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PEOPLE WHO ARE looking for “spirituality with a small ‘s’” this Easter weekend are being encouraged to walk one of Ireland’s ten pilgrim paths.
Tomorrow has been designated as National Pilgrim Paths Day – a new Easter festival based on ten of Ireland’s medieval walking routes.
John O’Dwyer, chair of Pilgrim Paths, said the event appeals to “people who want to get away and do something different at Easter, reconnect with the past” and “experience spirituality with a small ‘s’”.
He added that walkers are attracted by the “simplification” provided by the routes as they “park all psychological pressure” when experiencing the great outdoors.
O’Dwyer thinks that people are more open to walking pilgrim paths and visiting religious sites that they might once have been because “religion is becoming less formalised”.
“The theme is thanksgiving … people of every religious background and none can be thankful that they are able to walk and give thanks for the beauty of the outdoors. Whatever you believe, we don’t ask who you are thanking … Everybody finds their own meaning on the path,” O’Dwyer said.
He noted that it is very important for people to learn about their country’s historical sites.
“If we don’t have a heritage we don’t even know we are Irish people. Taking religion to one side, [most Irish people] come from a Judeo-Christian background. Even if you’re not a believer anymore, you can find out the motivation of our ancestors,” O’Dwyer added.
The Pilgrim Paths project was set up by the Heritage Council in 1997, but O’Dwyer feels more needs to be done to promote walking routes at home and abroad as many are still relatively unknown.
Guided pilgrim walks will be taking place in a number of locations tomorrow and on Sunday, including Wicklow, Mayo, Cork, Donegal, Tipperary and Kerry. Most of the walks are free, while others require a fee ranging from €4 to €45.
St Kevin’s Way, Co Wicklow (Source: John O’Dwyer)
O’Dwyer walked each route as research for his book Pilgrim Paths of Ireland. His favorite is St Finbarr’s Path in Cork: ”That was the one where I thought ‘Wow, if this went on forever, I could walk it forever.”
Since Pilgrim Path Day was launched in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin at the end of March, O’Dwyer said the level of interest has been “absolutely phenomenal”, adding that the group expects thousands of walkers to take part over the weekend.
He noted that the long-term plan of the group is to “weave” all ten paths together and create an all-Ireland route that would rival the “cash cow” of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
Aside from the physical benefits of walking, O’Dwyer said it also connects people.
“There is something wonderful about people coming together … Whether you’re rich or poor, you get tired. We all have to put one foot in front of the other,” he added.
Gráinne Quinn of Get Ireland Walking, a group dedicated to promoting the activity nationally, said that there has been an increase in the number communities contacting the organisation for advice on how to set up walking groups.
“There definitely is an increase in people being outdoors and getting active. We are really focused on supporting people who wouldn’t traditionally have been active,” Quinn stated, noting the importance of “providing accessible walks for groups with low levels of fitness”.
She believes that walking has increased in popularity recently as there is ”greater awareness of the importance of being physically active”.
“It’s so accessible, it’s easy to get into, you don’t need to make a big investment … It’s quite a sociable physical activity too,” Quinn said.
She advised anyone who has not been active in some time to “be aware of your limitations and abilities” and “just take on what you can do”.
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I hereby submit an improved bid of €2.50, two cans of Tanora (expiry March 2023), a copy of yesterday’s Irish Examiner (mint condition, only read once) and a handful of mini-Bounties that were not claimed from last Christmas’s tub of Celebrations.
@Kevin Collins: I like the mini Bountys!
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: freak
@Dave: And I would prefer one of the dark chocolate Bountys in the red wrapper!
@Sean O’Dhubhghaill: sweet jesus
What the article neglects to mention is the lift will not only service the three stories within the building, but also the nine levels of Hell.
Must be a few Masons on the board allowing it to be sold for only €1. Very little green space in the city as it is, and with all their green talk, just shows how little they actually value it.
@Ross O’: Day Boyle would change his opinion fast if there was ever an emergency in the building
‘Who controls the British Crown, who keeps the metric system down….’
@Ronan Mc: We do
Would they do the same if rolls were reversed?
I’m surprised it wasn’t €33
@Dave Huston 5 Blocked By Journal again.: or 666
@Dave Huston 5 Blocked By Journal again.:OMG my ‘like’ was a ’33′!!
FFS. Give éire back to éire, once and for all. The amount of ‘freemasons’ around the world, do not need any part of our Island……….. Go phuck yourselves, Mason
…………
@Joseph Mc Dermott: I’m surprised that the censors understood the significance of 33 and 666.
Why do freemasons still exist?
@Pat the Baker: Why do Christians still exist, in the 21st century? It’s a mystery.
@Pat the Baker: an inner circle established to promote the interests of their membership…some things never change
@Tom: the Catholic Church prohibits membership of the FM as far as I remember.
@Tom: plenty of christians I’m afraid, how this superstition is still alive is a mystery
@Dermattg: I think that was politcal as Freemasons were traditionally Protestant, at least the ones based in Ireland of Christain faith.
@Dermot Lane: Freemasons are a secret society who behave in undemocratic ways across the British Empire – not suitable for a republic.
Not unlike the catholic church, they interfere in politics behind the scenes of course so no-one can challenge them.
@Pat the Baker: Knights of Columbanus ditto!
@Tom: If you really look into it the God they worship (the “Light-Giver”) appears to be Lucifer as that’s what Lucifer means.
Why was the bid not €666 ?
@BLD Games: cos the Masons don’t have any link to the emperor Nero, that we know of.
The Tuckey St. Masonic Hall is beautiful inside.
People need more parks in cities not less. Inner cities turning into wastelands populated by sports clothing outlets. Depressing.
Why not indeed
I mean, it costs alot of money for the upkeep of the massive building they own on Molesworth St. In fact, i think its half of one side of the street.
I mean, they are not made of money.
Or are they ?
The Peace Park is built partly on top of a mass grave dating from the Siege of 1690.
@Seamus Enright: The Peace Park is often not very peaceful! One of the dodgiest parts of the city.
They really know how to put the “free” in to “Freemason”
“The Freemasons are a fraternal organisation whose main operations in Ireland include charity fundraising. ”
What rubbish. They are a secret society who at the higher Degrees incorporate blood-curdling oaths against revealing Masonic secrets. How this kind of deal was even considered beggars belief.
Women should be allowed to be in The ‘sexist’ Masons
Sell it for a proper price it’s public money they are dealing with. No giv aways.
What is it with ffg they just can’t stop giving our land away to private entities for near to nothing
have your say