NEWBRIDGE, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - I’ve been meaning to put this together for ages, however now that I’m back in the country it turns out it was most worthwhile in hanging on (worst pun ever! Shoot me if I ever do that again :) before writing it up.

Firstly, Paul Harrington has been busy in the Cork region with a new coastal area. Rock Bay in County Cork, situated on beach and going by Paul’s photos there’s proof that there’s been at least a few dry climbing days this year. The crag has a nice selection of problems from font 4 to font 6c. If you’re in the area, it’s worth checking out. You can find Paul’s page of info here

I had the luck in arranging another visit to the Doolin boulders in County Clare. I found the boulders accidently myself a few years ago while exploring for a potential sports crag, and since then this area has been actively developed by Gregor, a resident of Galway city. In the past weekend, strong Irish boulder Nigel Callendar, completed one of the final projects. Estimated grade is Font 7c, and unfortunately as he only completed it on Wednesday night (by torchlight!) before going in for surgery on a shoulder injury, I’ve no photos. In between all this, we managed a quick drive around East Clare in search of more new rock. Not much luck on this trip, but there’s definitely more out there for people who are willing to spend an afternoon driving!
For anyone interested in checking out some photos of Doolin boulders (and it’s amazing location), check out Paul’s other page here (also includes some photos of the late Michael Reardon when he was down having fun here)

Myself and Nigel (who has been intermittently checking the area out for a few years now) also managed to get a day of exploration around County Kerry. Having driven most of the roads in the Killarney area, I’ve seen enough to be impressed and why oh why is it so far from Dublin!?! :) The Gap of Dunloe has a more than respectable amount of problems (and new routes to be climbed). Amusing moment of the day was passing by a rumoured super-steep crag….and finding that the front of the cliff has fallen off - at least 40 meters wide and 20 meters vertical of cliff-face (would have loved to be around to see that!). Photos can be found here for anyone interested - there’s loads more rock up behind for development…..

To top it off, I then received this photo from a good friend in Belfast during the week of a new bouldering area somewhere in Northern Ireland. Who says there’s limited amounts of rock to be found around Ireland?!

As always of course, if you find any new areas, or successful ascents of new problems, let me know (so I can go climb them, oh and report them here ;).
Image Credit: the view from Doolin boulders looking across towards the Aran Islands, County Clare, Ireland. Taken last weekend in the ‘indian summer’ we’re having! Photo by author (additional photos from weekend can be found by clicking on the photo).
Lower photo taken by Angela Carlin of mystery new bouldering area in Northern Ireland

- Neal :) -