Epic march follows footsteps of history
“I hope it will be more comfortable and there won’t be the same amount of casualties,” says national co-ordinator, Jim O’Sullivan.
With such sentiments in mind, Jim began the 260-mile walk following the exact route of the epic march by the O’Sullivan Beare clan.
They started their journey yesterday morning and plan to arrive in Leitrim on January 14.
The O’Sullivan Beara’s were driven out of West Cork by the English who had defeated the combined Spanish and Irish forces at the Battle of Kinsale.
Dónal Cam O’Sullivan, chieftain of the clan, began the long march to Leitrim on December 31, 1602, where he hoped to gain sanctuary with the O’Rourke’s of Breffni. Accompanying him were 1,000 men, women and children representing the first large-scale exodus of people from the Castletownbere region.
In the middle of January 1603 they finally reached their destination with only 35 people remaining. Many had been killed or fallen behind with exhaustion and sickness. Others settled along the route.
“Each community along the way has organised walkers and people on horses to come with us each day.
“We are also carrying two staffs. One will have a brass ring with the name of each village or town we pass inscribed on it by a local.
“The other will have the name of the clan name synonymous with the area put on it by a member of that clan,” Mr O’Sullivan, who is national co-ordinator of the walk, said.
He said the route also had other significance. “It is going to be developed as a European greenway linking the Beara Way, Duhallow Way, Ballyhoura Way, Suck Valley, Minor Way, Leitrim Way and Cavan Way into one complete greenway (walkway),” Mr O’Sullivan said.
The project is backed by Bord Fáilte and the Heritage Council.
Clan chieftain Michael E O’Sullivan is leading the marchers who include Max Fell, 17, who will ride the entire way on horseback.
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