Government Minister on pilgrimage to holy island

Government Minister on pilgrimage to holy island in Clew Bay


Áine Ryan

A GOVERNMENT Minister joined the hundreds of pilgrims who sailed in a flotilla of boats across Clew Bay to holy island, Caher, for the annual pilgrimage at the weekend.
Whether Green Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan was praying for the survival of the embattled coalition government is a matter of speculation.
Mr Ryan and his family were among up to 500 penitents who sailed from Galway island, Inishbofin, for the August 15 Mass.
Weather conditions were idyllic when from midday on Sunday, Clare Island ferries, Rigid Inflatables (RIBS), currachs and yachts travelled from all over Clew Bay and along the Connemara coastline for this ancient annual pilgrimage, which was once part of the Croagh Patrick penitent circuit.
Barely one mile in length and situated six miles to the south-west of Clare Island and three miles east of Inishturk, Caher island – shaped like a giant sliver of cake – holds strong associations with St Patrick. According to lore, the Tóchar PhΡdraig pilgrim path, originally a pagan chariot route, led to this holy island through a tunnel under the sea.
Caher is among the significant holy islands strewn around the coastline which contain important early Christian monastic and hermitage settlements and cross-slabs dating from the 5th-8th centuries. Nowadays it is used by the farmers of Inishturk for grazing sheep. In recent years the pilgrimage has been renewed, largely through the commitment of the Inishturk islanders.
“This year’s Mass was particularly meaningful because it was such a beautiful calm and sunny day with the panoramic scenery so spectacular. There was nothing artificial in sight. Even though there was such huge numbers there was total silence for the ceremony,” said Inishturk native, Mary Agnes O’Malley.
First time visitor and celebrant, Father Karl Burns, a curate in Westport, believes the pilgrimage will continue to grow.
“I realise that weather conditions are important but the Inishturk islanders are very committed to renewing and developing this important pilgrimage. It was such a beautiful day to celebrate the Eucharist at such an old monastic site,” Father Burns said.   
While the many visitors and tourists simply attended the Mass and had their picnics, the Inishturk islanders continue the practise of praying at each ‘holy station’ and always return home with holy water from St Patrick’s well. Some believe miraculous cures can be achieved by lying overnight in St Patrick’s bed, or Leaba PhΡdraig.
The island has no slipways or piers, which means that visitors are ferried onto one of its beaches by currach or punt from the larger fishing boats and ferries.
According to Dr Peter Gill, a resident of  Clare Island: “It was the inaccessibility and remoteness of Caher, as in the cases of Inishmurray, the Inishkeas, High Island and Rathlin O’Beirne, that first attracted monastic settlers.”
“I understand it was the Coptic emphasis on hardship and asceticism that influenced the remote situation of these settlements. In each case there was a dedicated staging point on the mainland from where the founder of the settlement was reputed to have sailed.
“In the case of Caher it was at Silver Strand near Louisburgh and not at any of the harbours that are used nowadays,” Peter Gill said.