26 Feb 2012
It’s called the Camino de Cork by some. However comparisons fail to do justice to the ancient pilgrimage route originally traced by St. Finbarr some 1,400 years ago. One of the most wonderful developments in our Church over the last number of years has been the resurgence in traditional walking pilgrimages. So much of our travel these days involves traffic jams, scurrying through passport control and security checkpoints and the only prayer we say is that we won’t be told our bags are too heavy and will have to be checked in!
Pilgrimage is about the invitation to follow in the footsteps of thousands of other people seeking answers to prayer, insights into life and searching for God. Beginning in the West Cork town of Drimoleague the 37km path leads through Kealkill and includes part of the Carriganass walk before descending into Gougane Barra to the sheltered valley where Finbarr lived for a number of years as a hermit. Similar to Glendalough in Co. Wicklow there is a peacefulness and beauty to the place that continues to attract people. There is an abiding sense that you are walking on holy ground.
With this in mind I set off with two friends last Saturday to blaze the trail in anticipation of leading a walk in September around the Feast of St. Finbarr. The ground may have been holy, but it was certainly wet! We started out late in the morning and after a day of valleys and hills, slips and slides we eventually reached Kealkill. It was a surprisingly challenging walk, especially across the bogs. However our efforts were rewarded with amazing views over Bantry Bay. The following day we continued onto Gougane Barra and our path led us though forests, across rives and over hills before we eventually got to the small chapel dedicated to St Finbarr on the shore of the lake. I’m sure God listens to all prayers impartially, but perhaps He is slightly more sympathetic to the prayer of the weary, but happy traveller, with wet and muddy boots!
Keep an eye out for our pilgrimage to Gougane Barra which will take place in September around the feast day of St Finbarr