Gola Island Weekend Rock Climbing and Camping Trip

Pete Smith 23rd June 2001

Weekends like this don't come often to these islands; the sun was shining hard from a blue sky, the wind hardly breathed at all and the sea was as flat as the proverbial omelette. The saintly Frankie "Mad Dog" McCloskey [pic] had his ship ready and waiting at Bunbeg harbour and the Colmcillers jumped on board to motor (? drive?, sail?) to Gola Island for a day's climbing. The list of attendees read like a who's who of Irish climbing: Sally "Call me Doctor" Cook, Martin "Spit on the fire" McGuigan, Alan "It's about VS" Tees, Aoife "This is more fun than the Mournes" McGuigan, Duncan from Oop North, Margaret "is my name, mountaineering's my game" Tees, Mark "I'll smile when I want to" McGuigan, James "Psyclone" Boyle,Mary "A walk'll do me" McGuigan and, of course, Pete "fat, who's fat" Smith and Frankie himself (and his dog, Spot, and a sausage roll and a bottle of pop).

For a luvverly group photo click here.

We were led to the climbing areas by the local guide, a certain Mr F McCloskey, and we were all suitably impressed by the 70 foot high, clean granite routes. We spent a frenetic day climbing dozens of lines (none of which I have names for) and then we went back to the mainland. [Photo] [Photo] [Photo]

Alan Tees and I did do a slightly different thing. We paddled a canoe (well, I did, Alan swam) into a huge sea cave that turned out to be a tunnel. We were both mightily impressed with the cavernous nature of the hole, don't you know.

Martin McGuigan takes up the story:

Went over to Alan's camp site and had a good meal and some wine. Then on to a pub in Bunbeg - not sure of name - with Alan, Margaret, Frankie, Aoife, Mary, Sally, and Frankie's climbing mate, Duncan. Good night.

Back to campsite for some merriment with Alan doing his thing on the banjo and some of us dancing the salsa?

During the night some yahoos passed through and took my gas and cooker with them. They also took £25 of out of my wallet and were very nice to leave thewallet with my cards in it. My own fault, I left it laying on the grass.

Nice breakfast the next morning and no great hurry. Alan and Margaret went off to do a walk with someone. Mary and Aoife headed for a flagh ( in irish? not a chance) in Gortin. Mark and I went to Cruit and I gave him the grand tour. Very casual and no climbing . On to Dunglow for a good meal and home. We left Frankie and his mate and Sally at the camp site making breakfast. Great week-end.