UCD Mountaineering Club

by Barry Walsh (Captain 1967/69)
During the 1966/67 season, the Club captain was Jim Butler, whose membership went back to the earliest days, and who still pounds the heather in Wicklow and further afield. During that year, the main concern was to develop the Club to the point where the UCD authorities would grant official recognition. This they were reluctant to do on account of the Lugnaquilla tragedy of some years before (qv Seamus O Colmáin's article). About 20 active members took part in "unofficial" hikes, mainly in the Wicklow mountains. There was little Club spirit at this time, more just a coming-together in a slightly organised fashion of UCD people who liked hill walking. However, among this group were two students who were to be instrumental in really putting the UCDMC on the map over the next few years - Barry Walsh and Diarmuid McAree.

For the 1967/68 season, a full committee was "selected", the Captain being Barry Walsh, with close assistance from Jim Butler, Brigid Wall and new members Rory Harrington and Chris Cowan. The first hike of the season was attended by the new Captain and three new members! However, things began to pick up and the Sunday walk began to attract a regular turnout of 15 - 20 students, which might rise as high as 50 or so for a trip to Glendalough. A bus was hired for this occasion - a first for the Club. Diarmuid McAree was the instigator of this outing, which ended with a terrific sing-song in the Glendalough Hotel This was just the first of many such after hike sessions. In December 1967, the Club was at long last granted official recognition and was allowed to put up posters advertising events without the porters taking them down again. A small grant was also allocated to the Club.

UCD Mountaineering Club had finally arrived. During the 68/69 season, the Club really took off. A well organised stand at Freshers' Week resulted in a turnout of 86 students for the first hike. The following week there were 65, the next week 98 and there was no looking back. Organising these vast hordes was a dedicated committee of ten, captained by Rory Harrington up to December, and then again by Barry Walsh when Rory left for foreign parts. The principal officers were Diarmuid McAree, Chris Cowan and Larry Byme. Walks of very respectable distances were done every week, 10-12 miles on average, frequently longer, with weekends away climbing in the Mournes, the Reeks, Donegal and on the Bens. The aftermath of the hike was usually a drinking session and sing-song in a favourite pub - Mooneys of Kilbride, Tuttys of Hollywood, Mulally's of Blessington and Shay Healy's in Roundwood were the most welcoming.

The 1969/70 season started off with another monster outing of 120 people to Glendalough. The large crowds diminished over some weeks to a more manageable 30-40 each week. The Captain was now Diarmuid McAree, with Chris Cowan as Vice-Captain. Medium and long hikes were organised every Sunday, and a rock-climbing group was established as well. There was a noticeable move towards "real" mountaineering , but the Club committee was still anxious to cater for all those students who just liked to walk the hills. Orienteering was new to Ireland and increasing in popularity with quite a few club members taking part. Weekends away were still confined to the mountainous areas of Ireland. 1970/71 saw the advent of a group which was to take over the running of the Club over the next few years.

Chris Cowan became Captain and Jimmy Murphy, Chris Allen, Mick O'Shea and Sean Darby were also prominent. The number of members on outings remained steady at 20 - 30. Rock climbing, orienteering and skiing were now a regular part of the outdoor scene. Some members went overseas on mountaineering trips - to Scotland and the Alps. Jimmy Murphy climbed the Matterhorn in 1971. Mountain-running and setting records for particular well known walks was becoming popular - Mick O'Shea, for example, did the Lug Walk in 9 hours 14 minutes, which took 16 minutes off the previous recorded best time.

In May of 1971, the new Committee for the 1971/72 season was elected. Jimmy Murphy became Captain with Sean Derby as Vice-Captain while Chris Allen continued as Meets Secretary. In addition there were many new faces on the Committee. Jimmy Murphy declared that "the Mickey Mousing was over" and that things were going to be different from now on. The 'old guard' who had overseen the exciting developments of the UCDMC between 1966 and 1971 were out, and a new generation of students had taken over.