From the Square, follow the sign for Ballyporeen (15km) and the yellow Avondhu Waymarkers. After 1km, the walk enters Glensheskin Wood, which has a lovely picnic area by the stream next to the carpark.

The road to Ballyporeen/Clogheen was the old coach road which Bianconi used from Cork to Dublin and was the haunt of the famous outlaw, Willie Brennan, who robbed the rich to help the poor.

Turn left into Glensheskin Wood and walk over the bridge into the carpark.

At the end of the carpark before the second bridge, turn right and follow the meandering track, which has lovely overviews of Glensheskin Wood.

On this track, which is approximately 1km, there are two foot-bridges, one which spans a gorge and the other the river Douglas.

Having crossed the river at the second bridge, you meet the main forest road, turn left and return to the village via the car park.

(Alternatively you could start this walk at the carpark in the woods. Distance: 2km - Time: 30 minutes).

History of Kilworth

Kilworth, 'Cill Uird' - the church of the order - was founded by St. Colman, a disciple of St. Mochuda of Lismore about 636 A.D.

After the Norman invasion the surrounding territory was seized by a variety of invaders, the Flemings, Roches and Condons.

The Condons' principal stronghold was the Castle of Cloghleigh, which stands on a limestone rock high above the Funshion.

After the failure of the Desmond rebellion, the Condon estates were granted to English settlers for a small rent; the largest portion going to Thomas Fleetwood.

Patrick Condon did not submit meekly to this forfeiture of his lands and, after litigation, a pardon was granted to him in 1601 by Queen Elizabeth. It was decreed that his estates should be restored to him. In 1642, the Condons again lost possession of their estates to Francis Fleetwood. In 1684, his relative Henry Fleetwood, agreed to sell the estate to Stephen Moore of Clonmel.

He took possession in 1685 and enclosed about 1,000 acres with a twelve foot high wall; this became known as 'Moore Park'.

In 1764, Stephen Moore, a grandson of the purchaser, was made Baron Kilworth and in 1766 became Viscount Mount Cashell.

Kilworth, in the early 19th century, was a market town in decline. Among the factors which contributed to this was the removal of the Bianconi coach route through it and the subsequent disappearance of the passing travel trade.

Fermoy's growing importance would also appear to have contributed to its decline. During the famine years the poor suffered very badly around Kilworth.

In 1846, the parish priest is quoted as saying that many of the poor were living on cabbage leaves.

The advent of the British garrison seems to have brought it to life again. This came about because in the early 20th century, the Mount Cashells found themselves in financial difficulties and sold off most of their estate.

Moore Park was sold to the British War Office and a British Army Camp was set up; often with up to 15,000 soldiers. After the War of Independence, Moore Park came under the control of the Department of Defence and became a grazing ground for horses, cattle and sheep. It is now the centre for Dairy Research in Ireland.

The Church of Ireland was in decline and the church was de-consecrated in 1977 and handed over to the Village. The Market House had become a fuel store and was in a poor state of repair before its transformation into a village asset.

At the turn of the century, Kilworth boasted many hotels, including the Kilworth Arms in which a murder was committed by Robert II of Kingston (who built the town of Mitchelstown).

He shot a Colonel Fitzgerald who had eloped with his 15 year-old daughter and because of this he was tried before his peers in the Irish House of Lords. No evidence for the prosecution was heard and he was pronounced 'not guilty my Lord'.

We will use the parking area in Kilworth Square for the following three walks. However, the parking area in Glensheskin Wood maybe used as an alternative.