About THE PILGRIMAGE

This is an 80km, three day, walking pilgrimage of prayer and reparation beginning Wednesday June 5th and ending Friday June 7th, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.

  • It begins 9am Wednesday June 5th from St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh and ends on Friday June 7th at the Sacred Heart Church in Limerick with Traditional Latin Mass.
  • The pilgrimage involves walking 35km on each of the first two days and 10km on the last day.
  • Most of the route is along the beautiful Lough Derg Way national hiking trail. https://www.sportireland.ie/outdoors/walking/trails/lough-derg-way
  • The pilgrimage will involve two nights camping along the route. See map below.

The virtues and attitudes necessary for the pilgrimage:

1. Faith:  Have a personal intention to unite with the intentions of the pilgrimage. 

2. Penance: “No complaining”. Offer up your sacrifices and join them to the Sacrifice of the Mass during the day. Instead of complaining say “Thanks be to God”.

3. Community: Walk with “the stranger”. “Don’t walk in cliques”!

4. Mystery: Turn off your phone and observe silence on certain specific parts of the route.

5. Change of Heart: “Were Christ to be born into a thousand stables it would be of no avail if He was not born into your heart.”

6. Witness:  Share your food, your joy, your faith with your fellow pilgrim and with people you meet on the way. Men: Share in carrying the Catholic banners. 

More information:

To register you must realistically consider yourself able to complete the whole 80km walk. We welcome everyone but this is an arduous walking pilgrimage taking in road, country and mountainous terrain.  If you have health problems, are not physically fit and have no experience of hiking or the preparation necessary for long distance hiking than this is not for you. Lifts are available for people who need a break but only where necessary. 

You need to bring a personal tent, a backpack containing  sleeping bag, groundsheet, clothes and food for three days  etc..  These can be left with the logistics team who bring them to the various camp sites where they can be retrieved at the end of the day’s walk. This enables you to walk free of a heavy load and to just carry daily essentials in a smaller backpack or shoulder bag e.g. ( sun cream, rain jacket, snacks, chocolate, rosary beads, prayer book etc..) 

You will have to bring your packed breakfast, packed lunch and supper for three days. (Small gas stoves are allowed but no fires will be permitted).

Water will be provided during the three days.

The first two days involves walking 35km each day.  You must be physically fit and well prepared with broken in hiking shoes. We don’t want people to withdraw because of blisters!. 

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age. 

Cost: 

Adults €120. (Early bird rate €100 until May 1st) Students €50. Family rates available on application.  It is also possible to join us for one or two days.

This price covers housing & feeding the logistics team, logistics vehicle hire & fuel, return coach hire, hire of GAA fields,  etc.  Details of how to pay the deposit will be emailed to you on application. 

Basic itinerary

Wednesday June 5th: Nenagh  –  Dromineer – Portroe

Thursday June 6th : Portroe – Killaloe – O’Briensbridge – Cloonlara

Friday June 7th: Cloonlara – Limerick

You can also participate by helping out with giving lifts , preparing some food on route, just let us know. 

Getting to Nenagh for the start of the pilgrimage is your responsibility. Many pilgrims stay in Nenagh, the night before the start, at the Abbey Court Hotel or local B&Bs 

Parking: If you are driving to Nenagh and are looking for a place to leave your car for two nights  the parish of St Marys of the Rosary, Nenagh, was very helpful last year and allowed pilgrims to safely leave their cars on church grounds. We hope to provide  minibus  transportation back to Nenagh on completion of the pilgrimage.

We would like to thank the following groups: The priests and religious who support us , Ireland needs Fatima, Roundtower Association and the individuals and religious communities praying for these pilgrimages every year.