Kerryman North* Circulation: 19886 Wednesday, 18 May 2016 Area of Clip: 67500mm² Page: 33 Page 1 of 1 Stepping out on DINGLE PENINSULA HOSTS HUNDREDS ON PILGRIMAGE BACK TO ST JAMES' EFFORTS to revive the old pil-. throng, giving those new to the grimage to St James’s Church in route and area a great sense of Dingle are reaping rich rewards what they could expect along with hundreds taking part in the Way. the recent annual pilgrimage That throng of walkers pro- that’s styled on Spain’s famous vided real evidence of the grow- Camino de Santiago. ing pull of the Kerry Camino in As with in Spain, the Kerry terms of its tourist potential; Camino sees pilgrims picking with walkers present from all up stamps as they progress parts of Ireland, from Scot- towards a destination named land, England and with even a after St James (Santiago) - in few from the continent in the Kerry’s case the little church group also. on Dingle’s Main Street that The weather was a bit of a plays host to the famous Other mixed bag as the pilgrims hit Voices in the other big annual west, but the few showers that event there. came did not dent the mood one A group from CaminoWays at the Railway Tavern in Camp on TOP: Walk guide “We had a fantastic week- bit On the contrary, all were completing Day 1 of the big trek. Kevin Boyle leading a end walking the Kerry Camino fairly buzzing as the Dingle group up Tonevane. along the Dingle Way,” sec- Peninsula opened up underfoot, LEFT: St John’s PP retary of the Camino Group with the Way taking the group Fr Sean Hanafin Adrienne McLoughlin told The west from Tonevane to Camp blessing the group at Kerryman. for the first night-stop. After outset of the Camino. “For some it was a great op- that, it was on to Annascaul, BELOW: The Pilgrim’s portunity to get out there and Lispole, Minard as the hun- Progress as seen in enjoy the fresh air in company dreds eventually made their the succession of and for others it provided a way along the mountain path stamps earned by chance to walk in contemplative to the Church of St James in one walker along the mood,” Adrienne added. Dingle. “Since Kerry Camino route. Many achieved both at var- was launched in 2012, numbers ious points over the three- participating have increased day pilgrimage, which set out every year, bringing new and from St John’s Church in Tralee welcome walking tourism busi- where Kerry Camino member ness to the greater Tralee area” Mike O’Donnell addressed the Adrienne added. RIGHT: Walkers approach Minard Castle along the Camino as it winds through the Lispole countryside. Walk guides Pat and Maura Sullivan and Bill Harnett at one of the low-lying highlights of the route beyond the river crossing in Camp. Tralee, giving all a great sense of what they could expect before hitting west. .