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Sunday the 20th of June dawned dry and sunny and a perfect day for the walk and picnic organised by the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ireland. A group of Bernese enthusiasts met in the picturesque village of Clonaslee at 2pm. Arrangements had been made to meet outside the church and initially it appeared as though only a small number had made the trip but after a quick phone call it was discovered that there were two churches in the village and our group quickly doubled in size!
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We set off in convoy for the stunning Glenbarrow Walk located in the Slieve Bloom mountains in the heart of the Midlands. Breathtaking views of counties Laois and Offaly could be seen as we wound our way up through the mountains to our destination.
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Arriving at the car park the air was quickly filled with the chatter of energetic children, excited dogs and enthusiastic adults! Introductions and greetings completed, the group set off into the forest, the perfect cover from the hot sun. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly and the group mingled and exchanged stories and anecdotes on our beautiful breed. It was heartwarming to see how all the dogs interacted without so much as a grumble. Fifteen minutes into the walk the group arrived at a clearing where the River Barrow flowed onto a rock bed. A perfect spot to stop and allow the dogs to drink in the waters and cool off in the dappled shade whilst the sun worshippers soaked up the hot sunshine from the rocks.
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After a short break the group continued on their way towards the plunge pool and waterfall. The group attracted a lot of attention and comments from other walkers with much admiration for the stunning dogs and their calm temperaments. After another break for photos and a chat the group returned to a designated picnic area where humans and dogs settled down and tucked in!! Nobody was in any hurry to leave (especially when Dorothy produced two large trays of homemade sandwiches and goodies!!!)
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| Tucking in | Thirsty work! |
The buzz of animated conversation and laughter was a reliable indicator of the success of the event. Collecting our rubbish and gathering our belongings the unanimous opinion was that this was certainly an event well worth repeating. With promises to keep in touch and having made many new friends the group dispersed with tired children and sleeping dogs and headed on their way home.
Valerie Hughes
Club Secretary
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Catherine and Ben
| Aislin and Alice
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Dorothy and Yogi
| Hilda and Bailey
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Aoife and Sophia
| Alice and Eigar
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Alice cools down
| Bailey
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Marcin and Marley
| Valerie and the girls
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Time for home |
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