Climbing Dalkey Quarry (Dublin)

Columba McLaughlin 7th July 2001

Well, my Dee was in Spain and Sionaínn (aged almost 4) was daddy sitting me. Noel's Dee had gone off to Galway for a hen party. I thought it was some distance to go for hen for Noel's soup. Well there yer go, that's loyalty for ye. I bet Frankie (Mad Dog) has not trained his other half as well as that. Anyway, boredom had set in and Noel, who was nursing a foot injury after falling while soloing a HVS, suggested we visit him in Dublin. So Sionaínn and I hit the big smoke.

We arrived in Dalkey about 4pm. Sionaínn got the impressive job of minding the gear at base camp. She enjoyed it as there was a bar-b-que going on and she ended up as the star attraction. Noel (Hop-a-long-a-Mac) and I warmed up in the West Quarry on the usual climbs (Paradise Lost, Fragile and Levitation). We then decided to go to the east quarry. However, Sionaínn said that she was bored and wanted a climb. So Noel went up 'Easy Gully' (Diff) and Sionaínn seconded and made short work of the crux . For adults, it might be a straight-forward climb but for someone under 1metre in height, it probably is a lot harder.

Afterwards, we went to East Quarry. Surprisingly, I led 'Ivy Chimney' from the left hand start (5a). It also has a 4c start from the right. Thereafter it is graded as Severe. Nonetheless, it is a superb climb. After this I led a long promised climb called 'Street fighter' VS 4c This is an excellent climb to the left of the 'Shield'. The top has the best ever 'bombproof' belay position that I have ever come across. _Psyclone would have loved the security of it. Afterwards, we exited the quarry by the 'Eliminate Wall' and back for a carry out from the chinese and the usual watering hole. Sionaínn opted for Fish and Chips and Lemonade.

There ye go,

Hiccup go full,

Columba