Fermoy

We all, at one time or another, idealise love as that portrayed by Yuri and Lara in Dr Zhivago, a dominant paradigm of romantic love, pure, disinterested, self-sacrificing, floating ethereally on Maurice Jarre's musical score. 

The Oxford dictionary very loosely defines love as "a very strong feeling of liking and caring for somebody, especially a member of your family or a friend”

Quarantine has placed us all in a pressure cooker. Even if you’re still going out to work, nothing is the same and, at home, your relationships feel more under the microscope than ever before. 

What once might have been half-hearted, light bickering over who fills the dishwasher, or a mistimed joke can quickly escalate to the quarantine quarrel.

There’s a perfectly natural explanation for the unbearable intensity of life under Covid-19. Quarrelling is a physical response, not an intellectual process, which is why no one has ever solved an argument with a screaming match, and nobody ever will.

Conflict is not necessarily a sign of an unhealthy relationship, and while relationships that were already faltering may be cracking under the strain, the quarantine quarrel is not necessarily about deep structural problems. 

It can simply be about the unrelenting, unceasing, never-ending togetherness and the enough already of that condition. Many couples argue not because they lack intimacy, but because they possess it.

We have brains that are built more for war than for love. In order to survive, we have more threat centres in the brain than anything else. It’s part of the human condition, and it’s part of the problem in all relationships.

In fact, Neuroscientists have argued that the content of any given argument doesn't matter.  Money, time, mess, sex, children are the five most argued over.  But they also argue, it’s never really about those things. What causes a problem is the manner in which we interact, especially in the heat of the moment.

That is what isolation under Covid-19 can feel like.  We are at war even when we are at love. That’s as much a biological reality as an emotional one.

Valentine's hearts are everywhere at this time of year as people celebrate the power of love. But forget about your heart: love doesn’t happen there, love is a drama that happens all over your body.

It is the brain that gives you that feeling of euphoria, the butterflies in your stomach, and the sweaty palms when you meet that special person. And it is your brain deciding if you are overwhelmed by love at first sight.  

Activity in the brain’s reward system – including the orbitofrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, and the hypothalamus – rises when couples first meet and fall in love, and together they provide feelings of pleasure and reward.

We spend so much time trying to figure out if the person who we love loves us in return that we forget to enjoy love for what it is, in the moment, for the time that it exists. 

The truth is, no one belongs to anyone and the idea of forever is a fantasy fed to us by films and movies, Instagram and our mothers.

The only real way to love is to love in the moment. Love in the quiet moments on the sofa and stay in the quiet moment, just for a little while forgetting all the troubles in the world. Love in the silence of bedrooms and the quiet of films you watch together. 

Love yourself, your partner, your children, your parents, your siblings, your friends, your neighbour.  

There is never a time or place for love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single moment. 

Love in the silent walks which you go on together, or in the second of the text message you get from a loved one. Focus on loving in the present, in the second, in the moment.

When are we going to need our loved ones more than now?

<p>We all, at one time or another, idealise love as that portrayed by Yuri and Lara in Dr Zhivago, a dominant paradigm of romantic love, pure, disinterested, self-sacrificing, floating ethereally on Maurice Jarre's musical score.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Oxford dictionary very loosely defines love as "<em>a very strong feeling of liking and caring for somebody, especially a member of your family or a friend”</em></p>
<p>Quarantine has placed us all in a pressure cooker. Even if you’re still going out to work, nothing is the same and, at home, your relationships feel more under the microscope than ever before.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What once might have been half-hearted, light bickering over who fills the dishwasher, or a mistimed joke can quickly escalate to the quarantine quarrel.</p>
<p>There’s a perfectly natural explanation for the unbearable intensity of life under Covid-19. Quarrelling is a physical response, not an intellectual process, which is why no one has ever solved an argument with a screaming match, and nobody ever will.</p>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/e22c4df4-97a7-4f15-ad41-59a4a4d6f2d4.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<p></p>
<p>Conflict is not necessarily a sign of an unhealthy relationship, and while relationships that were already faltering may be cracking under the strain, the quarantine quarrel is not necessarily about deep structural problems.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It can simply be about the unrelenting, unceasing, never-ending togetherness and the <em>enough already</em> of that condition. Many couples argue not because they lack intimacy, but because they possess it.</p>
<p>We have brains that are built more for war than for love. In order to survive, we have more threat centres in the brain than anything else. It’s part of the human condition, and it’s part of the problem in all relationships.</p>
<p>In fact, Neuroscientists have argued that the content of any given argument doesn't matter.  Money, time, mess, sex, children are the five most argued over.  But they also argue, it’s never really about those things. What causes a problem is the manner in which we interact, especially in the heat of the moment.</p>
<p>That is what isolation under Covid-19 can feel like.  We are at war even when we are at love. That’s as much a biological reality as an emotional one.</p>
<p></p>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/daa657a3-7a74-4145-81cd-0264d574a056.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<p></p>
<p>Valentine's hearts are everywhere at this time of year as people celebrate the power of love. But forget about your heart: love doesn’t happen there, love is a drama that happens all over your body.</p>
<p>It is the brain that gives you that feeling of euphoria, the butterflies in your stomach, and the sweaty palms when you meet that special person. And it is your brain deciding if you are overwhelmed by love at first sight.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Activity in the brain’s reward system – including the orbitofrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, and the hypothalamus – rises when couples first meet and fall in love, and together they provide feelings of pleasure and reward.</p>
<p>We spend so much time trying to figure out if the person who we love loves us in return that we forget to enjoy love for what it is, in the moment, for the time that it exists.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The truth is, no one belongs to anyone and the idea of forever is a fantasy fed to us by films and movies, Instagram and our mothers.</p>
<p>The only real way to love is to love in the moment. Love in the quiet moments on the sofa and stay in the quiet moment, just for a little while forgetting all the troubles in the world. Love in the silence of bedrooms and the quiet of films you watch together.&nbsp;</p>
<p></p>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/b806ae76-7318-4d44-aaca-488aa14debb0.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<p></p>
<p>Love yourself, your partner, your children, your parents, your siblings, your friends, your neighbour.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>There is never a time or place for love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single moment.&nbsp;</p>
<p>No reason is needed for good loving.</p>
<p>Love in the silent walks which you go on together, or in the second of the text message you get from a loved one. Focus on loving in the present, in the second, in the moment.</p>
<p>When are we going to need our loved ones more than now?</p>
<p></p>
<p>by Axelle McQueen</p>


Love in a Time of Pandemic

The Oldest Woman in Europe Survives Covid-19 Days Before Her 117th Birthday

A French nun who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic and both World Wars turned 117 last Thursday, shortly after recovering from Covid-19. Sister Andre, who lives at a retirement home in Toulon, France, remarked that she didn't even realise she had the virus until testing positive, saying she had only felt a bit 'tired.' Sister Andre is currently the 2nd oldest person in the world, after Kane Tanaka, a 118-year-old Japanese woman. 

Nurses at Sligo University Hospital received Valentine's Day cards from schoolchildren as part of a 'Frontline Valentine's' effort orchestrated by teachers across the county. Boxes of colourful, hand-made cards containing messages of love and support were delivered to the hospital over the weekend in a bid to lift the spirits of our hardworking healthcare workers.

Frontline workers in Leitrim, Galway, Mayo and Limerick also received cards from the Sligo students, meaning the message of appreciation touched the hearts of hundreds across Connacht. 

Police in Denver, US, Launch Special 911 Response Unit for Mental Health Emergencies

The Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program that was launched in Denver, Colorado last June has reported positive results following its first six months in action. In response to a call where a community member is experiencing mental health difficulties, substance abuse issues or homelessness, the program sends a two-person medical team instead of police officers or firemen. 

The creation of STAR has meant that trained professionals were able to respond to over 700 911 calls that would previously have been handled by police (a situation that often led to the fatal shootings of those in distress). It's a model that other cities and countries are being encouraged to adopt, in order to improve the quality of mental health services available to those who seek help.  

<h2>The Oldest Woman in Europe Survives Covid-19 Days Before Her 117th Birthday</h2>
<p>A French nun who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic and both World Wars turned 117 last Thursday, shortly after recovering from Covid-19. Sister Andre, who lives at a retirement home in Toulon, France, remarked that she didn't even realise she had the virus until testing positive, saying she had only felt a bit 'tired.' Sister Andre is currently the 2nd oldest person in the world, after Kane Tanaka, a 118-year-old Japanese woman.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Valentine's Cards for Frontline Workers</h2>
<p>Nurses at Sligo University Hospital received Valentine's Day cards from schoolchildren as part of a 'Frontline Valentine's' effort orchestrated by teachers across the county. Boxes of colourful, hand-made cards containing messages of love and support were delivered to the hospital over the weekend in a bid to lift the spirits of our hardworking healthcare workers.</p>
<p>Frontline workers in Leitrim, Galway, Mayo and Limerick also received cards from the Sligo students, meaning the message of appreciation touched the hearts of hundreds across Connacht.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Police in Denver, US, Launch Special 911 Response Unit for Mental Health Emergencies</h2>
<p>The Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program that was launched in Denver, Colorado last June has reported positive results following its first six months in action. In response to a call where a community member is experiencing mental health difficulties, substance abuse issues or homelessness, the program sends a two-person medical team instead of police officers or firemen.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The creation of STAR has meant that trained professionals were able to respond to over 700 911 calls that would previously have been handled by police (a situation that often led to the fatal shootings of those in distress). It's a model that other cities and countries are being encouraged to adopt, in order to improve the quality of mental health services available to those who seek help.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>


Good News Corner

It's never been more important to shine a light on small businesses in our localities. The hardworking people behind the counters provide our communities with more than just a product or service — they inject life, laughter and conversation into our days, something that other modes of shopping just can't seem to replicate. 

Local Business Spotlight aims to uncover what makes these businesses so special by speaking to those who know them best. This week, we caught up with Barry Fitzgerald to find out what makes Fitzgerald's Butchers tick. 

Yours is a family-owned business established almost 60 years ago. How has your shop and farm evolved during that time?

The business has evolved a lot since it was started in the ’60s from when butcher shops were the only place where you could buy meat to where meat is now sold in every supermarket in the country! 

We had a thriving business in the ’70s & ’80s but the growth of the supermarkets has seen the demise of the traditional butcher shop.

Turning to the wholesale side of the business and growing it was a major factor in keeping the business going in the ’90s & ’00s but the big companies have also targeted that sector to price out the small butchers.

We knew we had to diversify again to stay relevant so we made plans to renovate the shop and reinvent what we do, which we did in 2017, gutting the shop and giving a total refit. In doing so it has totally changed our business back to being a busy shop again. 

What are the main advantages of sourcing meat from your own farm?

The main advantage of having our own abattoir and our own livestock is that we can control exactly what we sell over our counter and how it gets there. 

From breed, condition, hanging time, dry ageing, custom cuts and above all quality of what we sell!

In the last few years, we have seen people become more & more interested in where their food comes from and how it gets there & how they are treated!

We have total control with the fields surrounding the abattoir to the shop being just 3 miles away = almost zero food miles! 

Do you have any special traditions? If so, how do you honour them while embracing modern methods and/or technologies?

We age all our beef, pork & lamb on the bone which increases the flavour and quality of our meat. We hope to showcase this in the future with dry-aged display cabinets in the shop but the key to doing this is controlling both temperature & humidity.

In our game shortcuts is a slippery slope to follow, traditional methods (curing, sausage making, dry-ageing) takes time to achieve the best results.

The only big change in the last 50 years is the development of new & better machinery, with the electric saw being a huge one. 

In your opinion, what is the key to building a successful local business?

A great knowledgeable workforce in our business is vital, knowing your customers and constantly improving/introducing products! Keeping up to date with new trends. Businesses have to change so fast now, online sales have exploded this year, we are hoping to head in that direction soon.

How has Covid-19 affected your business overall?

Covid has changed some businesses forever, we have been one of the more fortunate ones in that almost every butcher in the country has seen an upturn in business over the last year! 

In better times, what’s your favourite Fermoy spot to have a bite, grab a pint, or just sit and watch the world go by?

Fermoy has changed a lot in the last 30/40 years with a lot of places closing and more recently we have the revival of the town with great eateries opened, coffee shops. There is plenty of great pubs in Fermoy to choose from. In the last few years, we have seen a lot of new eateries open from Hannas, Ed’s, The Heron, The Coffee House and a few more.

What are you most looking forward to doing after the pandemic?

Having a pint with friends and getting back to normality. 

<p>It's never been more important to shine a light on small businesses in our localities. The hardworking people behind the counters provide our communities with more than just a product or service — they inject life, laughter and conversation into our days, something that other modes of shopping just can't seem to replicate.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Local Business Spotlight aims to uncover what makes these businesses so special by speaking to those who know them best. This week, we caught up with Barry Fitzgerald to find out what makes Fitzgerald's Butchers tick.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Yours is a family-owned business established almost 60 years ago. How has your shop and farm evolved during that time?</h3>
<p>The business has evolved a lot since it was started in the ’60s from when butcher shops were the only place where you could buy meat to where meat is now sold in every supermarket in the country!&nbsp;</p>
<p>We had a thriving business in the ’70s &amp; ’80s but the growth of the supermarkets has seen the demise of the traditional butcher shop.</p>
<p>Turning to the wholesale side of the business and growing it was a major factor in keeping the business going in the ’90s &amp; ’00s but the big companies have also targeted that sector to price out the small butchers.</p>
<p>We knew we had to diversify again to stay relevant so we made plans to renovate the shop and reinvent what we do, which we did in 2017, gutting the shop and giving a total refit. In doing so it has totally changed our business back to being a busy shop again.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>What are the main advantages of sourcing meat from your own farm?</h3>
<p>The main advantage of having our own abattoir and our own livestock is that we can control exactly what we sell over our counter and how it gets there.&nbsp;</p>
<p>From breed, condition, hanging time, dry ageing, custom cuts and above all quality of what we sell!</p>
<p>In the last few years, we have seen people become more &amp; more interested in where their food comes from and how it gets there &amp; how they are treated!</p>
<p>We have total control with the fields surrounding the abattoir to the shop being just 3 miles away = almost zero food miles!&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Do you have any special traditions? If so, how do you honour them while embracing modern methods and/or technologies?</h3>
<p>We age all our beef, pork &amp; lamb on the bone which increases the flavour and quality of our meat. We hope to showcase this in the future with dry-aged display cabinets in the shop but the key to doing this is controlling both temperature &amp; humidity.</p>
<p>In our game shortcuts is a slippery slope to follow, traditional methods (curing, sausage making, dry-ageing) takes time to achieve the best results.</p>
<p>The only big change in the last 50 years is the development of new &amp; better machinery, with the electric saw being a huge one.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>In your opinion, what is the key to building a successful local business?</h3>
<p>A great knowledgeable workforce in our business is vital, knowing your customers and constantly improving/introducing products! Keeping up to date with new trends. Businesses have to change so fast now, online sales have exploded this year, we are hoping to head in that direction soon.</p>
<h3>How has Covid-19 affected your business overall?</h3>
<p>Covid has changed some businesses forever, we have been one of the more fortunate ones in that almost every butcher in the country has seen an upturn in business over the last year!&nbsp;</p>
<h3>In better times, what’s your favourite Fermoy spot to have a bite, grab a pint, or just sit and watch the world go by?</h3>
<p>Fermoy has changed a lot in the last 30/40 years with a lot of places closing and more recently we have the revival of the town with great eateries opened, coffee shops. There is plenty of great pubs in Fermoy to choose from. In the last few years, we have seen a lot of new eateries open from Hannas, Ed’s, The Heron, The Coffee House and a few more.</p>
<h3>What are you most looking forward to doing after the pandemic?</h3>
<p>Having a pint with friends and getting back to normality.&nbsp;</p>


Local Business Spotlight: Fitzgerald's Butchers, Fermoy

We are very lucky here in Ireland to have such beautiful woodlands within a short distance of our towns. The therapeutic benefits of spending time in the woods have been well-documented. Lately, more and more people are discovering the peace of mind and revitalisation that immersive nature walks can bring. 

Although we are currently restricted by the lockdown, here are some magical forest trails to visit once travel is possible again...

Castlefreke Woods Short-Loop Walk ~ Castlefreke, Co. Cork

This is a short and pleasant 20-minute walk, taking you around in a loop through Castlefreke woods. Castlefreke (a predominantly wooded area 10km from Clonakilty) is renowned for its gorgeous ocean views, as well as for the magnificent ruin of 19th-century Rathbarry Castle.  

The trail is clearly marked and covered with light gravel. It's a great trail for a quick walk through the woods. It also has a car park and some picnic benches. 

Ballyseedy is a woodland area located 4km from Tralee town. It is a unique and tranquil retreat which extends to nearly 80 acres. It has at least 22 varieties of native trees and they are marked with their Gaelic and English names in the woods. 

The majestic Ash, Oak and Beech trees have been growing there for centuries. There are a number of ruins and follies within the wood, dating back to the 17th century, with the River Lee (from which Tralee takes its name) forming the woodlands northern boundary. 

Rinmaher Trail, Portumna Forest Park ~ Portumna, Co. Galway

Aerial view of Lough Derg and surrounding woodland

Rinmaher trail is located within the bounds of the stunning Portumna Forest Park. This loop is mainly on singletrack narrow trails and is suitable for those looking for a longer walk. It begins along a two-way section of trail and covers much of the Park. 

There are good views along the lakeshore near Rinmaher Point south towards Terryglass and east towards Portumna Bridge. Signal signs provide information about local features of fauna and flora, including red squirrel and fallow deer.

This hidden gem has an old-world feel that has much to offer including a variety of mature trees and tracks suitable for walking. Marlogue wood is located approximately 30km from Carrigaline but is well worth a visit for a relaxing weekend stroll against the backdrop of the bay. 

The area originally carried old oak stands that were felled during World War I. There are a number of forest roads and tracks running through the forest that allow for both a forest and harbour experience.

Barna Woods is located on the western outskirts of Galway City, near the village of Barna. This mature, atmospheric woodland is complemented by a small stream and ancient footbridge. It is locally cherished as a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city. 

One of its most popular trails can be accessed via Barna Rd, where there is a small car park. The loop will take you north and past the outer limits of Knockacara, over the stream and back to the Barna Rd.  

Kilbarry Wood Walk, Coolagown ~ Fermoy, Co. Cork

Carpets of bluebell sometimes bloom during springtime at Kilbarry Wood

Kilbarry wood is set on a wooded plateau situated between the river valleys of the Bride and Blackwater. It consists of 30 hectares mixed broadleaved woodland with stands of mature Oak and Beech and occasional Ash, Birch and Rowan trees along with Scots Pine and Larch. 

There are two looped walking trails in Kilbarry, both guide the visitor around this community woodland that the locals are so proud of.

Download the Xplore app here to get turn-by-turn directions, a walking guide and more information on these trails.

<p>We are very lucky here in Ireland to have such beautiful woodlands within a short distance of our towns. The <a href="https://xploreapp.io/xplore/news/forest-bathing-how-spending-time-in-the-woods-can-improve-your-health-gjtap" target="_self">therapeutic benefits</a> of spending time in the woods have been well-documented. Lately, more and more people are discovering the peace of mind and revitalisation that immersive nature walks can bring.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Although we are currently restricted by the lockdown, here are some magical forest trails to visit once travel is possible again...</p>
<h2>Castlefreke Woods Short-Loop Walk ~ Castlefreke, Co. Cork</h2>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/4cc760c2-5da0-449a-a998-f1fa0d71c8ff.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<h5 style="text-align:center;">The nearby ruins of Rathbarry Castle</h5>
<p>This is a short and pleasant 20-minute walk, taking you around in a loop through Castlefreke woods. Castlefreke (a predominantly wooded area 10km from Clonakilty) is renowned for its gorgeous ocean views, as well as for the magnificent ruin of 19th-century Rathbarry Castle.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>The trail is clearly marked and covered with light gravel. It's a great trail for a quick walk through the woods. It also has a car park and some picnic benches.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Distance:</strong> 1.5km</p>
<p><strong>Difficulty:</strong> Easy</p>
<h2>Ballyseedy Wood Walk ~ Tralee, Co. Kerry</h2>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/bc6a7fda-7429-4437-afb4-6285f1881133.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<h5 style="text-align:center;">Wild garlic at Ballyseedy Wood</h5>
<p>Ballyseedy is a woodland area located 4km from Tralee town. It is a unique and tranquil retreat which extends to nearly 80 acres. It has at least 22 varieties of native trees and they are marked with their Gaelic and English names in the woods.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The majestic Ash, Oak and Beech trees have been growing there for centuries. There are a number of ruins and follies within the wood, dating back to the 17th century, with the River Lee (from which Tralee takes its name) forming the woodlands northern boundary.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Distance:</strong> 1.5km</p>
<p><strong>Difficulty:</strong> Easy</p>
<h2>Rinmaher Trail, Portumna Forest Park ~ Portumna, Co. Galway</h2>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/bbc3bbb1-0b3e-42a3-a1a3-8dbaea9b3bf9.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<h5 style="text-align:center;">Aerial view of Lough Derg and surrounding woodland</h5>
<p>Rinmaher trail is located within the bounds of the stunning Portumna Forest Park. This loop is mainly on singletrack narrow trails and is suitable for those looking for a longer walk. It begins along a two-way section of trail and covers much of the Park.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are good views along the lakeshore near Rinmaher Point south towards Terryglass and east towards Portumna Bridge. Signal signs provide information about local features of fauna and flora, including red squirrel and fallow deer.</p>
<p><strong>Distance:</strong> 10km</p>
<p><strong>Difficulty:</strong> Moderate</p>
<h2>Marlogue Wood ~ Carrigaline, Co. Cork</h2>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/6848588a-101f-4d82-9c59-d0b930ced069.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<h5 style="text-align:center;">Woodland scene in West Cork</h5>
<p>This hidden gem has an old-world feel that has much to offer including a variety of mature trees and tracks suitable for walking. Marlogue wood is located approximately 30km from Carrigaline but is well worth a visit for a relaxing weekend stroll against the backdrop of the bay.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The area originally carried old oak stands that were felled during World War I. There are a number of forest roads and tracks running through the forest that allow for both a forest and harbour experience.</p>
<p><strong>Distance:</strong> 4km</p>
<p><strong>Difficulty:</strong> Easy</p>
<h2>Barna Wood Walk ~ Barna, Co. Galway</h2>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/d184b70c-bce2-465c-91ee-4874ecadaffb.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<h5 style="text-align:center;">Ancient, winding trees at Barna Wood</h5>
<p>Barna Woods is located on the western outskirts of Galway City, near the village of Barna. This mature, atmospheric woodland is complemented by a small stream and ancient footbridge. It is locally cherished as a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of the nearby city.&nbsp;</p>
<p>One of its most popular trails can be accessed via Barna Rd, where there is a small car park. The loop will take you north and past the outer limits of Knockacara, over the stream and back to the Barna Rd.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Distance:</strong> 2km</p>
<p><strong>Difficulty:</strong> Easy</p>
<h2>Kilbarry Wood Walk, Coolagown ~ Fermoy, Co. Cork</h2>
<img src="https://d2hz75cbudexsj.cloudfront.net/insideAppNews/images/cdc2b6ee-b05c-4588-9534-fc3721a852ab.jpg" alt="undefined" style="float:none;height: auto;width: auto"/>
<h5 style="text-align:center;">Carpets of bluebell sometimes bloom during springtime at Kilbarry Wood</h5>
<p>Kilbarry wood is set on a wooded plateau situated between the river valleys of the Bride and Blackwater. It consists of 30 hectares mixed broadleaved woodland with stands of mature Oak and Beech and occasional Ash, Birch and Rowan trees along with Scots Pine and Larch.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are two looped walking trails in Kilbarry, both guide the visitor around this community woodland that the locals are so proud of.</p>
<p><strong>Distance:</strong> 3.4km</p>
<p><strong>Difficulty: </strong>Easy</p>
<p></p>
<p><strong>Download the Xplore app </strong><a href="http://onelink.to/933kag" target="_self"><strong>here</strong></a><strong> to get turn-by-turn directions, a walking guide and more information on these trails.</strong></p>


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Local Business Spotlight: Fitzgerald's Butchers, Fermoy

6 Woodland Trails To Visit in Cork, Kerry and Galway

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