A new wealth of innovative skills was experienced during the Bronze Age in Ireland [approx. 2,500 – 500 BC], It was the time when a wide range of burial sites and ritual monuments emerged from the prevailing culture. Many artefacts, showing the complexity and ritualistic nature of human society have been found. This is the wider context of a new Camino in Ireland, which is being enabled greatly by Mercy Sister, Maureen Lally.
Maureen is well known in the wider Mercy Community; of which she is a much appreciated member. Her ministry is the essence of collaboration with her co-workers. In 2018, she was honoured as the recipient of the Mayo Person of the Year, one of the few women to have been awarded this prestigious recognition in her native county.
The iconic Croagh Patrick, seen from the Westport Quays at sunset, is the ultimate point of the Camino
Maureen held a dream of connecting Mayo’s famous Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick, with Downpatrick, the place where Ireland’s national saint is reputed to be buried. As can happen with dreams, it was set aside for a time due to life’s activities; in Maureen’s case she was busy developing a network of rural communities, as well as establishing international connections to enhance the great vitality of all.
Along came Jeremy Schewe, a man from the USA with Irish roots. When his daughter died in 2022, going on the Camino in Spain gave him some consolation. He decided to share this means of healing the spirit with a larger public by using his skills with GS Spatial Planning to mark out the Bronze Age 500 km. route. Once he got in touch with Maureen, the whole endeavour opened up, leading to a pilgrimage group trying out the new adventure. The dream came true with an official opening in Rathcroghan on 22nd September 2025.
A chain of interest formed, as each one added to the whole.
Henry McGlade from TV Ireland produced a 27 minute video of the Camino, which will be shown on TV Ireland Sky Channel 588 on January 6th 2026 at 8.00 pm.
The following is a two-minute taster of the short film produced to promote this visionary development, the Downpatrick to Croagh Patrick Camino.
If this piques your interest, know you will be welcome to engage with the Camino more personally, whether to learn more about history, for the good of your physical health, to get more involved in ecological matters, to deepen your spirituality or a whole smorgasbord of the above!
