Offaly pilgrimage will take in ancient monastic sites
Route from Rahan to Clonmacnoise will take in Lemonaghan and Pullough
A SPECIAL pilgrimage will take place in Offaly the weekend after next.
An ecumenical pilgrimage from Rahan to Clonmacnoise has been scheduled for Saturday, September 6.
It will begin at St Carthage's ancient church in Rahan at 9am on Saturday morning and progress to the early Christian monastic site of Clonmacnoise, founded by St Ciaran on the bank of the river Shannon.
The pilgrimage has been organised by the Clara Heritage Society and the Church of Ireland Tullamore Union of Parishes and it follows an ancient path which “highlights our connection with the divine, the landscape, and those around us”, according to the Eventbrite website, which can be used for booking places.
The Tullamore Church of Ireland parish said that registration is €15 and there is an option to purchase lunch and a bus back to Rahan.
The route will honour the Offaly Pilgrim Way and include a detour along the Grand Canal to the village of Pullough, where pilgrims will gather in the church and see the oak altar and the Harry Clarke stained glass windows.
From there, there is a trip across the bogland of Lemonaghan to Boher and on to Clonmacnoise.