Booking opens for five-stage walk of Ireland's Camino - St Declan's Way from Cashel to Ardmore

Walking enthusiasts can now book their place on an organised hike of Ireland’s Camino - the 115km St Declan’s Way from Cashel to Ardmore - that will run over five weekends starting in mid-March.

Knockmealdowns Active is organising and guiding the five stage walk of the ancient pilgrim route, which begins on St Patrick’s weekend, Saturday, March 18 and concludes on Saturday, April 30. Booking for the five stage walk opened last weekend.
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St Declan’s Way Chairperson Gráinne Moynihan said 1,200 people from all over Ireland took part in last year’s walk over the five stages and they hope this year’s walk will attract even more participants.

Up to 300 people can take part in each stage of the St Declan’s Way Walk.

She encouraged people interested in taking part in one, some or all of the five stages to book their place and their accommodation early to avoid disappointment.
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Ms Moynihan, who is also a member of Knockmealdown Active, said the two-day weekend walks along the St Declan’s Way are particularly popular as walkers like to make a weekend of it when they visit.

People who travelled to take part in last year’s walk stayed in tourist accommodation around south Tipperary including Cashel, Cahir and as far as Clonmel.

Ms Moynihan pointed out that walking a 25km section of the St Declan’s Way, which is one of Ireland’s pilgrim paths, now counts towards the 100km needed to claim a Compestela certificate for walking the Spanish Camino.

Knockmealdown Active has organised this five-stage walk of St Declan’s Way each year since 2016, except for 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It follows the route that St Declan took when going to Cashel to meet St Patrick in the fifth century.

It is the route pilgrims have taken to visit St Declan’s Monastery, holy well and grave in Ardmore for the past 1,500 years.

The St Declan’s Way route was approved by  Sport Ireland  in July 2021 as a waymarked long-distance walking trail.

It is listed on the National Trails Register and is fully insured.

The trail begins at the car-park of the Rock of Cashel and passes through Cashel, Cahir, Ardfinnan & Goatenbridge in South Tipperary.

It then crosses the Knockmealdown Mountains into West Waterford via the Newcastle to Mount Melleray Road, going through Mount Melleray, Lismore, Cappoquin, Aglish and finishing at St Declan’s Monastery and round tower in Ardmore.

Each route is slightly more than 20km long, with the exception of Stage 3.

The stages are mostly either flat or undulating, without steep climbs, again apart from Stage 3, which is 28km long and traverses the Knockmealdown Mountains, passing through Mount Melleray. 

Stages and dates are as follows. 
 – Stage 1 – Cashel to Cahir – March 18
 – Stage 2 – Cahir to Goatenbridge – March 19
 – Stage 3 – Goatenbridge to Lismore – April 8 (Holy Saturday)
 – Stage 4 – Lismore to Aglish – April 29
 – Stage 5 – Aglish to Ardmore – April 30.

Stage 3 will be run in conjunction with Pilgrim Paths Week 2023, which takes place in the period around Easter Week. Easter Sunday falls on April 9.

The week-long Pilgrim Paths festival covers a range of events encompassing many of Ireland’s pilgrim routes, from Donegal to Kerry.

Further information on other events taking place during the festival period can be found at www.PilgrimPath.ie. 

The price for each St Declan’s Way stage is €45, with an early-bird special offer of €200 for those wishing to take part in all five stages.

The prices include bus transfers to the walk start point, volunteer stewards and marshals to guide walkers and regular water stops and medical assistance on hand.

Refreshments will be served in local community halls on the route at the end of each stage. 

Booking for the 2023 event has now opened. Keep an eye on St Declan’s Way Facebook and Instagram.com account for updates prior to the event. 

Full information on the event can be found at www.StDeclansWay.ie.