Following in Patrick’s steps

Following in Patrick’s steps

11 April 2012 - by BY JOANNE FLEMING

A SAINTFIELD man has created an ambitious St. Patrick’s pilgrimage route, which he hopes will become a major tourist attraction.

Alan Graham, a mountaineer who has tackled the Arctic among other terrain, says his aim is to create a pilgrim route in Ireland similar to the famous pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

His 400k walk, part of which is currently under economic appraisal by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, would follow in the footsteps of St. Patrick starting from Westport in the West of Ireland to Armagh, where Patrick founded the first Christian Church in Ireland, and then on to Downpatrick to his final resting place.

Alan has currently completed mapping the Armagh to Downpatrick section, which is approximately 125km.

“The walk from Armagh would follow the National Cycle network and end up in Tandragee where there is accommodation and then follow the towpath along the Newry canal to Newry,” he explained.

“From Newry the route would follow the main road to Rostrevor by footpath where there are many B&Bs and hotels. From Rostrevor the pilgrim would follow for most parts the Ulster Way and Mourne Way through the Mournes, which is well signposted to Newcastle, which would be a spectacular route for the pilgrim.

“From Newcastle the pilgrim would take the route of the Lecale way, which goes along the beach to Dundrum and then the Dundrum coastal path through Ballykinlar and then on to Downpatrick.

Full details on Alan’s route can be found on his website www.patricksway.com, where he also outlines the attraction to pilgrims of long walks in scenic surroundings.

“When you walk long distances your brain empties of other thoughts — as if your brain switches to one thought mode,” he said. “I presume it happens because its too busy looking after the body during the strain of the walk so the level of contemplation for your senses becomes so enlarged that you feel and see much clearer, much clearer than if you are standing still.”

Alan said the level of interest in his route in the south of Ireland has not yet matched that of the north, and although a little frustrated at the administrative hoops to jump, hopes signage for the walk will be approved later this year.

After seeing for himself the appeal of the Santiago de Compostela route, he says he is in no doubt how popular a pilgrim route for Saint Patrick would be.

“I talked to people afterwards and they thought it would be a fantastic idea,” he said.

“His name is known throughout the world and I just feel he should be honoured in this way.

Alan said he anticipated potential pilgrims would register their interest at Armagh Cathedral and have their completion of the route marked in some way in Downpatrick.

“We have to make a pilgrim route where the end is the most important part of the route,” he said.

“The whole idea is that is is a pilgrim route, the walkers and athletes will come afterwards.”

Anyone interested in contacting Alan to find out more details about the Saint Patrick pilgrimage route can do so by email on thomasalang@yahoo.com