10 Year Celebration of Saint Patrick's Way: The Camino for Ireland’s Patron Saint

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Saint Patrick’s Way in the northeastern part of the Island of Ireland – a stunning 132km (82 mile) trail over rolling hills, canal towpaths and majestic beaches connecting the Cathedral city of Armagh and Patrick’s final resting place in Downpatrick. Saint Patrick's Way has proved to be extremely popular destination for thousands of leisure walking and pilgrimages each year.  

Inch Abbey, Downpatrick

The founder of Saint Patrick's Way was artist and adventurer Alan Graham who established the route as ‘a walk of many colours, feelings and memories to cherish.’ Alan liked the idea of having a deeper sustainable experience away from mass tourism which immerses visitors. ‘It is idea for those who want to have the experience of nature and time to themselves.’ he said. Like the Camino de Santiago in Spain, walkers pick up a Pilgrim's Passport at local Visitor Information Centres and stamp it at locations along the route to receive a Certificate of Achievement. 

Zoom forward 10 years and although Alan is sadly no longer with us, his vision and achievements live on through the many visitors who walk in the footsteps of Saint Patrick himself. Dr Tim Campbell is the Director of the Saint Patrick Centre, which issues Certificates to Pilgrims:  

’Saint Patrick’s Way has been an incredible success and we now run Guides along the most scenic parts for day trippers. Over Covid the numbers really increased and we now work with pilgrimage companies to create week-long itineraries in Saint Patrick’s Country. Pilgrims have been married along Saint Patrick’s Way, ran it as an endurance challenge, raised money for many charities on it, some have brought donkeys with them for reasons unknown, celebrities have walked it and often visitors return with friends to walk it all over again.'

Former Adoration Sisters Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly act as Guides - ‘when we walk Saint Patrick’s Way we find that people really bond and there is a lot of laughter - it is an uplifting and, for many, a spiritual experience.' 

As a marker of its success a new Saint Columbanus’  Way will run along a considerable stretch of Saint Patrick’s Way from Newry to Downpatrick through the beautiful Mountains of Mourne.  

In this 10th Anniversary the Saint Patrick Centre anticipates an even greater number of pilgrims and more information can be found at www.saintpatrickcentre.com.