Castlegale Loop
- Woodland Paths
- Forestry Roads
- Darragh Beg, Co. Limerick, Ireland
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Difficulty:
moderate
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Distance:
7 km
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Time:
1.5 - 2hrs
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Climb:
220 m
You will ascend this trail to reach the cairn of stones known as Castle Gale. According to a local story passed down through generations, tenants in this area would hoist a flag atop this pile of stones to inform others that the local landlord was in the process of collecting rent.
Keep an eye out for the Holy Well. Legend has it that a local woman once washed her clothes in this well and the next time she returned to the spot where the well had been it had magically moved to the other side of the trail where it remains to this day!
The Bridge at Darragh was the site of the Battle of Darragh in 1798 in which the North Cork Militia fought the United Irish Men. A memorial plaque can be seen on the bridge.
The word 'Darragh' comes from the Irish 'Dearg' and is thought to refer to the colour of the oak trees in the area