A canal bank walk in scenic Vicarstown

A crowd of almost two hundred people assembled in the scenic village of Vicarstown on Sunday 18th August, for a community heritage walk organised by Laois Wind Energy Awareness Group (LWEAG).

This was the second in a series of three fundraising walks organised by the group highlighting the natural beauty and heritage of the area, after a huge crowd walked from Fisherstown.

TV Presenters, Poets and Councillors were among the crowd.

Local poet, PJ Tynan, recited verses of Patrick Kavanaghs ‘Canal Bank Walk’ as people gathered around the poet’s seat on the scenic banks of the canal.

“Leafy-with-love banks and the green waters of the canal” opens Kavanagh’s most joyous and spiritually uplifting poem.

Kavanagh wrote the poem following the healing and convalescence he absorbed from the grand canal banks after his illness in 1954. While recovering after the operation, Kavanagh liked to walk along the banks of the Grand Canal in Dublin.

Patrick Kavanagh’s seat on the banks of the canal in Vicarstown was unveiled by Poet Pat Boran in 2007.

RTE Presenter, Kitty Scully, was among the walkers and is concerned about plans for industrial wind farms in her beautiful home village.

Fianna Fail Councillor Padraig Fleming came along to support the LWEAG.

“This is a wonderful healthy family day out’ and an opportunity for people to meet up and enjoy the natural beauty and heritage of their village,” he said.

The Ballybrittas Heritage walk took place on Sunday, August 25,