In the early months after its foundation in 1995, Dungarvan Walking Club struggled to find suitable and interesting walks. When George Harney joined the Club, his experience and knowledge gained while working with Coillte gave the Club the lease of life it needed. His knowledge of surrounding forestation and low lying mountain walks was of immense benefit and laid the seed for the Club to become what it is today.

In Sept. 1995, George complained of feeling unwell whilst on a Club walk on Knockanaffrin Ridge. This was to be George’s last walk with the Club and sadly George passed away on 1st Jan. 1996. The Club was devastated by the loss of a great member, an experienced walk leader and a friend. It had been George’s ambition that one day the Club would undertake a long distance walk between Clonmel and Dungarvan; and so on 21st June 1996, George’s wishes were fulfilled with the 1st Annual George Harney Memorial Walk. To date, there has been 7 such annual events and it is now without doubt the Club’s biggest undertaking every year.

In 2000, the Club recognised that the Walk – or Comeragh Crossing as it had now also become known – was generally becoming widely accepted as a National Walk and so introduced the challenge element to it.

From the beginning, the Club also recognised that such a major event could attract sponsorship for local worthy charities. Each year, 50% of the monies raised goes to the local West Waterford Hospice which was so good to George in his last few months and the remaining 50% raised is donated to a charity nominated each year by Club members.

To date, €65,000 has been raised.