Cork native TV presenter Sinead Kennedy is in County Mayo on the western slopes of the Ox Mountains which are the location of some of Ireland’s finest walks. The Larganmore Loop, not far from Foxford, takes Sinead through some unique habitats and scenery.

Presenter
Sinead Kennedy

About
Sinead travels to Foxford for her next trail. Larganmore Mountain is about 8 Kms from Foxford. Foxford is famous for its woollen mills which is one of the last hand-craft weaving mills in the West of Ireland. The journey to the Larganmore Trail head goes through lovely scenery around Ardmachugh and Glenduff Lake. The first part of the Larganmore loop takes Sinead down the mountain road. Sinead’s guide, local farmer Jean Beattie who helped Mayo County Council design the loop walk, guides Sinead through a variety of country roads and laneways that circle the mountain to the base of Larganmore where they climb the mountain before returning to where they started. The landscape is a mixture of fertile fields side by side with wild areas of uplands covered in blanket bog and heather, revealing stunning views of the Ox Mountains in Mayo. Sinead takes a detour to visit Tom Hennigan’s Heritage Museum in Killasser. Tom tells her stories about growing up in the cottage and shows her his collection of old shoes which are on display in the museum. Back on the Larganmore Loop Sinead finds out more about some famous Mayo folk and historical heroes from locals Noel Gillard and writer Stephen Dunford as she walks with them through the boreens. To her delight she finally sees some wild Irish goats. The final part of the walk is the most challenging for Sinead which is the off road ascent to the other side of Larganmore to the mountain road where she started her loop walk but as the rain fades off in the Ox Mountains, the winds fall easy, the clouds part and streams of light appear over the heather clad uplands. The breath-taking views make it all worthwhile.

Grade
Moderate, the route is marked with purple arrows

Distance
14km

Terrain underfoot
Road, bog and field

Estimated Time
4 hours

Suitable for
Reasonable level of fitness

Notes
Places to park at each end