Kilcolman Walk: Rare plants and old stories spring up at Kilcolman

THE route is all left turns, easily followed from the map. As we proceed north, and then west, we have views of the forested slopes of the Ballyhoura Range, Caroline Mountain, Knockduv, Carron and Seefin.

We encounter three unique features on our route: an ancient church in ruins, an outstanding bog habitat, and a castle with important literary associations. Shortly after we turn north 2km from our trailhead, we reach the ruins of Templesaggart church, also called Thoumpaleenhulman , the ‘small church of Colman’. Kilcolman means, of course, the church of Colman; it is said to have been established by St. Colman in the 6th century. The graveyard contains many ancient markers that never bore names, or where the names have been worn away by time and weather.