Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh) Inspirational Walk with Pius Murray, from 10 am to 2 pm on Easter Monday, April 13th, 2020. Meeting point: Scattery Island Tours, Kilrush Marina, Kilrush, County Clare. Booking essential. Contact Pius at. 087 9828173. e. pius@walkwithpius.com, w. www.walkwithpius.com ...
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Below is a piece about St Declans Way that is in the November newsletter of the Rectory Society in England.
Today, an increasing number of people from at home and abroad make the journey or pilgrimage from Cashel to Ardmore during the summer months. The purpose or reason why people undertake this walk is as varied as the people themselves today. The journey is completed over a number of days. Some people decide to do a stage or two of the journey. The path takes you over mountains, down boreens (old Irish roads), through farmyards, over streams, along side roads to the sea as you pass through small towns and villages, Cahir, Ardfinnan, Lismore, Cappquin, Aglish to the old monastic destination at Ardmore. In the autumn of his life, Declan, left the monastic settlement he had founded – which was then referred to as a city in the manuscript - and went to live as a hermit on the cliff top about a mile from the monastery. The townland is known to this day as Dysert or Díseart in Irish from Desertum in Latin meaning the desert or wilderness. He met with visitors from time to time in this place of solitude and prayer. When he died his body was taken from Dysert and interred in the centre of the monastic settlement he had founded. A building known as An Beannachán, translated as the pointed roof building, was a wooden structure and was replaced by a stone building around the 8th century. The Feast Day of St. Declan is celebrated on July 24th each year. Throughout the centuries people have travelled from all over the south of Ireland on pilgrimage to Ardmore during that week. In the 1830’s approx. 14,000 people were recorded visiting the sites associated with St. Declan. In the 1950s and 1960s – in my younger days – there was no mention of any pilgrim routes or paths. People gathered from far and near in the week of July 24th, travelling by all routes that led to Ardmore, some even arrived in small boats from neighbouring localities. Pilgrims gather at the Stone on the shore where they pray and climb under the Stone, as is a tradition that has come down through the ages. They go to Dysert, where St. Declan’s Well is located, praying in silence as they walk in a clockwise direction around the site. They divert from the path and do the “rounds” to enter the ruined outline of the church. In prayer, they proceeded to make the Sign of The Cross three times at the Altar area and kiss the spot, as is the tradition. They walk around or “do the rounds’ of the Holy Well culminating at the Well itself where people drink three sips from the waters. The water is believed to have curative powers. People visit the monastic site with its fine example of an Irish Round Tower, the ruins of the Cathedral dating back to the 9th century and of course St. Declan’s burial place. The numbers of pilgrims have declined since the mid19th century. However, the interest in this place continues to this day. On the eve of St. Declan’s Day, 24 July, a vigil is held at midnight at St. Declan’s Well. A few hundred people gather and pray in candlelight there.. Some people stay on at the Well until daybreak to welcome the spirit of Declan as was the tradition of their ancestors. In this way, the arrival of St. Declan in Ardmore in the early 5th century still resonates here today.
Liam Suipéil, Local Historian, Ardmore
The Pilgrim Paths of Ireland The Pilgrim Paths of Ireland are a collection of ancient religious routes with well-documented claims to having been walked by pilgrims since ancient times. We promote these routes for the enjoyment of modern walkers and pilgrims. This organisation was founded in 2013 and represents community groups associated with Ireland’s penitential paths. The objective is to create greater awareness and promote use of Ireland’s historic pilgrim trails and also to attract tourism into rural areas. The longest of these routes is St Declan’s Way, which is 115 km in length linking the ancient monastic site at Ardmore, Co Waterford with royal Cashel, Co Tipperary. Further information at www. pilgrimpath.ie
John G. O’Dwyer Chairman, Pilgrim Paths of Ireland ...
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Pilgrim Path Week, Event Details
Here are the events so far confirmed for Pilgrim Paths Week
Good Friday, April 10
Guided ascent of Cnoc na dTobar Pilgrim Mountain, Co Kerry. For information contact 087 7942134, Email: skelligkerry@gmail.com
Easter Saturday, April 11
St Kevin’s Way, Co Wicklow. Guided pilgrim walk. For information contact, 0868594333 or email: Glendaloughpilgrimage@gmail.com,
Cosán na Naomh, Co Kerry – Fully guided 18 km pilgrim walk. For information, contact, 087 2518174, Email: foh@udaras.ie.
Easter Monday, April 13
Tóchar Phádraig Pilgrim Path, Co Mayo. Guided contemplative walk along the 17 km 1st half of the Tóchar departing at 11 am. ...
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As in previous years, the starting point will be the visitor centre at Glendalough where there will be a bus to bring walkers up to the start at Ballinagee Bridge. There is car parking at the visitor centre, and the first bus will leave at 10am. The walk will bring you back to the start.
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