St Declan's Way pilgrims walk series to conclude this weekend

Storm Kathleen forced the posponement of two stages of the 115km St Declan’s Way annual pilgrims walk last month but they take place this weekend and hikers can still sign up to take part in the treks from Goatenbridge to Mt Melleray Abbey and onto Lismore.

Last year the trek from Goatenbridge to Lismore was run off as one long stage but this year it has been divided into two separate stages over two days.

The 20km 3rd stage walk from the Liam Lynch Monument at Goatenbridge was originally scheduled for April 11 but will instead be run this Saturday, May 11.

It’s the most scenic and most difficult of the six stages of St Declan’s Way as walkers will cross the Knockmealdown Mountains to get to Mount Melleray. It’s the only stage with a significant ascent along forest and mountain roads.

The highlight for walkers is reaching Mount Melleray where you can enjoy some well-earned scones, tea and other refreshments in the abbey’s café.

The 18km long 4th stage from Melleray to Lismore takes place the following day, Sunday, May 12.

St Declan’s Way Steering Committee Chairperson Grainne Moynihan estimates about 200 people from all over the country and abroad will take part in both stages of the pilgrim trail walk this weekend.

She said people interested in participating in either or both of these stages can register through the St Declan’s Way website, Facebook or Instagram pages.

“The mountain stage is very popular. It’s very scenic and people don’t really like walking in that area on their own so this is a good opportunity to do so.”

Grainne said an extra 10km has been added to the Mount Melleray to Lismore hike by opening up more of the old Mass path to Lismore.

Lismore to Ardmore

It will be a case of going backwards along the St Declan’s Way to go forwards for those hikers who participated in the 5th and 6th stages on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21 from Lismore to Aglish and onto the end of the pilgrimage trail in Ardmore where the ruins of St Declan’s Monastery are located.

Grainne said 380 pilgrims walked these final two stages over the two days.

“The weather was superb, the pilgrims travelled from all over Ireland and the west Waterford communities rallied together to create a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” she recalled.

They started at St Carthage’s Cathedral where they received a pilgrim blessing from Dean Paul Draper.

The pilgrims then travelled along the River Blackwater to Cappoquin, then onwards to Villierstown via Dromana before climbing a challenging route up to Dromore amd finishing in Aglish.

The hike to Ardmore the following day brought them from Aglish to Geoish and onwards to Ballycurrane NS before crossing the River Lickey on a combination of stepping stones and a pontoon.

Several grassy boreens followed before the group reached the warm waters of the beach in Ardmore. The extra energetic walkers continued around the Cliff Walk with local guide Tommy Mooney, learning lots of interesting local facts on the history of St Declan and Ardmore.

Grainne paid tribute to all involved in making these two stages of the walk such a success.

“St Declan’s Way is a real engine of economic growth for south Tipperary and west Waterford,” she told The Nationalist.

On the same day the 5th stage of the annual pilgrimage hike on St Declan's Way on April 20, a group of 24 Americans from Los Angeles started the trail in Cashel to walk over 5 days to Ardmore with Celtic Ways Ireland.

And 65 IMRA ultra marathon mountain runners also ran a 65km ultra marathon in the Knockmealdowns that day, using St Declan’s Way as their route onto the high peaks of the mountain

“There is no doubt the future is bright for this long distance Irish Camino,” said Grainne Moynihan.