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This route was made for walking
04.07.11
by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent
A NEW orienteering route through Buncrana’s Swan
Park has been hailed as a ‘wonderful project’ at an
official launch ceremony in the town yesterday
morning.
The exciting new walking blueprint features a map,
designed by John Spence, pointing to five different
pathways of varying length and difficulty with 39
stations to test navigational skills.
Co-ordinator Sean McGrory, explaining how the
orienteering project came about, said it could prove
a timely boost to the Tidy Towns in Buncrana.
“It is great for Buncrana to have its own
orienteering route. I was approached by the Tidy
Towns and they asked me to get some young people
involved so I contacted Youth Reach and they were a
great help on the project,” he said.
In order to make sure the new pathway is an instant
success, Sean revealed that youth leaders and
teachers from across Inishowen will be invited to
learn the new course before bringing hundreds of
young people on future trips. |
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Inishowen Development Partnership
chairman, Anthony Doogan, second left, and
orienteering co-ordinator, Sean McGrory, third from
right, join others at the launch of the new
orienteering route at Swan Park, Buncrana. |
New Inishowen
Development Partnership (IDP) chairman and Moville
Community College principal Anthony Doogan hailed a
‘wonderful new project’.
“Orienteering is the ideal sport in that people can
go along at their own pace but it can also be very
competitive. It lends itself to group work and
people co-operating with each other. It is good
exercise and creates cultural awareness and eco
awareness. It is a wonderful project,” he said.
“Everyone involved deserves great credit and can be
justifiably proud. We will certainly be bringing
students over from Moville to use the course for
competition and I’m looking forward to it,” Doogan
added.
Also of the IDP, Sean McGrory revealed that the new
course could be expanded next year while the
existing route is also set to incorporate an
eco-trial.
He was quick to credit all those who helped bring
the scheme through to fruition.
“The project was practically cost neutral and
everyone certainly played their part. Also thanks to
Crana College for the work on all the signs,” he
added.
The Swan Park course, first walked by sixth class
pupils from Scoil Iosagain last week, will open to
the public later this month.
Waterproof maps will be available from Inishowen
Tourism offices here for a small fee. |
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