Category Archives: Climbs

At the Summit of Short Mountain looking Southwards towards the MacGillycuddy's Reeks
Climbs

Short Mountain (N-S)

Posted: July 13, 2018 · By: Donnacha Clifford · Comments: 1

A climb of legend and only braved by those who have excess energy or lacking in common sense, Short Mountain from the north to south approach is quite the challenge although dubbed as being much easier than the south to north approach (a story for another day). The benign adjective 'short' sounds like a rather fluffy term that can only lead to the perception that this climb "can't be too bad" but anyone who has done it will know better, unfortunately "short" when it comes to climbs in Kerry does not always mean sweet. This climb was twice recently [...]

Living in the Upside Down at Ballyfinnane
Climbs

Farmers Bridge (S-N)

Posted: June 21, 2018 · By: Donnacha Clifford · Comments: 0

This climb is the middle triplet when cycling between Castlemaine and Tralee, it is more difficult that the Curraghmore climb along the main N70 road, both being far less difficult than the towering Short Mountain climb, with it's masts being visible for miles around on either side of the Sliabh Mish mountains. Begin in the village crossroads of Ballyfinnane, made famous by the Shanty Bar and the upside down man in a barrel adjacent to it. It is almost as if he saw something frightful many moons ago and ducked for cover, he is still [...]

At the beginning of the Glounsharoon Climb
Climbs

Crag Caves/Glounsharoon

Posted: April 25, 2018 · By: Dave Elton · Comments: 0

As a Tralee based cyclist there is a mindset to think of Castleisland and flat in the same sentence. After all the N21 is one of the flattest roads leaving the Kerry capital to Castleisland and that particular road is very popular with time trialist and beginner alike. It's after you take a closer look at Castleisland, that you realise the majority of the 7 or 8 roads leaving the town, at some point accommodate some very respectable climbs. To name but a few The Maum, Scartaglin, Cordal, Brosna and Crag Caves or as the locals like to call it [...]

Ascending Mount Eagle
Climbs

Mount Eagle

Posted: April 23, 2018 · By: Donnacha Clifford · Comments: 0

Mt Eagle has up until very recently existed on my to-do list, for many years in fact. On one sunny spring morning in March 2018 it finally called to me. It is not a very challenging climb by other standards in the county, but it does lure you from the steady-sloped hinterland of Castleisland near Cordal with a gradient of 1 or 2% for the first kilometer or so before the business end of the climb becomes more apparent with grassy roads and brown boggy landscape replacing the more manicured ditches before. Name Distance Avg. [...]

Climbs Routes

The Maum

Posted: July 14, 2010 · By: Donnacha Clifford · Comments: 0

This gruelling climb is infamous to cyclists throughout the county and is a challenge to even the most battle hardened. It is a category 1 climb that has been involved in many a Rás Tailteann and FBD Milk Rás throughout the entire history of the event. It is relatively short witth it's summit being only approx 2 and a half miles (nearly 5 K) from Castleisland. [...]

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