The Celtic Camino – pt 1

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Sheep in field

Jennifer and I have come to Ireland for a number of reasons –

I’m researching a book.

But also I’ve been fascinated by the Celtic influence in Galicia, and wanted to explore more the Irish connection with Spain.

Celtic Cross

Jennifer and I have also been researching the pilgrim paths of Ireland, of which there are many. In fact we’ve discovered Ireland is full of sacred trails – some of them going back to early Christian times.

walking sign

Jennifer walking

Glendalough path

They pass through some truly spectacular countryside, particularly on the west coast.
And the thought has started to seed – of organising a Celtic Camino.

gravestones and trees Glendalough 1

It would involve walking the trails around possibly the Dingle or Kerry “rings,” and then connecting through to Ferrol and completing the “English” Camino.

This is how pilgrims came from Ireland and England – they walked from their homes and villages, and landed either in France or the north of Spain, then walked to Santiago.

Here are just a few pics of the country we’ve been walking and driving through these past few days-

white house house in rocks boats in distance

tussocks

32 thoughts on “The Celtic Camino – pt 1”

  1. Ahhhh, beautiful photos of the land of my ancestors. If you run into any Heffernans or Hylands in Tipperary, I am probably related. The Irish countryside is so amazingly green. Wait till you catch an Irish rainbow! Celtic Camino rolls off the tongue so nicely! Or am I full of blarney? What book are you researching? Enjoy your journey! Hugs to you and Jen. Julie

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    • Hi Julie – the landscapes here are extraordinary. Heffernan woulds like a very Irish name! It seems that Bennett is too – I’m told it’s a very common name in these parts! The book – well, it’s still in research phase so I’ll keep it under wraps until it’s ready to go out – but it’s a long long process. 🙂 Bill

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  3. Oh Ireland! My father’s family came from there many generations ago. Taylor and I drove around the island for a few weeks in 2005. We both left our hearts there…especially in Galway and Donegal!
    If you get a chance you should go to Newgrange and the Hill of Tara, amazing ancient energy there….
    Emily

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    • hi emily – this place has incredible ancient energy. you can feel it in the rocks and the trees – and in the lakes too. such a tension in the lakes.

      Like you I love it here. I feel very at home here.

      Bill

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  5. Bill, NOW you got my attention. When I read the caption, my hair stood up. You and Jennifer are walking my walk and connection to Ferrol to continue on the C. Inglese. I have been researching myself the “ferry” options and so far have no satisfactory information, other than chartering your own boat. There used to be a Ferry to Ferrol. Santander as a Ferry port from Plymouth/or Southampton so far an option and then walk the Norte.

    So anything you can discover will be wonderful to me. My facination with Galicia and the celtic camino is ancestral. Light and Love Ingrid

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    • hi Ingrid – you mean I didn’t have your attention before??

      🙂

      I’ve been looking at ferries too, but I was told that when the recession really hit, a number of ferry companies closed down. They mainly service the north of France now, not Spain.

      But that’s not to say that you can’t get a flight out of Cork to A Coruna, which does have an international airport. Then bus it to Ferrol and continue the Camino from there.

      The area which takes my fancy here is the Dingle peninsula. We’ll be there tomorrow. It looks absolutely amazing…

      So the idea would be to do about 180kms in Ireland, then from Ferrol to Santiago to complete the Camino.

      Bill

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      • Bill, of course you had my attention, but this is a different kind of attention. We might yet walk together, should you decide to organize a tour. 🙂

        Ingrid

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        • Hi Ingrid – it’s certainly a part of the world I’d like to walk. Extraordinary energies here. I need to do more research on it, but I’m thinking Jen and I will do a Celtic Camino tour. As for when, not sure.

          We’ll do another Portuguese tour in mid October if we get sufficient interest, otherwise our next venture is to do a tour from Florence to Assisi then to Rome, and that will be in April of next year.

          Already it looks like we have about half a dozen people for that one!

          What I’ve learnt from this tour is that the numbers have to be small – no more than ten people. Otherwise it becomes unwieldy.

          Bill

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  8. Hi Bill, Glad you are enjoying Ireland, I love it as well. Only 12 days till I leave for my own Camino along the via de plata or Silver Way. This is my first experience of long distance walking and I am really excited. After that I will spent two months volunteering on Iona which is another place I would recommend you visit and then on to Ireland. Home in mid September. I will keep a look out to see if you do organise a walk in Ireland next year and might join you. Best wishes, Maddie

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    • Hi Maddie, it must be so exciting about to head off. That Camino is a long one! If we do organise a Celtic Camino, I’ll post details of it on this blog, so yes check in from time to time.

      Best of luck on your Camino! Bill

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  9. Amazing photos Bill!
    Can almost hear (and smell) the sheep looking at that first shot!

    Make sure you sample some of the local brews while you’re there too!

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  11. Ah, Bill, I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland, so your walk could be the answer to how to do so. Like everyone else I just love the photos, the greenness, the light and vibrancy. Will look forward to your next post 🙂

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      • Thanks, Bill, really well being on hold in Qld. Have actually been taking some photos with you in mind but need to work out a way to download them to then forward to you … am working on it!!! Mind you listening to Phil Emmanuel and his fellow band members at Tannum Sands this afternoon was a huge highlight and at the same time having a conversation about walking the Camino with a local was pretty interesting too!! Waiting for more photos 🙂 Britta

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  12. Wow Bill – the idea of a Celtic Camino sounds completely wonderful. Ireland – another land of much history and mystery. In particular, for me the west coast of Ireland has some of the most stunning scenery in the world – wild weather and crashing seas charging in from the Atlantic – incredible to experience. Have a fabulous time and safe travels back home.
    Cheers – Jenny

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    • Thanks Jenny – yes it is so dramatic here. I thought the south island of New Zealand was dramatic, but the west coast of Ireland even surpasses that.

      Bill

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  13. Hi Bill and Jen –
    Something else you might like to give some thought to for your Celtic Camino is the St Michael’s Way in Cornwall. Historically pilgrims going to Santiago from this part of the world would start their pilgrimage at St Piran’s Cell on the Northern Cornish coast and walk across Cornwall to St Michael’s Mount where they would board a boat to Ferrol or A Coruna and then walk the English Way to Santiago.
    It’s understood to be about 31 miles but this would need to be checked – could be longer.
    No refugios of course, but pubs along the way do B&B.
    The Herald had an article on the last 16 kms of it the other Sunday – a photo featuring a sign with the waymarker star really popped out from the page – such interesting reading which made me research it a bit further.
    Cheers – Jenny

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    • Hi Jenny, we drove the Kerry Ring today, and the walking trail cross crossed it a couple of times. My goodness the landscapes are wild and spectacular! It’s definitely something Jen and I will look into, doing a Celtic Camino!

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    • Hi Jenny – I will do a search on the smh.com site, but if you have a link, would you mind sending it to me? I think logistically, three countries for a walking tour would be too much, and too costly. What I’ve learnt from this past tour is that it’s best to keep it down to two weeks max, and keep the number of people limited.

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