This article is from page 23 of the 2012-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
FOR many people in North Clare and beyond, the dawn masses conducted annually at Corcomroe Abbey by the late John O’Donoghue were the highlight of the Easter period.
The masses, which attracted huge attendances, represented O’Donoghue’s way of connecting religion with local tradition, culture and the environment that he knew like no other.
The tradition started by O’Donoghue was sadly abandoned in 2001 because of the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease and hasn’t been revived since, but for those who are spiritually minded and into their exercise, there are the Heart of the Burren Walks that combine both.
The first event took place in January when walkers travelled St Colman McDuagh’s Way, while in March it was the turn to pay homage to St Patrick with a walk along the Burren Way that was interspersed with commentary about St Patricks’ connection with the landscape.
This Easter Sunday it’s the turn of the ‘Monks and Pilgrims’ in the Bur- ren Landscape Walk. The walk is being organized by Tony Kirby, the author of The Bur ren a nd the Ara n Isla nds – a Wa lking Guide , who also operates Heart of the Burren Walks.
“It will be a half-day long walk at an easy pace with the high point being the visit to a remarkable monastic site and pilgrimage station,” says Kirby.
“Highlights will include a rich complex of penitential stations, holy wells, rare reliquary shrines and an Early Medieval (400-100 AD) chapel with successive Romanesque ornamentation.
“The narrative will focus on the golden age of Irish art (400-1100 AD), the story of pilgrimage in Ireland and the enduring fascination of holy wells as places of public worship. The Burren region boasts about 45 wells. Stone, soil, soul, saints, sinners, pilgrims, poetry, penitents and purgatory will feature,” adds Kirby.
The walk takes place at 10am on Easter Sunday and lasts two and half hours. More information at 087 2925487 and www.heartof burrenwalks.com, with pre-booking essential for those who want to take part.