Cork's 'Beast of Beara' offering a unique challenge to adventure lovers

THE LEGENDARY beauty of Cork’s most rugged peninsula awaits athletes and lovers of outdoors life who take up the challenge of a new adventure race to be staged in the region in July

The 20km adventure race on July 20 starts and finishes in the picturesque village of Allihies, nestled amidst the Slieve Miskish mountains and overlooking Ballydonegan beach.

According to organisers, Garnish GAA Club, the Beast of Beara promises an ‘unforgettable journey over three mountain peaks’. 

The course of the race, a 20km mountain trail, takes participants from Allihies along the Copper Mines trail, Ternahillane and Goula before returning to the finish line in Allihies.

Garnish GAA secretary Cormac McMahon told The Echo that previously the club had run a tractor run to raise funds to buy equipment, fence their pitch, and carry out other necessary works, but that this year they had decided to adopt a different approach.

“We wanted to attract those people who like adventure races and we felt this was a name which gave that sense of the event — and it’s also not far away from the ‘Hag of Beara’,” said Cormac.

“While it’s a fundraiser for the GAA, it’s also very much a community event and the local businesses have all got involved and are supportive.”

The race — which is open to walkers as much as it is to the hardiest of adventure lovers and athletes — takes in three peaks, the highest of which is Goula at around 300m. The first of the peaks is the mountain road between Allihies and Urhan while the second is Gour near Castletownbere.

The community is hoping for a boost to local tourism the weekend of the festival also. Visitors will be able to take in Bantry Bay, Hungry Hill which has the highest waterfall in Ireland and Britain, Dursey Island, the Skellig Rocks and the Black Ball Martello Tower.

Those willing to take part in the challenge can do so via Garnish GAA's website https://garnishgaa.ie. The entry fee is €50. Further information from secretary.garnish.cork@gaa.ie.