Two of the gaps of Sliabh Dile are the start and end of this walk. NMH is a small village once a town located on the N76 about halfway between Kilkenny and Clonmel. The village was a hub of activity for centuries due to its location on a crossroads that led you to Kilkenny-Tara, Cashel, Waterford, and Cork. It has a 17th century Inn that was a Bianconi stop in the 19th century. It was pivotal in the only Munster battle fought during the 1798 Rebellion. There are lots more to talk about in NMH, but we must get going up the Mangan boreen which is a cul de sac about 1.5 km long.
Looking to the south we can see an old farmyard where there was a gun battle during the civil war culminating in the death of a Free State soldier Joseph Foster from the Coombe in Dublin. On our left just over the ditch there is a Linkardstown tomb which dates to 3700BC. There are about 20 known to exist in Ireland and they were often called “Kings Tombs” as they were for 1 person usually. We are walking in an eastward’s direction with a ridge of old red sandstone to our left that is known as Drom Dearg upon which there is a large pond known as Lough a Mhangan where a battle was fought between Munster and Leinster.
At the end of the public road, we take to a farm roadway where we shortly cross into the County Kilkenny. Thankfully, no passports required yet. Frankfort is the name of the townlands that we are in now. There is an older name Magh Cleiragh which means flat plane and is much more relevant to the topography of the area. The proceeds of a large robbery over 100 years ago were shared out in one of the 12 now abandoned farmyards that we pass by. We are back out on a quiet public road approaching Windgap.
To our left is a distinctive hill on one side of the gap that is Windgap. The top 3 or 4 acres of this was transformed into the largest Grotto in Europe over 100 years ago. It is a beautiful short walk. There is a wonderful community tearoom in the village with a great menu of sweets and savouries where we will rest our tired muscles and talk more.