Misc009

Cross Country in Newcastlewest, Co.Limerick...

The Castle Demense in Newcastlewest is often used by the local club West Limerick AC for cross country events. These are the directions on how to get there...

Location.....The town of Newcastlewest is located about 40 kms or 25 miles to the south-west of Limerick City on the N21 road to Abbeyfeale and Castleisland.

The Castle Demense is located to the west of the town centre while the N21 goes through the southern part of the town.

If you are approaching from the direction of Limerick on the N21, look for a church on the left, You need to take the next right after this. Just stay left after this...ignoring any tiny roads that might be on the left.

Left after this church...

Then it's just a case of staying left on all the roads after this. Then it's left at this junction where the Castle Demense is clearly signposted...

Just up this road, the community centre is on the right...

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Ballyhoura Mtns...

The Ballyhoura Mountains on the Cork/Limerick border are used by the IMRA (Irish Mountain Running Association) for various races every year. Located between the cities of Cork and Limerick, the area is easy to access.

Most IMRA races in the area start at the Mountain Bike Centre which is on the Limerick side of the Ballyhouras.

Directions....The Mountain Bike Centre is located just off the R512 road from Kilmallock to Kildorrery / Fermoy. The map below shows the location relative to the nearest towns.

In more detail....The Mountain Bike Centre is just a few kms to the south of the village of Ardpatrick on the R512.

About 2.4 kms to the south of Ardpatrick on the R512, you will come to the turn off for the Mountain Bike Centre...

The brown sign post above says 'Ballyhoura Woods'. From this junction, the Mountain Bike Centre is only 1 km up this narrow road.

Parking.....Please note that there is a small fee for parking at the Mountain Bike Centre. The roads outside are narrow and not suitable for parking.

Additional info.....The most direct approach from the N20 Cork to Limerick road is from Ballyhea. Turn right at the church (Signposted as 18 kms to Kilfinane).

After 11 kms on this narrow road, you join the R512 at a crossroads. Turn right here and you are in the village of Ardpatrick. Then follow the directions above.

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Preview of the Tournafulla Wind Farm 5k & 10k...

Directions​: The Wind farm run will be signposted from Templeglantine Village on From Newcastle West​: On the N21 approaching Templeglantine Village take the first left towards the GAA field. At the GAA field turn right and continue straight on up towards the top of the hill, the Wind Farm entrance will be on your left.

From Abbeyfeale​: On the N21 drive past Templeglantine Village take the last right hand turn towards the GAA field before the 100km speed limit. At the GAA field turn right...

...and continue straight on up towards the top of the hill, the Wind Farm entrance will be on your left.

5km route...

10km route...

Overall......A unique race through a wind farm in West Limerick.

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Preview of the Castlemahon 10k...

Castlemahon is located just to the South-East of Newcastle West in Co.Limerick...

As you can see, it is very close to Newcastle West and is just off the R522 road which goes to Dromcolligher.

The race HQ is the new Community Hall which is located next to the primary school. The course is designed so that neither the start or finish lines are too far from the hall.

Course......The 10k race takes in a loop to the south-east and one notable feature is just how flat it is. The maximum change in elevation is about 40 feet or 12 metres which is very small over a 10km course.

Profile....

Photos to follow.....

Course description.....The 10k starts on the road linking the village of Castlemahon to the R522...

After about 800m / 0.5 miles, you come to a crossroads with the R522 where you turn left...

One unusual feature of the course is just how straight the roads are. From the crossroads at 0.5 miles, it is almost dead straight for 1.5 miles. Along the way, there are some small dips like this one just after the 1 mile mark...

At about 2 miles, the straight road ends as you approach the turn off to the left ahead...

At about 2.2 miles, you cross over a bridge on a bend and take a left....

The road becomes narrower and quieter but still remarkably straight...

At 3.6 miles, you pass the local GAA grounds...

At about the 4 mile mark, you come to a T-junction where you turn left and head for Castlemahon...

The next mile is dead straight again and the section between miles 5 and 6 has some bends. All the while, the course remains pretty flat. Near the 6 mile mark, you approach the 50kph speed signs which show the village is getting close...

After another 400m, you'll see the finish line near the local church...

Overall........A very fast 10km course in West Limerick. Pretty flat with loads of straight sections.

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Preview of the Destination Limerick 5 mile road race...

Location....The race takes place at Limerick Racecourse which is near Patrickswell just to the south-west of Limerick City.

The venue for the race is at Limerick Racecourse. This is very easy to access from Exit 4 on the M20...Patrickswell is to the north of the junction and the Racecourse is to the south.

Course........The race starts near the entrance road to Limerick Racecourse, just south of the junction on the M20. As you can see below, it's an out and back course.

The maximum change in elevation over the course is just over 20 metres. The only section that would be really considered any sort of hill is near the finish.

The race is mostly on the old Limerick to Cork road. As you can see below, this is a typical section around the 2 mile mark....long straight sections of road...

Overall.......Considering the number of long straight sections and the lack of any real pulls except for near the end, it is probably a pretty fast 5 mile course. Very east to access as it's so close to the M20.

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Preview of the Adare 10k road race...

The Adare 10k road race is organised by West Limerick AC and is held in February every year.

Location.....Adare is located on the N21 from Limerick to Rathkeale.

Everything is centrally located in the heart of Adare. There is a car park about 100m from the small roundabout in the centre of the village. Race HQ is at Adare Village Hall. This about 200m from the parking area and the start/finish area is about 500m from the hall.

This is the iconic Adare Community Hall which runners register on the morning of the race. Post race refreshments will also be here.

This is a map of the course which takes in a loop to the west of Adare...

Course description.......The race starts about 500m from the race HQ on a flat and straight section of road.

After 300m, you come to the small roundabout where you turn right...

Adare Village Hall is located on a fork in the road. Here, you take a right....

After a series of one off houses, you're into the countryside proper pretty soon.

At about 1.4 miles / 2.3kms, you cross over the now defunct railway line from Limerick to Foynes which closed in 2001. This point is just 12 miles from Limerick City by the old rail route.

Along this next section, there is a small drag. The thing about the course is that there are no big hills as such. The difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points on the course is only about 15 metres so any hills you do come across as pretty short.

At 2.4 miles / 3.8 miles, you turn right at a small crossroads...

At 2.4 miles / 4kms, you pass Shountrade National School...

At about 3.7 miles / 6kms, you come to possibly what is the hardest part of the course. There is a short pull up to the T-junction shown below and this is followed by another climb. As before though, it's reasonably short and you've plenty of downhill after it.

At 4.1 miles / 6.6 kms, you come to a fork in the road where you take the right and onto a long straight section as you head back towards Adare.

At about the 6 mile / 9.6km mark, you cross over the old railway again which is now 11 miles from Limerick.

After one more bend, it straight and flat all the way to the finish line which is near where you started.

Overall.......Nice 10k course on quiet country roads to the west of Adare. Some pulls but they're short enough. A very popular race with a long tradition that attracts a lot more than the usual 10k race. Expect to run a reasonably fast 10k time.