24 and 25 July 2021 (Feast of St James) St James’ church is organising it’s own mini-Camino walk to celebrate 200 years of the church. The walk takes place over 2 days with 5 stops along the way. Everyone will get a passport which will be stamped at each stop. You can do as much of the walk as you want, at your own pace, and in any direction or order.  The full walk is 17 kilometres.

How to join

Registration: You can register for the Camino at St James’ church on:

• • 7:30pm, Friday 23 July
  • 11am, Saturday 24 July
  • 11am, Sunday 25 July

We’ll give you a passport to be stamped at each stop. We’ll also give you a scallop shell – this is traditionally worn by each pilgrim. Starts: We’ll start at St James’ church.

• • 11am, Saturday 24 July
  • 11am, Sunday 25 July

If you do not want to start at the church, you can start at and stage of the walk you want. Finishes: We’ll finish at St James’ church and have a picnic at Ballinora GAA pitch.

• • 6pm, Sunday 25 July

Come to the picnic at Ballinora GAA pitch even if you’ve not completed the walk. You must bring your own food and drink due to coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions

Stages of the walk

Stage 1: St James’ church to Inniskenny Graveyard (2km)

Route: St James’ church to Hall Hill. Left to O’Sheas, then right, and first left.

Stage 2: Inniskenny Graveyard to Ballymacadane Abbey (2.5km)

Route: Inniskenny back to main road. Left to the Railway bridge. Then right. The abbey ruins are on the right after bend.

Stage 3: Ballymacadane to Corbally Famine Graveyard (3km)

Route: Continue to Jimmy’s Cross. Left to Corbally Cross. Turn left (signposted). Ruins are in the field on right.

Stage 4: Corbally Graveyard to Curraheen Grotto (5.5km)

Route: Corbally downhill to Jimmy’s Cross. Left to Ballyshoneen Cross. Right past Norwood Grange Nursing Home. Turn left at cross. Down Chapel Hill. Right along Curraheen Road to the Grotto.

Stage 5: Grotto to Ballinora Church (3km)

Route: Up the hill from the Grotto to Ballinora Cross. Left to St James’ church.

What is a Camino?

The Camino de Santiago – or the Way of Saint James –  is a Catholic pilgrimage to the Spanish city of Santiago de Compostela, finishing at the tomb of St James. There is a series of pilgrim routes across France, Spain and Portugal to the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Since the ninth century, Santiago, Jerusalem and Rome have been the three most revered pilgrim sites. The relics of St James – who is believed to have preached the Gospel in Spain – were said to be discovered in a cave there and the Cathedral of Santiago was built on the site. The scallop shell has become the symbol of the Camino – also a sword, as St James was the patron of the reconquest of Spain from the Moors. Let’s celebrate our church, St James, and the Camino!