This article is from page 14 of the 2011-05-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
COUNTY Clare’s spiritual heritage walks through the eyes of modern ecumenical Christians will take place during the coming weeks. Clare Christian Heritage walks, Ar bóthar na Naomh, has, in the past, attracted both local residents and people from further afield, including Northern Ireland and England.
The walks have a historical, archaeological and spiritual input, some of which is provided by expert guides and some developed through the skills of those who participate.
The organiser is Dr Rosemary Power, a historical and folklorist, who is also a local minister working on behalf of the Methodist Church.
The first walk will take in some of the most scenic parts of East Clare; Inis Cealtra, Holy Island on Lough Derg, on June 11. A White Sunday walk, entitled, ‘Walking the Shannon’, will take place the following day.
Walkers will move to the Burren on June 18 and 19. They will take in the stretch from Noughval to Kilfenora on June 18 and further parts of the Burren will be visited the following day. Both walks will end with an informal service in Saint Fachnan’s Medieval Cathedral Church.
On July 9 and 10, walks will take place in West Clare – Scattery Island and Loop Head. Both will close with celebrations in Kilkee Methodist Church. On July 30 and August 1, walkers will move to the Corofin and Parkanbinna areas.
Similar walks have taken place over the past two years and have attracted a wide range of age categories,from very young people to more mature adults. “This is our third year. We have always covered different parts of the countryside,” she said.
“It has been very, very positive,” she added. “I think sometimes that religion helps people to focus on what is valuable in life. People have lost the sense of belonging to the land and are hoping to get that connection back.
“There is a very positive sense of the strength of the spiritual in our lives and to explore our relationship with what is around us.”
According to Ms Power, the aim is to keep the pace of the walks relatively easy. Prayers will be said along the route, while singing will also form part of the events.
There will be regular breaks along the route and Dr Power will present talks on the historical importance of some of the places of interest along the way.
“The focus will be on both religion in the wider spiritual sense and the valuing of the religious of the past and exploring the spiritual in our lives today,” she said.
“It is ecumenical – open to people of any Christian tradition,” she said.
Anyone looking for further information on the various walks should contact Dr Power on 087 9888 508.