Updated directions to Ecotopia

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday August 09, 2002 10:35 by Dara - Gluaiseacht info at ecotopia2002 dot org Ecotopia 087 7732508

CAR PARKING IS LIMITED so unless you are not used to walking etc. please leave it at home and support public transport or get to know someone by hitching to ecotopia. The reason we want people to register is so that we know how many to cook for and how many of you people want to contribute your skills and knowledge. IF you have any problems email [email protected] Print off the info below to know how to get there! Don't forget the feakle festival this weekend. Its looking good!

Please confirm your attendance at ecotopia by mailing [email protected] or ringing (087) 7732508.

The address of Ecotopia 2002 is: Bealkelly Wood, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare, Ireland. Bealkelly Wood is located on the road between Ogonolloe and
Tuamgraney. This is the R463 which goes from Killaloe along the Western shore of Lough Derg as far as Scariff in Co. Clare.

There are two ways to get there; by bus or hitching.

BUS
Two busses a day from Monday to Friday, one bus on Saturday and no bus on Sunday pass the site. Tell the bus driver to let you off at Ecotopia. We have told them you are coming:-)

Details:
Limerick:
Mon - Fri: Depart Limerick bus station at 1:30pm, arrive Tuamgraney 2:30pm - #345*
Mon - Fri: Depart Limerick bus station at 5:30pm, arrive Tuamgraney 6:30pm - #345**
Sat: Depart Limerick bus station at 1:15pm, arrive Tuamgraney 2:15pm - #346***

Nenagh:
Tue, Fri: Depart Nenagh bus station at 1:40pm, arrive Tuamgraney 2:30pm.- #323**

Killaloe which is 8 miles south of the site is better served by bus.

Mon - Sat:
Depart Limerick bus station at 8:20am, arrive Killaloe 9:00am. - #323
Depart Limerick bus station at 3:00pm, arrive Killaloe 3:55pm. - #323
Depart Limerick bus station at 5:30pm, arrive Killaloe 6:22pm. - #345*

Mon - Fri:
Depart Limerick bus station at 1:30pm, arrive Killaloe 2:15pm. - #323

Sat:
Depart Limerick bus station at 1:00pm, arrive Killaloe 1:40pm. - #323***
Depart Limerick bus station at 5:30pm, arrive Killaloe 6:15pm. - #323

*same bus.
**Same bus between Killaloe & Tuamgraney!
***Don't confuse these!

If you are taking the bus from Dublin check in advance if it is worth your while alighting at Nenagh or Birdhill to take bus number 323 to Killaloe or Tuamgraney. From the North (Galway, Portumna or Ennis) busses are very
irregular with one bus from Ennis every Thursday and one bus from Gort every Friday. The cost of a one way ticket from Limerick to Ogonolloe is
€6.35. Day return is €8 and month return is €10 but if you are travelling from another part of Ireland include this leg in your ticket to make it cheaper! You can ring Limerick
bus station on 061 313333 or Galway 091 562000.

HITCHING:
The site is 20 miles North of Limerick on the Scarriff road. Ask for directions from the bus station or city centre towards the Corbally road,
then turn right and over the bridge at Barrys Cross. From here it is 20 miles to the site, towards Scariff. You should pick up a lift in no time. If coming from Dublin you may want to chance hitching from Birdhill to Killaloe . i.e. do not go all the way to Limerick city but stop/get off the bus at Birdhill. There is a signpost with a Celtic knot here!

From the North (Galway or Clare) make for Scarriff. Its then 3 miles south on the road to Limerick. If you are stuck ring 087 7732508 0r 087 2320437 and we will help you out. We may even collect you!

HOW WILL YOU KNOW YOU ARE THERE?

The site lies 2km West of Ogonnolloe (coming from Ogonnolloe the site is on the right) and 3km or 1.8 miles East of Tuamgraney. (Tuamgraney is a
small village directly after Scariff when heading south.) If coming from Tuamgraney you head out the Killaloe road to the first bad bend (i.e. it
has one of those metal crash barriers on the left) and view of the lake. Very soon after this you take the first left. (To be precise a small
gravelled lane runs North from the main road some 300m to the gate (Grid Reference R671825) into Bealkelly Wood.) Look out for the beautiful
colourful triangular sign with celtic knot!!!

To see on a map where exactly the site is see:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?
zoom=5&mapdata=IMy2jjoKxlnF6KEWeUh1Ui6M%
2bb5w4Ic0FIJzqEyYQ0JdkUflXsTVg%
2bzD1G7iihaWlmIYg1Lvs2J7UdAEa0bBZpeWlk8A%
2bFghFopCUq4yWWS3xsMKnwvAJNoAyEp6yvlqwkcaIUfVwjRUYf60mre7U2d Uan069abs1skA90ygA7YdSB%2fK%
2btJ7P3HwmWZyXQAJla09ULT6phvsdJ1QJXCIj4h5ORmKn8iIU% 2bZK7dSDvRKhykfciAo7tbCHBF4IjQGD%2byh9o%
2fJVxeNJkeTMnSI44ovZQkQEijk6

*******************
WHAT TO BRING
*********************

Essentials:
Warm and rainproof clothes, Good Walking/working shoes/boots
or Wellington boots.
An open mind!

NB::: **To make life easier:**
Tent, Sleeping bag/blanket/mat, Bowl, spoon, mug, sun screen, hat,
sunglasses,working clothes, passport, torch, mosquito/insect repellent,
torch, toilet paper.

To make life better:
Natural shampoo/soap, Musical instruments and song lyrics, Books, videos,
leaflets, pen and paper, posters, t-shirts, ideas for workshops, swimming
suit, volleyball, condoms, frisbee, camera.

***************************
WHAT NOT TO BRING
***************************
Cars
Chemicals
Dogs
alcahol
drugs

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Things to see and do in the area
********************************

WALKWAYS around the site - See:
http://walks.iwai.ie/derg/

CRAGGAUNOWEN
http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/craggaunowen.html
http://www.shannonheritage.com/Craggaunowe/

GLENSTAL ABBEY
http://www.glenstal.org

HOLY ISLAND
http://www.shannonsailing.com/holyisle.htm
Phone: 061 921351 for boat info from
Mountshannon.

Limerick City
http://www.limerick.com/

BUNRATTY CASTLE & FOLK VILLAGE
http://www.historic.irishcastles.com/bunratty.htm

BRIAN BORU'S OAK plus much more
http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/heritage/places_to_visit.htm

IRISH SEED SAVERS
www.irishseedsavers.ie