April 2018

The first Celtic Camino Festival will take place from Friday 13th April to Sunday 15th April in Westport and organised by the  Camino Society Ireland.

The Camino itself is an old and very popular pilgrim route across northern Spain. Since 2017 it is possible to start the Camino in Ireland on a recognised pilgrim path and complete it in Spain. In Mayo, there are two recognised pilgrim routes the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail and Tóchar Phádraig and will be the pilgrim walk during the weekend festival.

On Friday at 7.30pm at W Cinema the film “The Camino Voyage” (Iomramh an Chamino) by Dónal Ó Céilleachair will kick off the festival.

On Saturday there will be presentations, discussions and workshops by internationally renowned Camino experts.

On Sunday at 10 pm the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail and Tóchar Phádraig Walk will take place.

From Balla, participants will walk the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail and, after 18km, they will reach Ballintubber Abbey. Here a Mass will be celebrated.

The Camino will continue to Killavalley on Tochar Padraig and at the end of 25km participants will receive a Celtic Camino Compostela.

Bus Transfer to Westport or Balla is provided.

People from US, Canada, Spain, the UK, Hungary and Japan will attend the festival.