Ballysaggart group raises funds at Towers walk

The Ballysaggart Community Development team hosted a successful fundraiser at The Towers last Sunday to help raise funds for the ongoing development of Ballysaggart Community Centre. Over 80 walkers were guided through the Ballysaggartmore Estate as they followed a 6.4km looped walk through forestry and across open parkland, passing several sites of interest along the way.

The beauty of the March morning sun showed Ballysaggartmore and the Blackwater Valley in a superb light, with wonderful views across the River Blackwater to Fortwilliam and Glencairn Abbey.

From the highest viewpoint on the route, Gráinne Moynihan gave the walkers an overview of the history of the houses and parkland of the Blackwater Valley, while Paddy John Feeney of Ballyduff spoke at the Kiely–Ussher Vault and gave a wonderful talk on the history of the estate over the last 200 years along with its - at times - troubled past.

As the walkers passed the Vault and began their journey along the 3km old Ballysaggartmore Estate avenue, they began to appreciate the scale of the estate and the building ambitions of Arthur Kiely-Ussher in the 1830s and 1840s. The handsome towers and gate lodges provided a fitting conclusion to this spring walk, where walkers could see first hand the extraordinary stonemasonry and ironmongery. The skill and craftsmanship of those who built these beautiful buildings in the 1840s has ensured that they continue to survive to the present day.

As the walkers rambled back to the carpark, they were welcomed with teas and buns from the Ballysaggart ladies which were hugely appreciated.

The Ballysaggart Community Development team would like to thank Lismore Estates and Waterford City and County Council for their kind permission to allow the walkers through this wonderful route laden with superb views and so much history. They would also like to thank the local WCCC team led by John Foley, Michael Kearney of Tallow, the sponsors, the traffic and walking marshals and the walkers who travelled to the event from near and far.

The funds raised will contribute to the renovation of Ballysaggart Community Centre, formerly the Ballysaggart schoolhouse. This project commenced in 2022 and is still ongoing. Further walks will be organised later in 2023, so watch this space!