Pilgrim Paths of Ireland facts for kids

A sign for Pilgrim Paths Ireland.

Pilgrim Paths Ireland (PPI) is a group that helps look after old walking trails in Ireland. These trails are called "pilgrim paths" because people used to walk them for religious reasons long ago. PPI started in 2013. Its main job is to help develop and promote these special paths. It works with 12 local groups who look after different paths. Every year around Easter, PPI holds a National Pilgrim Paths Week. They also give out a National Pilgrim Passport to people who finish walking five of the main trails. These trails are Cnoc na dTobar, Cosán na Naomh, St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, St. Kevin’s Way, and Tochar Phádraig.

About Pilgrim Paths Ireland

Part of the Cosán na Naomh trail, high up at 500 metres.

In 1997, a special project began to look at seven old walking routes in Ireland. This was called the Pilgrim Paths Project.

Then, in 2013, Pilgrim Paths Ireland (PPI) was officially started. It was set up to be a main group for all the volunteer teams who work on Ireland's old walking trails.

John G O'Dwyer, a writer of Irish walking guidebooks, became the first Chairman. He talked about how these paths could help "spiritual tourism" in Ireland. This means people could visit to enjoy nature and feel a sense of peace.

On April 19, 2014, the first National Pilgrim Paths Day took place. Over 1,700 people walked on different trails across the country. The next year, on April 4, 2015, more than 3,000 people joined in. In 2016, this event grew into a National Pilgrim Paths Week. It now happens every year during the Easter holidays.

Here are the dates for past Pilgrim Paths Weeks:

• 2016 National Pilgrim Paths Week (March 22–29, 2016).
• 2017 National Pilgrim Paths Week (April 11–17, 2017).
• 2018 National Pilgrim Paths Week (March 31 – April 8, 2018).
• 2019 National Pilgrim Paths Week (April 19–28, 2019).

The National Pilgrim Paths Week for 2020 was planned for April 9 to 19. However, it had to be cancelled because of the COVID pandemic in Ireland.

As of June 2020, PPI works with 12 local groups. These groups are connected to Ireland's main pilgrim paths. PPI is now seen as the main group for these paths in the country.

The Pilgrim Passport

A station of the cross on Knocknadobar mountain.

During the Easter National Pilgrim Paths Week in 2016, PPI launched the National Pilgrim Passport.

The Irish Independent newspaper called it the Celtic Camino. They said it was like a walking version of the Wild Atlantic Way, which is a famous driving route.

The passport covers 124 kilometers (about 77 miles) of Ireland's most important old pilgrim paths. There are special places to get your passport stamped at the end of each path. This way, walkers can "earn" their completed passport. It is similar to how the Camino de Santiago works in Spain. When you finish all five paths, you can apply for a Pilgrim Certificate. You can get this certificate from Ballintubber Abbey. This abbey is where the Tochar Phádraig pilgrimage route begins.

As of June 2019, the five routes included in the Pilgrim Passport are:

In 2016, 14 people completed all five of these walks. In 2017, 30 people finished them, and in 2018, 44 people did.

On January 15, 2017, an Irish ultramarathon runner named Susan Steele did something amazing. She became the first person to run all five paths of the Irish Pilgrim Journey. She did it in just five days in a row!

Member Paths

A view from Saint Kevin's Way at Wicklow Gap.

Here are the local groups and their paths that are part of Pilgrim Paths Ireland:

See also

• Lists of mountains in Ireland
• Lists of long-distance trails in the Republic of Ireland
• Camino de Santiago