Pilgrim Paths of Ireland facts for kids

A sign for Pilgrim Paths Ireland.

Pilgrim Paths Ireland (PPI) is a group in Ireland. It helps look after old walking trails. These trails are called "pilgrim paths." People have walked them for hundreds of years. PPI started in 2013. It helps promote these special paths. Twelve local groups work with PPI. They support different paths. Every year, PPI holds a National Pilgrim Paths Week. This happens around Easter. They also give out a National Pilgrim Passport. You can earn this passport by finishing five 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.

In 1997, a project began to explore old pilgrim routes. The Irish Heritage Council started this work. They looked at seven important medieval paths.

Then, in 2013, Pilgrim Paths Ireland (PPI) was formed. It became a main group for all the volunteer teams. These teams help promote Ireland's special walking trails. John G O'Dwyer became the first Chairman. He thought these paths could bring "spiritual tourism" to Ireland. This means people would visit for peaceful walks.

National Pilgrim Paths Week

PPI started a special event called National Pilgrim Paths Day. The first one was on April 19, 2014. Over 1,700 people walked on different trails. A second event in 2015 had over 3,000 walkers.

In 2016, this event grew into a National Pilgrim Paths Week. It takes place during the Easter holiday. Here are the dates it has been held:

• 2016: March 22–29
• 2017: April 11–17
• 2018: March 31 – April 8
• 2019: April 19–28

The 2020 event was planned for April 9–19. However, it was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. As of June 2020, PPI works with 12 community groups. It is the main group for these paths in Ireland.

The Pilgrim Passport

A station of the cross on Knocknadobar.

In 2016, during the National Pilgrim Paths Week, 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. The Wild Atlantic Way is a famous driving route.

The passport covers 124 kilometers (about 77 miles) of Ireland's most important old pilgrim paths. You can get stamps at the end of each path. This is like how the Camino de Santiago works in Spain. When you finish all five paths, you can apply for a Pilgrim Certificate. This certificate is called Teastas Oilithreachta in Irish. You can get it from Ballintubber Abbey. This abbey is where the Tochar Phádraig path begins.

Main Pilgrim Passport Routes

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

Many people have completed these walks. In 2016, 14 people finished all five paths. In 2017, 30 people finished. In 2018, 44 people completed them.

On January 15, 2017, Susan Steele became the first person to run all five paths. She is an ultramarathon runner. She ran them all in five days in a row.

Member Paths

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

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

• Cnoc na dTobar, Kerry (near Knocknadobar mountain)
• Cosán na Naomh, Kerry (Ventry Strand to Mount Brandon mountain)
• Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop, Tipperary
• Lough Derg, Donegal (St. Patrick's Purgatory)
• Rath/Dysert Pilgrim Path, Clare
• Sli Mor Pilgrim's Path, Offaly (Ballycumber to Clonmacnoise)
• St. Brigid's Way, Louth/Kildare (Faughart to Kildare)
• St. Declan's Way, Waterford/Tipperary (Declán of Ardmore)
• St. Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, Cork (Drimoleague to Gougane Barra)
• St. Kevin's Way, Wicklow (Hollywood to Glendalough)
• Tochar Phádraig, Mayo (Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick mountain)
• Turas Cholmcille, Donegal

See also

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