A visit to Ireland can be a deeply spiritual experience, especially for those lucky enough to walk any of Ireland’s camino walks. We’ve created a comprehensive list of pilgrim paths in Ireland, including our top choices for tour operators who cover these routes. From long-distance caminos to short easy day hikes, all the good ones are listed here.
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What is a camino walk / pilgrimage?
People give different answers to this question because it often depends on what motivates them to pursue a pilgrimage in the first place. It also depends on their religion and country of origin. In its most basic form, a camino is simply a road or path. If you research trails around the world you’ll come across caminos that have nothing to do with religion, but most people think pilgrimage when they hear the term. And that’s probably due to the most popular pilgrimage in Europe, the Camino de Santiago, which is at its core a religious pilgrimage.
These terms are used interchangeably but here is how we define them:
camino = one of many routes leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain OR an important long-distance path or way
pilgrimage = any long distance walk that ends at a religious site or has significant religious/spiritual value for the walker
Are there Compostela camino walks in Ireland?
Anyone who looks at a map might be questioning how someone can walk from Ireland to Spain — there’s a bit of a water barrier. But the answer to the question is yes, there are routes that begin in Ireland and make their way to Santiago de Compostela. Bare with me because it gets a little technical.
Celtic Camino via A Coruña
The Celtic Camino is overseen by the Camino Society of Ireland which works with the Cathedral of Santiago to determine rules for granting a Compostela certificate. To earn that certificate via the Celtic Camino:
- Pilgrim must first walk at least 25km on a certified pilgrimage route in Ireland (you’ll find those later in this post)
- Acquire an official Camino de Santiago passport (contact Camino Society of Ireland)
- Stamp your passport with Celtic Camino stages and bring it to the Camino Information Center in Dublin for verification
- Begin the next stage in Spain from A Coruña to Santiago and follow camino rules accordingly
What are the pilgrimage walks in Ireland?
The people of Ireland were walking pilgrimages long before the Camino de Santiago existed and thankfully Ireland has been working hard to preserve those ancient paths. One of the ways they do this is by certifying their own Pilgrim Passport, which can be earned by walking 5 designated ancient paths (which we’ve noted below with an asterisk*).
St. Brigid’s Way
70mi / 113km
Some pilgrim walks in Ireland are only open to the public during certain days and St. Brigid’s Way is one of those. This 9-day pilgrimage takes place in July as an event organized by a non-profit that is dedicated to honoring Brigid. Revered as both a Celtic goddess and Christian saint, St. Brigid is an excellent choice for pilgrims seeking an authentic cultural experience and one that focuses on the feminine divine.
St. Declans Way
St. Declans Way follows a fifth century path taken by St. Declans to visit St. Patrick. It is an old trail that just received official recognition in 2021. The route begins in Ardmore and ends in Cashel, incorporating several medieval pilgrimage and trading routes.
Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail*
The Croagh Patrick pilgrimage is a route that leads to the summit of Croagh Patrick, a mountain in County Mayo which is believed to be the site where Saint Patrick fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. It begins in Balla and ends in Murrisk with very few places to sleep along the route. For a shorter route, try Tóchar Phádraig from Ballintuber Abbey to Croagh Patrick.
Kerry Camino
The Kerry Camino has historical connections to St. James and St. Brendan which you can find on their site. We walked this route in 2016 as part of the longer Dingle Way and can attest to its charm. It begins in Tralee, takes 3 days to complete and you’ll end with some of the best live music in Dingle!
St. Finbarr’s Pilgrim Path*
Since the 6th century this path has been walked by pilgrims following St. Finbarr’s route from Drimoleague to Gougane Barra. It’s a 2-day journey with steep sections that ends near the hermitage of St. Finbarr. Like the Kerry Camino, this path is part of a larger long-distance route called the Sheep’s Head Way.
St. Kevin’s Way*
St. Kevin’s Way is a 7th century route from Hollywood to Glendalough, where St. Kevin lived as a hermit until his death. Some remains are left of the monastery that developed in Glendalough following St. Kevin’s death.
Way of our Ancestors
Officially called Slí ár Sinsear, this new pilgrim route begins at the Church of St. James in Glenbeigh and ends in Cahersiveen. Pilgrims can walk this route in 1 or 2 days and there are additional trails nearby if you wish to make this a true walking holiday. One of the sections of this route is called the “Fairy Trail” — I am thoroughly enticed!
Boyne Valley Camino
The Boyne Valley Camino is an easy way to get your camino miles for the Santiago certificate. It’s a loop trail from Drogheda that goes through pretty woodlands and canals.
Are there 1-day pilgrim walks in Ireland?
Yes, there are some excellent choices for hikers who want to experience a pilgrimage in just one day. These one-day pilgrim walks are a great way to ease into caminos.
Cosán na Naomh*
11mi / 18km
Cosán na Naomh, The Saint’s Road, can be found on the Dingle Peninsula and it’s a great pilgrimage alternative to the Dingle Way. This ancient pilgrimage route pre-dates Christian Ireland. It begins at Ventry Beach and ends at Ballybrack at the base of Mt. Brandon. This is a beautiful walk with epic coastline, mountains and ancient ruins.
Lough Derg Pilgrim Path
7mi / 12km
The Lough Derg pilgrimage takes place in County Donegal on Station Island, which is home to St. Patrick’s Purgatory (or Sanctuary). This pilgrim walk can be done in one day or as a 3-day pilgrimage involving fasting, praying and walking without shoes. The 3-day walk can only be walked from June 1 to August 15 but the 1-day walks are offered from May through September.
Turas Cholmcille
3.4mi / 5.4km
Also in County Donegal, Turas Cholmcille is a true Celtic experience meant to be walked barefoot, silent and with several rituals centered around ancient stones. This walk is only open to the public from June 9 to August 15, with June 9 being the optimal day since it’s the feast day
Rath to Dysert Pilgrim Path
5mi / 8km
This is an easy loop walk from St. Blathmac’s Church in Rath to St. Tola’s High Cross in Dysert. It can include a stop at Dysert Castle for refreshments, for those pilgrims who aren’t into complete suffering and sacrifice.
Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop
4mi / 7km
Another easy circular path, the Kilcommon Pilgrim Loop is simply a local path to the Kilcommon village church. It’s a lovely walk along a river and through forests (which is always a treat in Ireland).
Cnoc na dTobar*
5mi / 8km
Cnoc na dTobar is one of the sacred mountains of Ireland which was a pagan pilgrimage site long before Christianity arrived on the island. The walk begins near Cahersiveen and ascends to the summit, offering views of the Blasket Islands and a 19th century stations of the cross.
Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) Pilgrim Path
2.5mi / 4km
Sliabh Liag in County Donegal packs in a lot of scenery in a relatively short distance. This pilgrim path is a coastal hike with epic views that takes you past the remains of a chapel once connected with Saints Aedh Mac Bric and Assicus.
Mám Éan
1mi / 1.5km
Mám Éan, the Pass of the Birds, is a little-known pilgrim walk between mountains in the remote Connemara region. There is a tiny outdoor chapel and altar with a statue of St. Patrick. Due to its remote location this site was used as a secret outdoor church during the time when Catholicism was outlawed in Ireland.
What tour operators cover camino walks in Ireland?
Most of Ireland’s pilgrim paths can be walked with little to no assistance, but if you want someone to plan the trip for you or you prefer to walk with a group, here are our top choices for tour operators:
- Waterford Camino Tours offers small group and custom pilgrimage walks in Ireland with a focus on crafting unique multi-activity itineraries for a more spiritual experience
- Hillwalk Tours covers the Kerry Camino and St. Kevin’s Way in Ireland and focuses on self-guided trips.
- Journeying is a non-profit organization that has been leading small group pilgrimage tours since 1988. They provide a retreat-like experience with custom-designed routes created by a dedicated team of volunteers.
For more camino walks worldwide, search our site for pilgrimage to find companies that cover these routes or blog posts that we’ve written. Or filter by pilgrimage (under Special Category) if searching for companies.
Interested in Irish walking holidays but camino walks are not your cup of tea? Read about our experience inn to inn hiking in Ireland and see if it sounds like a better fit for you.
