The Contrailers and Guests were back on the Hills to see out 2009 and also to celebrate the Celtic New Year with the Winter Solstice Trek. Ten hardy souls set out from Cork at 4am and commenced the walk at 0545am, having enjoyed a warm cup of tea and the wonderful sausage sandwiches, (I can still smell them !!!) prepared out of his mobile catering wagon, by the ever warm hearted Aidan "The Brother Mac" Namara.

The white carpet which greeted us in the Clydagh valley was only surpassed by the stunningly clear sky full of glistening stars. There was no need for artificial illumination and the group were soon accustomed to the power of our innate night vision capabilities. As we travelled in a South to North direction over rough, frozen terrain, the emerging light of the new day was rolling in from the East, followed by a most brilliantly crimson fire red sunrise. We gained the Western Pap by 7am and quickly set about lighting a real fire for the celebratory Winter BBQ. Chef Derham, to the distinct surprise of the fellow travelers, produced racks of Lamb and rib eye beef from his seemingly bottomless rucksack. We then set about a three and a half thousand year old simple feast, to celebrate the closing of the year, the ushering in of the New Year and all its excitement, possibility and potential. This was also a celebration of ancestors who have walked this way before us.

The feast was finished off with baked camembert and washed down by some fine, albeit well chilled red wine and some half decent brandy.

All I can say is that those who were lucky enough to be there, were moved in their own individual and special way and took away images which will warm the memory bank over the coming year. May those who walked to the Paps last Sunday, add positive meaning to all the possible challenges and success they face next year, because such potential setback and success is really only a wonderful learning opportunity along a journey, which hopefully, will have us all back to celebrate another Solstice among friends in 2010.
Happy Christmas.