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PILGRIM PATHS IRELAND TRAVEL
The Path of the Pilgrim
Who to Rome goes,
Much labour, little profit knows.
For God, on earth though long you sought him.
You’ll miss in Rome unless you brought him.
This little verse that is believed to have come down to us from the early Irish Church presents a
challenge. We are reminded that people who think they can find God by travelling to some holy place
or sacred site while failing to find God within themselves will profit little from the exercise! Eastern
philosophy reminds us that Happiness is the Way and not the destination. And yet there is an endur-
ing attraction to walking these well worn centuries old Pilgrim Routes. Heart, mind and spirit can be
engaged in a purposeful journey inviting insight and self discovery along the way. The outer journey is
often accompanied by an inner journey.
The idea of pilgrimage features in all religions indeed in the the mountain in 2004 with captain of the Kerry GAA football
folklore and stories of all cultures and civilizations, from the team, Dara ‘O Cinneide, to raise the Sam Maguire cup after
Australian Walkabout to the mythical Irish Imraham. Turning they had triumphed in the All-Ireland!
our emotions into devotion, we can use a time of pilgrimage
to connect to or get in touch with inner forces and sources of National Pilgrimage Paths Week runs from
knowledge, of wisdom and of life itself. Tuesday 22nd until 29th of March
There are ten Pilgrim paths are dotted across the
country – from Glen Colm Cille and Lough Derg in Find out more about National Pilgrim Paths on
Co Donegal, to Slí Mor taking in Clonmacnoise in Co Offaly, www.pilgrimpath.ie.
and from St Kevin’s Way at Glendalough in Co Wicklow, down
to Cosan na Naomh, the Pilgrim Path on the Dingle peninsula, John ‘O Dwyer has written a guide to the Pilgrim Routes around
Co Kerry. the country, available in all good book shops.
Ireland, the “Land of Saints and Scholars” was a popular
pilgrimage destination in medieval times.
You will have heard of many who go to Spain each year to
experience the popular Camino de Santiago but what about
these ancient Pilgrimage routes in Ireland? It has been esti-
mated that it would take around a month to walk all 10 paths
in total – which is about the same time it takes to walk the
full Camino de Santiago.
Legendary broadcaster Micheal ‘O Muircheartaigh climbed
Mount Brandon – part of the Kerry path – on his 80th birth-
day – and expressed his intent to also climb it on his 90th
and 100th birthdays!
He also told of the unique “pilgrimage” he made to the top of
152 Active Retirement Ireland www.activeirl.ie
The Path of the Pilgrim
Who to Rome goes,
Much labour, little profit knows.
For God, on earth though long you sought him.
You’ll miss in Rome unless you brought him.
This little verse that is believed to have come down to us from the early Irish Church presents a
challenge. We are reminded that people who think they can find God by travelling to some holy place
or sacred site while failing to find God within themselves will profit little from the exercise! Eastern
philosophy reminds us that Happiness is the Way and not the destination. And yet there is an endur-
ing attraction to walking these well worn centuries old Pilgrim Routes. Heart, mind and spirit can be
engaged in a purposeful journey inviting insight and self discovery along the way. The outer journey is
often accompanied by an inner journey.
The idea of pilgrimage features in all religions indeed in the the mountain in 2004 with captain of the Kerry GAA football
folklore and stories of all cultures and civilizations, from the team, Dara ‘O Cinneide, to raise the Sam Maguire cup after
Australian Walkabout to the mythical Irish Imraham. Turning they had triumphed in the All-Ireland!
our emotions into devotion, we can use a time of pilgrimage
to connect to or get in touch with inner forces and sources of National Pilgrimage Paths Week runs from
knowledge, of wisdom and of life itself. Tuesday 22nd until 29th of March
There are ten Pilgrim paths are dotted across the
country – from Glen Colm Cille and Lough Derg in Find out more about National Pilgrim Paths on
Co Donegal, to Slí Mor taking in Clonmacnoise in Co Offaly, www.pilgrimpath.ie.
and from St Kevin’s Way at Glendalough in Co Wicklow, down
to Cosan na Naomh, the Pilgrim Path on the Dingle peninsula, John ‘O Dwyer has written a guide to the Pilgrim Routes around
Co Kerry. the country, available in all good book shops.
Ireland, the “Land of Saints and Scholars” was a popular
pilgrimage destination in medieval times.
You will have heard of many who go to Spain each year to
experience the popular Camino de Santiago but what about
these ancient Pilgrimage routes in Ireland? It has been esti-
mated that it would take around a month to walk all 10 paths
in total – which is about the same time it takes to walk the
full Camino de Santiago.
Legendary broadcaster Micheal ‘O Muircheartaigh climbed
Mount Brandon – part of the Kerry path – on his 80th birth-
day – and expressed his intent to also climb it on his 90th
and 100th birthdays!
He also told of the unique “pilgrimage” he made to the top of
152 Active Retirement Ireland www.activeirl.ie
