5: BSW1 Walking in the hills

Speaker: Seán McMahonFrom The Blackstack Way - Part 1 playlist.What many consider to be the new tourism phenomenal to hit south Donegal in recent years is actually one of the oldest pastimes of the area. From the beginning of human history in this locality, when people first walked up the Eske Valley, about eight thousand years ago, man has walked through the Bluestacks for fun, adventure, pilgrimage and work. Indeed the journey of the descendants of these first people in Lough Eske, is indeed the history of Ireland, step by step, from the beginning to the present time. These first people did leave a footprint in the area, though not a carbon one. Their biggest mark being the wedge tomb in Winterhill and the Cairn Tomb in the townland of Tawnavorgal at Lough Eske. The next great walkers to arrive were the Fianna and their Leader Fionn McCumhaill. They made their summer home in these parts and local lore is full of their exploits. Indeed they were more inclined to run than walk such was their zest for their greatest pastime, hunting. We hear about this band of warriors in our audio piece.