8