Ireland West Camino - The Way of the Sun
A newly launched and restored Irish Camino: The Ireland West Camino - The Way of the Sun is a temporary working name for the revitalization of a ±3,500-year-old Irish walking pilgrimage route that extends from the mouth of the Boyne River on the Irish Sea near Drogheda, west across the entirety of Ireland, and through Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick. The route has historically been referred to as the Tóchar Phádraig (early Christian era) or Slí Assail (pre-Christian era). The Slí Assail is one of the five ancient roads that connected the extremities of ancient Ireland's sacred ceremonial and royal centers with the Hill of Tara. A section of the High Kings Road, or Slí Mhidhluachra, connects Downpatrick in Northern Ireland through the Mourne Mountains along its ancient path to Drogheda.
In short, the Ireland West Camino, beginning in Downpatrick (N. Ireland), is the key Irish Camino that runs down the east coast of Ireland along the Irish Sea to Drogheda, turning west on the Slí Assail (same as "The Way of the Sun" coined by Irish author Anthony Murphy) at Drogheda to Rathcroghan (Cruachan Aí) and on to Croagh Patrick (also known as the Reek or Cruachán Aigle) - the holiest mountain in Ireland.
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The 540-km (336-mile) pilgrim's path can be traced back to the Slí Assail, both a medieval pilgrimage in Ireland as well as a Bronze Age pilgrimage way (or older, some oral sources have mentioned as old as 4,500 years) that passes hundreds of sacred sites in County Meath, County West Meath, County Cavan, County Longford, County Roscommon, County Sligo, and County Mayo. The extension into Northern Ireland on the High Kings Road, or Slí Mhidhluachra, extends the route into County Down, County Armagh, and County Louth. The Christian and pre-Christian Tóchar (bog road) winds by cashels, holy wells, fairy hills, standing stones, ancient ruins, castles, dolmens, cairns, abbeys, loughs, forests, bogs, and other gorgeous mystical sites, ending in newly proposed UNESCO geopark in the Connemara: Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark. You can listen to a radio broadcast from the Tommy Marren show from September 27, 2026, to hear more about the deeper "why" behind the revitalization of this route or watch the documentary.
According to legend, this pilgrim's path was walked by St. Patrick in the 5th century AD, though it had been utilized as a pre-Christian pilgrim's path and royal road in Connacht as far back as the Bronze Age. The Christian utilization of the Tóchar Phádraig and the Slí Assail is thus 500 years older than the Camino de Santiago, though fell into disuse post-Cromwell era. The incredible Celtic revival helped to restore the first section (1/2-day walk) of the pilgrimage beginning in 1903 with the combined efforts of Fr Michael McDonald, Fr. John Healy, and Fr Angelus - establishing a 7km pilgrimage that yearly attracts over 100,000 pilgrims and hikers. The pilgrim's path was further extended in the late 1980's by Fr Frank Fahey to a length of 35km and beginning at Ballintubber Abbey. The establishment of the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail in 2009 added an additional 28km to the restoration of the tóchar, bringing the current trail start to the village of Balla (and now to Knock Shrine), and providing an alternate route to the top of Croagh Patrick. The first four days in Northern Ireland follow Alan Graham's St. Patrick's Way (diverging at Newry), while the entire northern segment (leg 1) traces the ancient High Kings Road (Slí Mhidhluachra) to Drogheda.
The Ireland West Camino consists of three major legs totaling 540-km. It can be walked in entirety, depending on pace, in 22-30+ days. The three legs, and their historic Irish names from the Dindshenchas (a collection of medieval Irish legends and place-name lore), are as follows, including start and stop locations as well as distances:
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Slí Mhidhluachra (Leg 1)... Downpatrick to Drogheda (105.4 miles or 169.6 km)
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Slí Assail (Leg 2 )... Drogheda to Rathcroghan (121.9 miles or 196.1 km)
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Slí Assail nó Tóchar Phádraig (Leg 3)... Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick (103.9 miles or 167 km)
The entire 540-km route was walked in 10-17 February of 2024 and 12-30 March of 2025 for the first time in total since possibly as far back as the 16th or 17th century. Additionally, a multi-faith group of 21 pilgrims walked the 3rd leg (Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick) in entirety again setting out on July 21st of 2024 and reached the Reek on Garland Sunday (July 28). A third group of pilgrim's walked the entirety of the Slí Assail (legs 2 and ) from September 12-30, 2025. We will walk the entire lenghth for the first time in almost 400 year in September 2026, from Downpatrick in County Down, to Croagh Patrick in County Mayo, for +540-km.
Our team's mission to help restore this sacred pilgrim's way on behalf of future generations of pilgrims from around the world and the people of Ireland. A documentary, entitled Ireland West Camino: A Pilgrimage Reborn was released in May of 2025. Currently it is viewable only a at pre-premiere screenings but will become available for streaming in the late fall or winter of 2025.
If you are interested in more information, please use the contact form below. Geospatial files are now available for field utilization or desktop browsing. Use the contact form to apply to join us for our pilgrimage in September of 2026.
Let’s Walk Together
Get in touch so we can share fellowship along the Way in 2026 (in September), for more information on walking on your own , or to get involved.
More information:
Introduction to Route
The YouTube video on the left was filmed on site while walking the revitalized Ireland West Camino from February 2024 and March of 2025. The video provides a excellent coverage of the enitree route. This is for the 27-day pilgrimage route beginning in Downpatrick and ending at Croagh Patrick.
Inaugural Pilgrimage
The 3.5-minute YouTube video was produced after 20 pilgrims walked from Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick for the first time for Reek Sunday at the end of July in 2024. This is also for the 9-day pilgrimage winding through St. Attracta's parish and Lough Gara.
Counties that the Ireland West Camino (The Way of the Sun) passes through include County Down, County Armagh, County Louth, County Meath, County Westmeath, County Cavan, County Longford, County Roscommon, County Sligo, and County Mayo.
Communities, villages, towns, and cities that the Ireland West Camino (The Way of the Sun) passes through include beginning in Downpatrick, Dundrum, Newcastle, Attical, Rostrevor, Newry, Carrickdale, Dundalk, Dromiskin, Castlebellingham, Annagassan, Clogherhead, Termonfeckin, Drogheda, Slane, Navan, Donaghpatrick, Teltown, Kells, Loughcrew, Ross, Finnea, Granard, Longford, Cloondara, Termonbarry, Strokestown, Tulsk, Rathcroghan, Ballinameen, Monasteraden, Ballaghadereen, Kilmovee, Aghamore, Knock, Facefield, Balla, Ballintubber Abbey, Aghagower, Boheh, Murrisk, Westport.
Significant sites of antiquity, megalithic, or sacred sites that the Ireland West Camino (The Way of the Sun) passes includes: St Patrick's Grave, Downpatrick Cathedral, St Patrick's Centre, the Mound of Down, Ballynoe Stone Circle, Skreen Castle, Lismahon motte, Dundrum castle, St Donnards Church, Murlough Nature Reserve, Donard Forest, Glen River, the Mournes, Mourne Mountains, Slieve Donard, Sliabh Slangha, Slieve Commdagh, Slieve Beg, Slieve Corragh, Mourne Wall, Slieve na Glogh, Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve Doan, Lough Shannagh, Eagle Mountain, Rostrevor Forest, St Bronagh's Holy Well, Kilbroney, Kilbroney standing stone, St Bronagh's bell, Fairy Glen, Kilbroney Park, Holm Oak, St Mary's Star of the Sea, Carlingford Lough, Irish Sea, Lough Grianan, Greenan Wood, Newry Mass Rock, Cathedral of St Patrick and St Colman, Victoria's Lock, Fanthom Forest, Newry River, Newry Canal, Flagstaff Viewpoint, Clontygara Cairn, Clontygara stone circle, Clontygara wood, Ravensdale Park, Ravensdale Stone Circle, Ravensdale waterfall, Ravensdale megalithic tomb, Kilnasaggart pillar stone, Myory castle, Lissacashel, St Brigid's Oratory, Cofracloughty Cairn, Tievecrom forest, St Brigid's Shrine Dundalk, Lia Lingadon standing stone, Dundalk Bay, Dun Dealgan motte, Tra na Sagart, St Oliver Plunket Church, Dromiskin round tower, Lisnarran ringfort, Termonfeckin Castle, Baltray standing stones, Inbher Colptha, mouth of the Boyne, Boyne Camino, Boyne River, Lady's Finger, Maiden Tower, Amergin's Mound, St Peters Church, St Mary's Priory, Battle of the Boyne, Dowth Manor, Dowth Hall, Dowth Castle, Dowth, Dowth Abbey, Newgrange, Knowth, Hill of Slane, St Erc's Hermitage, Slane Castle, Fennor Castle, Boyne bluffs, Rock Wood, Cruicetown Wood, Cocker's Wood, Stackallen Weir, WWII pillboxes, WWII lookouts, Boyne Ramparts Heritage Walk, Boyne Camino, Ardmulchan, Dunmoe Castle, Rath Airthir, the Knockauns, Baile Orthai Seipeal, Emlagh standing stones, St Patrick's Holy Well, Market cross, St Colmcille's House, Kells round tower, Tobar Ban, St Colmcille's Well, Spire of Lloyd, Castlekeeran church, Castlekeeran ogham stone, St Ciernnan's Well, Patrickstown standing stone, Patrickstown hill, St Patricks chair, Sliabh na Calliagh, Hill of the Calliach, Hill of the witch, Cairn T, Sliabh Rua, Carnbane West, Loughcrew, Lough Bane, Lough Doo, drumlins, Mullaghmeen Forest Walk, Mullaghmeen Hill, Ross Castle, Lough Sheelin, Caislean an Tochair, Finnea Bridge, Finnea star-shaped fort, River Inny, Granard Motte and bailey, Our Lady's Grotto Granard, St Mary's, Lis Rath, Coolagherty church, Carrickglass estate, Carrickglass demense, St Mel's Cathedral, Royal Canal, National Famine Way, St Patricks of Kilnashee, Shannon River, Royal Canal Greenway, Cloondara Abbey, Church of St Anne, Scramoge River, Rath, fairy forts, Strokestown Park House & Gardens, St Eithne & Fidelma Church, Tulsk Abbey, Ogulla Holy Well, tochar, Daithni standing stone, Reilig na Ri, Oweynagat, Cave of the Cats, Raht Tarbh ringfort, Rath cruachan, Rathcroghan, Rath Beag Ringfort, St Attracta's, Killaraght, Lough Gara, crannog, St Aiden's church, St Attracta's Well, Clogher stone fort, Chapel of the Four Altars, Edmondstown House, Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Cashel, Crozier holy well and ogham stone, Bullaun stone, Na Trí Umar Bheannaith, The Three Holy Water Fonts, Killericin, Urlaur Abbey, Urlaur Lough, Celtic cross Aghamore, Knock Shrine, Knock Apparition shrine, Basilica of Our Lady of Knock, St Cronan's, Balla round tower, Balla oratory, Balla Fairy forest, Luna Mor, Clogher Heritage Centre, Dbhach an Chóra, Dancora baths, Tobar na naoi-nInion, Well of the Nine Maidens, Cloch Phadraig, Owen na nAille, Lough na gCeann, Pollhondra Cave, Creggaun 'a Damhsa, Hill of the Dancing, Fairy Hill, Aille Caves, McPhilbin's castle, Aghagower round tower, Aghagower cemetery, Reilig Chadh Ghobhair, Lankil standing stone, Lanmore standing stone, Boheh Stone, Croagh Patrick, The Reek, Cruach Phádraig, Cruachán Aigle, Clew Bay, Connemara, Connacht, Ulster, Leinster, and Joyce Country West Lakes UNESCO.
Jeremy Schewe, geospatial ecologist and Ireland West Camino restoration lead, has been voluntarily helping to remap this route and build the Field Maps mapping application to allow pilgrims to walk this route since January of 2023 with the help of the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail team, Clogher Environmental Group, Unaka Environmental, and many more.