On Thursday May 20th Ella Noonan (Rosanna, Tipperary) together with Clare Gunning (Knockanrawley Community) travelled to the  North  of Spain (Galicia) with the intention of walking 112km of the Way of St. James. The following is a short account.

We arrived at the Santiago de Compostela  airport and took road transport to Sarria which is located on the French Way, 112km inland. Our first task on arrival was to acquire a Pilgrim’s Passport in the local church. This was duly stamped and signed stating the initiating date of our pilgrimage. Then before retiring for the night we familiarized ourselves with the direction we should take out of Sarria the following morning.

Day was breaking as we left Sarria

May 21st was the first day of our 6 day walk which would cover 112km. Each pilgrim sets her/his own pace, can stop for a rest when necessary, drink water, eat, call into one of the many roadside Bar/Cafés on route, take refuge out of the heat or rain in the chapels that are dispersed along the way. The Passport can be stamped in the Bar/Cafés as well as in the chapels. The stops are a great way of meeting up with other pilgrims who come from all over the world. Many pilgrims we met had also begun at Sarria but many had started on the French/Spanish border which is 800km from Santiago. It was great to meet these pilgrims and to realize what a great leveler the ‘camino’ proves to be. Nobody is exempt from blisters, thirst, hunger, tiredness and various aches which come and go.

Ella reflects on the day ahead

We moved along through the six days, beginning at 6.30 am as day was breaking, we were never the first on our way.

We were always rewarded for our early start by the freshness of air and the chorus of birds as we moved along the country roads of Eucalyptus Woods. The cuckoo really took our fancy and he  must have known it as several of them seem to have been singing all of the time. On the fifth day the dry warm weather gave way to torrential downpours.

Clare taking a break from the rain 

On the 6th day, our arrival in Santiago was under a threatening sky and we were glad to make it to the Cathedral and our destination before the heavens opened. We were well ready to attend the mass in the Cathedral at 6pm.  It was good to be there and the Gospel on the reply of Jesus to the request of the mother of the Sons of Zebedee was most inspiring and grounding. After mass we presented our Pilgrim’s Passport, full of stamps, at the Pilgrim’s Office and are now the proud holders of a Pilgrim’s Certificate.  On the morning of the 27th we had plenty of time to visit St. James Tomb, the Pilgrim Museum as well as having a closer look at the cathedral and other very ancient buildings.

It was good to go, to be among the many over the centuries that have travelled “The Way” and to be reminded of the Pilgrim element of our lives.

Ella Noonan rsm
South Central Province