Brigid’s Way walking pilgrimage to be held again later this month

The second annual Brigid’s Way walking pilgrimage will get underway this year on Saturday June 28^th in Faughart and finish up a week later in Kildare town on Saturday July 6^th.

The event is an Irish version of the famous Camino de Santiago and was held for the first time last July.

The pilgrimage will wind its way through quiet rural landscapes. Pilgrims will visit sites of spiritual significance, including Knockbridge, Hill of Slane and Hill of Tara and experience the magical landscapes of Donaghdee Forest and the Grand Canal en-route to Brigid’s monastic city in Kildare, arriving there on Sunday 6^th July.

This unique co-curated pilgrimage offers participants an opportunity to:

• Walk for 9 consecutive days through beautiful Irish countryside.
• Visit many sacred places in Ireland.
• Take part in scheduled and spontaneous ceremonies.
• Learn about the ancient traditions of Ireland in the company of like-hearted people.
• Uncover layers of stories within ourselves and within the land of Ireland.
• Allow time and space to drop down into the deeper part of ourselves. 

Each day pilgrims will walk 10 to 12 miles at a leisurely pace, with a support car travelling with the group at all times.

For further details or to book your place on the trip log on to www.brigidsway.ie or call Dolores Whelan on 042 9371901.

Kavanagh statue vandalised in Dublin

The Kavanagh statue in Dublin

Our most famous local poet, Patrick Kavanagh, has had his statue in Dublin vandalised.

The Inniskeen man, who died in November 1967, was immortalised in 1991 when a statue was unveiled in his honour by then president Mary Robinson on the Grand Canal.

In recent days though the status has been defaced as vandals have sprayed red paint on his shoes.

Inspired by Kavanagh’s poem ‘Lines Written On A Seat On The Grand Canal, Dublin’, the statue was created by Irish figurative sculptor John Coll.

Commenting on the red paint, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said they were arranging to have it cleaned as soon as possible.