Files for this OpenEir tour are -
1) OE-LK-03-golfclub-N69tour.txt - the waypoints and trackpoints.
2) The same calibrated map file for Limerick as from this post.
So, yesterday's OpenEir tour demonstrates, I think, the utility of an open source map of Ireland in helping to find 'out of the way' locations. Like Newcastlewest Golf Club, Cahermoyle Nursing home and a great property for sale overlooking the Shannon Estuary. I also collected waypoints for beautiful forest park, a popular go-karting track, a few GAA pitches and a pituresque watering hole.
My journey started in the south west just a few miles outside Newcastlewest at the turn-off for Ardagh from the main Limerick to Tralee road (N21)
W003LK marks Ardagh village (origin of the famous chalice) church and graveyard, at the junction of the R521 and R523. Passing straight through I shortly come to Cahermoyle House Nursing Home, and former residence of William Smith O'Brien - founding member of the Young Irelander's. It's denoted H002LK
Z003LK marks the final junction leading to Newcastlewest Golf Club. Take a left turn, drive on a short distance and the club entrance appears on the right hand side, marked S002LK here.
To understand the advantages of compiling these OpenEir waypoints just take a look at the vague directions on this webpage for Newcastlewest Golf Club - "9 km north of Newcastle West on the N21" - or this page - "6m N of Newcastle West, off N21" - and you'll understand why so many get lost! Even on my OSI 50,000 series map the flagpole is in the wrong place!
I did a u-turn at the club gate, drove back to the previous junction and turned left to head back towards the N21. This is the road that golfers coming from the Limerick side should take. A few kilometres brings us to the first junction - Z004LK - where a right turn takes us to the next junction Z005LK. This is a dangerous cross! Be careful to yield right of way to traffic on the R523. Now you've only a very short distance to go to Reen's Pike - X006LK - the junction with the N21.
I drove a mile along the main road until I got to Rathkeale where I took the left exit off the bypass at X007LK, turned left again past the junction - Z006LK - for the small sideroad to the soccer pitch. It's just a few hundred yards down there to the left. But I continue on straight, passing the GAA pitch - S006LK.
Then it was a long, relatively straight stretch of road due north to Askeaton. A left turn at Z007LK takes you into the town proper but I turned right to join the N69 bypass of the town at X008LK. I drove east along the N69, heading towards Limerick and saw Kilcornan GAA pitch - S004LK - going by on the right hand side, behind the school. Shortly afterwards I passed the entrance to beautiful Curraghchase Forest Park - V002LK, and a local petrol station F008LK just before turning left at Y001LK off the N69 heading for Pallaskenry. There, up on a hill at the left is Kilcornan Karting - S005LK.
On up the road into Pallaskeny's where church sits on the main street at W004LK. Through the village and north again heading for the Shannon Estuary. 9001LK marks the location of this house which is for sale via Hamptons Estate Agents. As you can see it is in a beautiful location and I can confirm the views boasted on the Hamptons website. As I drove past, the steep fall of road and emerging view of the Shannon Estuary made me feel like was going to end up submerged very quickly. Happily though I emerged at Ringmoylan Quay - V003LK - the remains of a large windmill tower, with fabulous views directly across to Shannon airport. I took this photo which if I'd had a decent zoom capability on my Nokia 6630 would clearly show the parked aeroplane in the background, across the way. By the way, the satellite basemap does clearly show the airport runways opposite the quay.
On my way back inland I did a small circle around the town of Pallaskenry before arriving back on the main street. Turning left on leaving the town I continued on and eventually emerged back on the N69 at Y002LK, a few miles further east that where I'd left it. I soon came to Kildimo where F008LK marks the Campus Petrol Station in the center of the village. Journey's end was at O'Deas De Bucket Pub situated next to the river Maigue, as can be clearly seen on the satellite basemap. Funny that my GPS receiver's battery should run out just at the entrance to a pub in the middle of nowhere ;-)

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