The Hill of Faughart

Check out this stunning shot of the Hill of Faughart as captured in 2010 by DMull.

Faughart is said to be the native place of St Brigid and the stream and well close to this site were named after her and are still visited by pilgrims today.

The graveyard on the Hill of Faughart contains the ruin of a small nave-and-chancel church. The walls of the nave stand to full height and appear to date from the 12th century. The walls of the chancel are much lower and may be of a later medieval date. The walls of the church are now greatly overgrown and much of the detail is obscured.

St Brigid’s Way Pilgrimage to leave Dundalk this Sunday

A nine day walk called the St Brigid’s Way Pilgrimage will be held between Sunday July 7^th and Tuesday July 16^th.

Local women Dolores Whelan and Karen Ward are inviting people to join them on walking pilgrimage from St Brigid’s Shrine in Faughart, Co Louth to her monastic city in Kildare town.

Amongst the stops they will take in include Fairhill Ringfort, Mount Oriel, the Hill of Slane, the Hill of Tara, Clarkstown Enclosure and The Curragh of Kildare.

Brigid’s Way is an alignment of ancient and sacred sites in Ireland which stretches from Brigid’s Well in Faughart, County Louth to Kildare.

This alignment was discovered by former Dundalk Democrat editor Anthony Murphy and his co-author Richard Moore during research for their book ‘Island of the Setting Sun’.

The route passes through some of the most prominent sites of Irish pre-history and Christianity, including the Hill of Tara and the Hill of Slane, Mount Oriel, Beauparc Motte, Realtoge Moated site and ends very close to a ringfort in the Curragh of Kildare.

This alignment of sacred sites reflects the Cygnus (Swan) constellation which was prominent in the skies at the time of Brigid’s birth in the 5th Century AD and is its reflection on earth of a heavenly configuration.

It might have formed an ancient “sightline”, pointing out the place on the northern horizon where the cross-shaped swan constellation (Cygnus) was rising in ancient times.

The pilgrimage will set out from Faughart at 2pm on Sunday and people are invited to join for even one day only.

Full details of how to get involved and where to stay (if required) ca be found on www.stbrigidsway.ie