In the early 1980's, Kenmare Literary and Historical Society invited the renowned writer and walking expert Seán Ó Suilleabháin as one of their guest speakers during their Winter Lecture Series. Present on the night was one Maura Murphy, who was most impressed with what she heard. Armed with enthusiasm and ambition, she cajoled the local scout leaders to take her on a "hill-walk".
From this humble beginning, a group began to walk on an initial, occasional basis until another fateful "happening" — The Cibeal Cincíse festival became defunct. Local curate Fr. Philip O'Connell felt that something needed to be done to fill the void at Whit Weekend and so he approached the "Walking Club" to organise a walking festival. 1989 saw the very first Whit Walking Weekend [3 day]. From this the club was put on a much more formal footing with the formation of Kenmare Leisure Club. In turn, this led to the club organising a second walking festival at Easter and the subsequent upgrading of the Whit festival to a 10-day event, that has continued to grow in stature.
While all of this festival development was happening, the club itself became very active with organised walks on alternate Sundays throughout the year. Membership also increased with the establishment of little missionary groups in Cork, Limerick [West], Dublin, Wales, England and other far-flung places. Weekends "Away" have been enjoyed all over Ireland and in recent years one of the "foreign missionaries" has organised trips to England, Scotland and Wales. Presently the club has two walks [A and B] on alternate Sundays and welcomes non-members to come along also.
Towards the end of 2004 the club rebranded itself as simply the "Kenmare Walking Club".
