The ancient parish of Gleann Bearcháin agus Míros is divided by a haven containing Leaca Riach on it's eastern side and Rineen on the west.  On this walk we will explore the townlands of Bán Chlocháin and An Chúil Dorcha both of which contain the ancient woodland known locally as Leaca Riach.  For reasons unknown, Coillte named the woodland Rineen (despite the hamlet of Rineen being at the other side of Castle Haven.

The Silver Tongue of Munster

Leaca Riach is famous for it's folklore, in particular that of Seán Ó 'Máistir' Coileáin a local hedge school teacher who was reputed to lived in bower deep in these woods.   Ó Coileáin's... compositions achieved considerable popularity. A Jacobite aisling entitled ‘An Buachaill Bán’ (‘Maidin lae ghil fá dhuille géag-ghlais’) was composed about 1782 and is notable for its pro-American sympathies .....while a song in English, ‘The battle of Ross’, extols the courage of local women who engaged members of the Orange order in a battle following ‘twelfth of July’ celebrations. 

Our looped walk of the woodland takes in an ancient Lime Kiln, a 'Famine Wall' plus the stunning wooded vista's of the upper reaches of Castle Haven. This haven / harbour is a noted for its rare birdlife, it's tidal flats which host rare bird species such as Shelduck. 

We will also visit the tiny hamlet of Rineen.