Bóna Bán Way 9km Loop Walk

This is a round trip of about 5 miles and takes about 3 1/2 hours. You begin by leaving the N22 at Crois an Teampaill. Go straight past the new cemetery (on the left), the babbling brook on the right was once known as Glaise na h-Ardghoil, which, loosely translated means, the brook of lamentation. Apparently, in centuries past, the cronies or professional keening women (mná caointe), would stand here uttering wails of lamentation while they waited for funerals to come down the road to St. Gobnait’s Cemetery. As you continue on this road (the sean bhóthar to Kerry) the gradient gets a bit severe for about a mile or so. Don’t be discouraged. You will shortly reach the high point after which it levels off. After that it is downhill all the way. To take your mind off the climb perhaps you might ponder on the historical figures that travelled this way in the past. O’Sullivan Bere and his 1000 followers in 1603. Bishop Rinuccini and his entourage on route to Kilkenny forty years later. Daniel O’Connell would also have come this way as a young boy, as he had two aunts living in the area. Eibhlín Dubh Ni Chonaill of Raleigh (wife of Art O Laoire) and Mrs. Baldwin, in Clogh Aidhneach, from whose house he attended the local hedge school for a while. Continue down the hill past the farmhouses on left and right to arrive at a crossroads near a cottage. Turn right here and continue westwards to meet the Coolea road after 1 mile. A right turn at this sign posted junction leaves you with a twenty minute walk to Baile Bhúirne.