The Long Walk - a review

mayo | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Saturday August 19, 2006 21:08

by JM

Rossport

On the morning of Saturday July 29th 2006 about seventy people took off in the pouring rain on a trek that would, for some of them, last for over a fortnight and stretch over two hundred miles across the country.

Day one - Rossport in the rain

"The Long Walk" from Rossport to Dublin was organised by the Shell To Sea group to raise awareness for the nationwide campaign against proposals to build an experimental gas refinery and upstream pipeline on land in the remote Barony of Erris in north west Mayo.

The journey took the travellers through two of the four provinces and across seven different counties, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Irish Sea, and from a remote rural landscape to the urban sprawl of a twenty-first-century capital city.

Through all these contrasts two things remained the same... the determination of "The Long Walkers" and the overwhelming warmth and support from the ordinary people of Ireland.

DAY 1: Rossport to Bellanaboy - 9.7 miles (15.6 km)
A biblical downpour signalled the start of the adventure, but spirits were high following more than two months of preparation involving route planning, physical training and logistics work. The sun came out for a couple of miles and all reached the proposed refinery site at Bellanaboy in one piece, where tea and sandwiches awaited.

DAY 2: Bellanaboy to Bellacorick - 16.5 miles (26.6 km)
Rain again for day two, but no let up from the walkers either. A brief stop in Bangor for food, and the edge of Erris was reached on schedule, where camp was set up literally in the shadow of the decommissioned power station.

DAY 3: Bellacorick to Ballina - 20.1 miles (32.4 km)
"The Long Swim" was becoming a reality as more rain lashed into the trekkers, but after a warm welcome of tea, sandwiches and hot food in Crossmolina the sun came out and stayed out for the final run into Ballina. That evening the first of a series of successful public meetings was held, and a good night's sleep was well earned after the longest stage so far.

DAY 4: Ballina to Straide - 15.8 miles (25.5 km)
Settled weather remained for the rest of the walk, and a solid crew of core walkers strolled into port right on time again. Straide not only marked the 100 km point of the walk, it is the birth and final resting place of Michael Davitt, founder of the Land League in Ireland and a figure of historic proportions in the Irish struggle against foreign rule and human rights abuses. People power came home to Straide once more.

DAY 5: Straide to Charlestown - 19.4 miles (31.3 km)
Another long day, this time via Swinford on a fair day. Bohola was the setting for a short time out, where the Shell To Sea athletes paid tribute to the greatest ever Irish Olympian Martin J. Sheridan, winner of five Olympic championships, three world all-around championships and sixteen times world record holder. Charlestown that evening was the venue for the weekly Shell To Sea meeting, as usual open to the public, and a useful discussion took place on a number of topics, in particular the shameful report by mediator Peter Cassells.

DAY 6: rest day
A rest day from walking but not from other duties. The Shell To Sea mobile trailer HQ was set up in the centre of Charlestown, where people could drop in and find out about the campaign, sign the visitors book, pick up information or just chat to the walkers about their experiences. A great day that stretched past eleven o'clock that night, and a perfect example of what the walk was about; people.

DAY 7: Charlestown to Frenchpark - 19.0 miles (30.6 km)
On the road again, stopping at Carracastle for tea and biscuits, finally leaving County Mayo and heading into Roscommon. The response from the traffic was fantastic this day, and the welcome in Ballaghaderreen matched the roads. After a brief visit to the Dr. Douglas Hyde Centre, another welcome awaited the gang in Frenchpark, which also marked the 100 mile point. The third public meeting took place in Ballaghaderreen, and the message was being spread.

DAY 8: Frenchpark to Strokestown - 17.0 miles (27.4 km)
Another great day on the road, with beeps and shouts and thumbs-up and fists of defiance and solidarity. Tea and sandwiches were served up to the crew by a kindly woman on route, just before the half-way point at Cruachain, the ancient site of inauguration of the Kings of Connacht. More tea on the road including a stop in Tulsk, and a slap-up feed in Strokestown finished the day's walking. That night Roscommon Town hosted the fourth public meeting.

DAY 9: Strokestown to Longford - 14.7 miles (23.7 km)
The calm before the storm of the next day's exertions. 200 km were completed before a stop in Termonbarry and the symbolic crossing of the Shannon, entering County Longford and Leinster. Edgeworthstown was the venue for meeting number five, where frank views were voiced and the locals stated their own concerns. One thing was becoming clear; the Celtic Tiger was a myth as far as people were concerned, and the authorities cared not at all for ordinary folk.

DAY 10: Longford to Mullingar - 29.7 miles (47.9 km)
The big one. The longest stage by far, well over an Olympic Marathon and the main reason some of the walkers took part... the challenge! The bank holiday Monday saw a very busy road (and a vastly improved surface) where the response was yet again brilliant from the other road users. Perfect Westmeath weather helped the crew arrive in Mullingar an hour-and-a-half ahead of schedule, although blisters were starting to show on those less tough.

DAY 11: rest day
The second rest day was another opportunity to have a bit of a lie-in, and the day was spent distributing leaflets around the town, meeting and talking to local people and gearing up for the night's meeting. Local press and radio were kept up to date with the walk, and with a lot of input from an active community the best meeting of the walk took place that night.

DAY 12: Mullingar to Clonard - 15.7 miles (25.3 km)
County Meath was encountered on day twelve, with a break for refreshments in Kinnegad where there was a steady response from a number of holidaymakers and natives alike, and some Erris exiles proved to be gracious hosts. Kinnegad was also the venue for meeting number seven, where local battles with authority were highlighted to great effect.

DAY 13: Clonard to Kilcock - 16.6 miles (26.8 km)
The beginning of the end was in sight after the 300 km mark was reached at Enfield, where the people of Meath were eager for information. Kilcock proved to be a lively spot as Kildare hosted the Shell To Sea roadshow, with another lively meeting and discussion. The night ended with a couple of swifties and sandwiches and the odd rusty game of pool.

DAY 14: Kilcock to Liffey Valley - 13.2 miles (21.3 km)
A short run into Dublin County after reaching the 200 mile mark just outside Maynooth, which was celebrated with a roadside feast of Wexford strawberries. A visitor from the Niger Delta joined in at Leixlip, and he was taken aback by the photographs on display on the trailer... images of oil devastation from his homeland. A timely reminder of what the people of Erris are fighting for. The final meeting took place in Newcastle, where health & safety, the global environment and a political discussion wrapped up the business end of The Long Walk.

DAY 15: Liffey Valley to Dublin City Centre - 7.9 miles (12.7 km)
The final stage and the shortest, a reward for the trials of the past fortnight. The route took in Cloverhill prison on the way to Ballyfermot and Kilmainham Gaol, the rally point for those wanting to join in for the run into the City Centre, and the reception point for a meeting with Dublin's Lord Mayor. A Garda escort from Kilmainham to the GPO made the final two miles a memorable trip, while the growing entourage cheered The Long Walkers through the last of the Shell forecourts (along with the Statoil stations on route, they had all been visited with a walk-through and a friendly wave). After a brief acknowledgement of the crowd and a few challenging words from Micheal Ó Seighin, everyone dispersed for the Dublin/Westmeath game and the journey home.

It would be impossible to individually thank all those that made The Long Walk a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so it is just fitting to say míle buíochas to everyone who joined in and made it such a success. Shell To Sea will recount this adventure as a vital step towards resolving the Corrib gas issue, and with the support and encouragement of the people of Ireland, we will try to help make this country a better place for everyone.

The Long Walk, Rossport to Dublin, 29th July to 12th August 2006. Total mileage - 215.3 miles (347.3 km).