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AWARD-WINNING Killarney photographer Valerie O’Sullivan has immortalised the faces and places of Ireland’s highest mountain range in her new book.

The MacGillycuddy's Reeks: People and Places of Ireland’s Highest Mountain Range charts the rich diversity of its people and landscape. “Despite their increasing popularity amongst hillwalkers and climbers, the mountains’ remote and marginal nature is their commanding characteristic,” said Valerie, who is herself a keen mountaineer.

The design and layout of the book is by Cathal Cudden, Bright Idea, and it will be officially launched by broadcaster Frank Lewis and Patricia Deane, rural recreation officer, South Kerry Development Partnership, on Saturday, October 15, at 6.30pm in Kate Kearney’s Cottage in the Gap of Dunloe.

The people of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks are the dominant feature of the book. We see them honouring the traditions of The Biddies one of the oldest and most colourful customs in Ireland, a blend of pagan and Christian pageantry, held each year on the first day of February.

The book also stars Eileen Cronin of Cronin’s Yard, Mealis, Beaufort, who lives in the foothills of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, at the entrance to the Hag’s Glen, the traditional starting point for ascents of Carrantuohill and the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks. Eileen, originally from Ballyledder, Beaufort, married Joe Cronin, a fifth-generation sheep farmer, in 1964. The Cronin home and yard became the base for the Kerry Mountain Rescue team, the local

Gardaí and the Civil Defence whenever the teams were called out on a mountain rescue. Eileen remembers fondly the early days of the mountain rescues when the team would arrive to their home. “We had great craic, no matter how serious the rescue was, the house was always open. We’d stay up all night, waiting for news. I loved making the tea and sandwiches, keeping the fire going. We were all great friends and still are today. Members of the Rescue Team and Gardaí would still call to me. We had great laughs,” she said.

A chapter is also dedicated to the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Valerie will be donating a sizeable portion of the proceeds of this book to the team.
 

 
Above: Photographer Valerie O'Sullivan.