PILGRIM'S PROGRESS is a fortnight's movement, starting out from The Gyreum, “Ireland’s quirkiest ecolodge,” winding its way through marshes, lakes, islands, over heath and bog, steep hills, by quiet rills, through driving rain and blasts of sun - through 6 counties, a full soul discovering circuit.

This is a modern yet ancient pilgrim route to vie with Spain's, Camino Santiago. Its lanes and highways takes the Traveller through perils, joys, the despond of drizzle, miseries, great vistas hailed on hilltops, hopelessness, cloud clearances, the sheer wind of a full Atlantic gale; a journey made bearable by sharing the good and bad times with fellow pilgrims and the consolation of warm rest in 11 extremely eclectic hosting stops at the close of day chosen for their extraordinary atmosphere, beauty and loyalty to the aspirations of sustainable ecology and for their spiritual raison d'etres.

The turning point or fulcrum of the Pilgrimage is St. Patrick's Purgatory at Lough Derg snug in the mountains of South Donegal, one of the most renowned pilgrim sites of Medieval Europe, a place that inspired Dante's Divine Comedy, a reputed entry point into the Underworld.  People from across Europe for 700 years have been coming to STATION ISLAND on LOUGH DERG. They have endured great suffering to reach this place, but seem to return to the world renewed. This tiny island on a turf coloured lake is one of the three prime pilgrim sights in Ireland and it is once again to become a focus for pilgrimage - albeit an eclectic 21st century procession

 

14 Day Pilgrimage €1450
10 Day Pilgrimage €1075
7 Day  Pilgrimage   €  765

Prices include all accommodation, food, guides, entertainment & boat transportation.

For those who cannot do entire pilgrimage it is possible to join up for 24 hour segments by prior arrangement but nothing shorter.

 

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After a gathering for the first night at the hobbit like cairn, The Gyreum “Ireland’s quirkiest ecolodge,”  cross to Carrowkeel's megalithic cairns and then up the Owenmore river to Europe’s most westerly Templar Preceptory, overnight at the Celtic Hermits' dens in the Ox Mountains, the Anglican Scouts Hall at Lissadell, round the horseshoe of Benwisklin, through the Amusements of Bundoran and to the shores of St. Colmcille’s lake and on the 7th day reach the hub of this pilgrim circuit: St. Patrick’s Purgatory on Station Island in the dark waters of LOUGH DERG. After two nights of fasting and silence and some possible deliriia a slap up meal aboard a lake boat south along Lough Erne toward Enniskillen for soup and sandwiches at the Presbyterian Scots Church then on to Inish Rath, to be immersed in Vedic garlands on an Hare Krishne Island then to the Tibetan Buddhists in Cavan, to encounters with Goddess worship in rural Leitrim, to the Poor Clares, to the Sweat Houses of Arigna and back to ground zero by way of the Battle Ground of Moytura and to yourself, changed, unchanged and two weeks have passed that seemed a lifetime.

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Hopefully not ..... however, you are advised that this would be classified as 'moderate' in walking terms, i.e. relatively easy routes but long days on foot. This is not a stroll in the park so a reasonable level of fitness and very well broken-in footwear are a must. Guides are trained in first aid - plasters, foot cream and sympathy will all be on hand.

We are very grateful that so many faiths are opening their doors to us and sharing their beliefs with us along the route so an open mind is obligatory as well as sensitivity for the people and traditions you will meet along the way.

“It was to avoid meeting death "unprepared" that so many flocked to St. Patrick's Purgatory”

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FURTHER PILGRIMAGES in 2008

16th March ( Palm Sunday) - Saturday 29th March 2008

27th April Saturday - Sunday 11th May 2008

8th June - 22nd June 2008

6th July - 20th July 2008