Local Irish History

The Beara Breifne Greenway

The Beara Breifne Greenway is being developed as a walking & cycling trail from Cork to Leitrim, following the route taken by the famous Irish Chieftain O’Sullivan Beara in 1603.  This route is being developed as a waymarked way for walking, cycling, heritage and clans. The Heritage Council of Ireland has decided that this historic route will form part of the European Greenways Trail.

•  Who was O’Sullivan Beara?          

Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beara, a local Irish Chieftain in West Cork, had been driven out of his castle at Dunboy after the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. He headed north to O’Rourke’s of Leitrim on one of the most extraordinary retreat marches of Irish history. This epic march, through the counties of Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim, took place as a result of the defeat of the Irish and Spanish by the English Forces at the Battle of Kinsale. He left the Beara Peninsula with 1,000 people on 31^st December 1602. Fifteen days later, he arrived in Leitrim with only 35 people, having fought many battles along the 300 mile journey. 

•  400^th Anniversary re-enactment

This epic winter march was re-enacted in January 2003 by the Greenway Project team involving 70 community groups from the towns and villages along the route. Festivals are taking place during the summer in towns and villages along the 300 mile route to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of O’Sullivan’s epic march. For further details see www.bbgreenway.org

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