CLIMB every mountain, follow every stream...

We all know the words to that famous song but one group of intrepid hikers who truly were climbing the mountain were the brave fundraisers who took part in last weekend’s Moonlight Challenge mountain hike in aid of the Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team service.

Among the 600 or so hikers were The Irish Field’s Emer Bermingham and Janet Micks (team captain), Debbie Riordan and Alanna Moore who were delighted to complete the 29km hike. Janet is the daughter of Barbara Micks of the Irish Pony Club and Emer and herself have known each other for over 30 years having met as children in the Kildare Pony Club.

Hats off to Horseware Ireland who supplied them with special LED hats which proved a great asset as darkness fell.

The event starts off in the afternoon and takes place under a full moon and this year, hikers were treated to a spectacular moon, which really helped keep them all going.

This fundraiser is the main fundraising event for the mountain rescue service for the year and with a maximum of 600 hikers allowed, there is a fairly big waiting list for places, showing how popular the event is. Established in 2010, it helped raise the finance for the Mountain Rescue Base which was completed in 2012.

The Moonlight Challenge is not for the faint-hearted however and each team has been busily training for the last few months, hiking around 40km each week.

And a special word to Alanna who also completed the Dublin City Marathon over the bank holiday weekend.

ISA dinner dance

THE Irish Shows Association AGM and Dinner Dance will take place in Treacy’s Oakwood Hotel, Shannon, Co. Clare, on Saturday, November 25th next.

The AGM will take place at 2.30pm. For those who are staying for the weekend, but not attending the meeting, a free bus tour to Bunratty will leave the hotel at 12 noon.

Early evening entertainment will be provided by “Ireland’s Traddest Family”, the Doohans of Lissycasey and you can dance the night away to Handipak.

The guest speaker on the night is Minister of State, Pat Breen. All are welcome.

Tickets for the dinner dance are €40 and are available now from your local ISA board member, or the head office.

Special accommodation rates are available from the hotel - be sure to tell them you are attending the ISA annual general meeting.