Information for people wishing to join the club

The next club year is from November 1st 2022 to October 31st 2023. Membership applications for that term are now open.
Guest walkers are now allowed to come on a maximum of 1 walk.

If you are thinking of joining the club, the best thing to do is to begin walking as a guest. By doing this you'll get an idea of what goes on and see if it's suitable for you. It's best to phone the walk facilitator first to let them know you are coming, find out about the walk and get directions if you're not sure of the meeting point. You'll get the facilitator's phone number on the Walks Schedule page. The first walk is free of charge with no obligation to join, but after that you should become a member if you wish to continue walking with the club.
There are three grades of Sunday club walks. The 'A' grade is for fit and experienced walkers and can last from 5 to 7 hours with a considerable amount of climbing. 'B' grade walks usually last around 4 hours, are reasonably paced, and usually but not always involve some climbing. The 'C' grade is the easiest of all, often on forest tracks, taking 2 to 3 hours and stopping for several breaks along the way.
If you're not sure of your level of fitness it's probably better to start on the 'C' grade walks rather than risk finding yourself out of your depth on the faster, longer walks. You can always move up the grades later if you find you are not being challenged enough.
There's lots of information on clothing, equipment, etc. on the Advice pages but basically, for your first walk the most important thing is to wear a strong pair of shoes or boots. Bring a light raincoat if there's a chance of rain and bring a banana or a snack bar and a small bottle of water.
Membership costs €45.00 for an adult and €25.00 for people under eighteen. Members of the Galtee Club automatically become members of Mountaineering Ireland and a large portion of the fee goes to them to provide insurance etc. You also get their magazine, "Mountain Log", 4 times a year. If you are already a member of Mountaineering Ireland, probably through another walking club, then the membership fee is €20.00. The membership year starts and ends on November 1st. so your first year's fee may only cover part of the year, depending on when you join.
It is now possible to apply for membership and pay the fee online through this page.
A printable Membership Form is also available as a PDF file here if you prefer. Post the completed form and fee to the committee member whose name and address are on the form. Cheques should be made payable to 'Galtee Walking Club'.