Less well known than St Patrick, St Colmcille brought Christianity to the north-west corner of Ireland and the area is named, and its annual pilgrimage held, in his honour. The pilgrimage at Glencolmcille takes place on the on the night of June 9th, starting after sundown. Pilgrims cover a 5km route, with 15 stations where rituals must be observed, and complete their journey before sunrise. The pilgrimage route is rich in megalithic remains, some dating back more that 5000 years, and it is believed that the current pilgrimage occurs on a site where pagan ritual was commonly observed, indeed some of the structures that act as stations on the route are certainly pre-Christian.
Address:
Glencolmcille
