Pilgrim Paths in Ireland - A Walking Guidebook

by: John G. O'Dwyer
In recent times the popularity of the Camino de Santiago has prompted renewed interest in pilgrim walks in Ireland. Increasing numbers now follow ancient Irish pilgrim paths to such holy places as Glencolumbkille, Croagh Patrick, Lough Derg and Glendalough. John G. O'Dwyer has walked, or in the case of Clonmacnoise, cycled, the pilgrim trails of Ireland, from Slieve Mish in the north-east, where Christianity may have had its first dawning in Ireland, to Skellig Michael in the south-west, where the known world once ended.

Each walk begins with a box giving practical information including an overview, the degree of difficulty, how to get to the start, estimated time, distance and the OSNI Discover series map sheet number. The author describes the history of the route, recounts his feelings and experiences and describes the entertaining and insightful characters he meets along the way. Intertwined with these stories are the route finding instructions. An overview sketch map of each walk is also included and the book is well illustrated with colour photographs. This well-received guide is now updated with five additional journeys of homage, including Kerry's Cnoc na dTobar and Wicklow's Rian Bo Phadraig.

The walk locations are:
Slieve Mish (Slemish), County Antrim - 2 km
Lough Derg, County Donegal - 12 km
Slieve League, County Donegal - 7 km
Turas Colmcille, County Donegal - 5 km
Tochar Phadraig, County Mayo - 35 km
Croagh Patrick, County Mayo - 7 km
Maumeen, County Galway - 9 km
Clonmacnoise Pilgrim Cycle, County Offaly - 22 km
St Kevin's Way, County Wicklow (Hollywood to Glendalough) - 30 km
St Kevin's Way, County Wicklow (Valleymount to Ballinagee Bridge) - 8 km
Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop, County Tipperary - 7 km
The Rian Bo Phadraig, Counties Tipperary and Wexford - 23 km
Ardmore Pilgrim Path, County Waterford - 4 km
Mount Brandon Pilgrim Path, County Kerry - 10 km
Cosan nar Naomh, County Kerry - 18 km
Mount Brandon Saint's Road, County Kerry - 10 km
St Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, County Cork (Drimoleague to Kealkill) - 19 km
St Finbarr's Pilgrim Path, County Cork (Kealkill to Gougane to Barra) - 19 km
Cnoc na dTobar, County Kerry - 9 km
Skellig Michael, County Kerry - 1km

ISBN 9781848893153 Pages 153 (2017 reprinted 2018) 129mm x 198mm