After 400 people took part in the first two pilgrim walks, the annual Galway Camino Walk is returning this month on September 21.
The Camino Walk is organised by the Knights of Columbus, to take pilgrims through seven holy sites around Galway city.
The camino begins at Galway Cathedral and makes its way from there to the Poor Clares Convent in Nuns Island, St Nicholas Church, Franciscan Abbey, Augustinian Church, Dominican Claddagh and St Joseph’s Church.
Each pilgrim taking part in the walk will receive a booklet which gets stamped at each of the seven sites and contains a map of the walk route.
When they return to the cathedral at the end of the walk pilgrims receive a Galway Camino Certificate of Completion.
“We were delighted with the turnout and the feedback from both walks,” said Knights of Columbanus Grand Knight Gerry Ford.
He added that “It was such a socialable afternoon and so many people from Galway came and had in fact not actually visited a couple of the sites before.”
Registration for the walk opens at Galway Cathedral at noon. It takes an estimated two hours to complete the walk, along with whatever time pilgrims spend at each of the sites.
Walkers can start at any time that they wish, but must return to the Cathedral with their booklets by 5:30pm in order to receive a certificate.
“This is a great opportunity for anyone and everyone to come together to walk through Galway and visit some of our well know holy sites,” Gerry Ford said.
“We had people reuniting after 40 years on the walk last year, there was a woman who cycled the route and we had two people in wheelchairs who got involved. We cannot wait to see what this year brings”.
Registration is on the day at Galway Cathedral. Price per walker is €5, €10 for a family or €4 for unemployed or for OAP. For more information check out www.galwaycamino.ie.
photo credit: David Cooley
