Ireland West Camino - The Way of the Sun

The Tóchar Phádraig is a ±3,500-year-old Irish walking pilgrimage, now being called the Ireland West Camino, beginning in Downpatrick (N. Ireland) running down the east coast along the Irish Sea to Drogheda, turning west on the "Way of the Sun" at Drogheda to Rathcroghan (Cruachan Aí) and on to Croagh Patrick (also known as the Reek or Cruachán Aigle)- the holiest mountain in Ireland. The 540-km (336-mile) pilgrim's path can be traced back to 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 Down, County Armagh, County Louth, County Meath, County West Meath, County Cavan, County Longford, County Roscommon, County Sligo, and County Mayo. The Christian and pre-Christian Tóchar (bog road) winds by cashels, holy wells, fairy hills, standing stones, ancient ruins, abbeys, loughs, forests, bogs, and gorgeous mystical sites, ending in newly proposed UNESCO geopark in the Connemara: Joyce Country & Western Lakes Geopark.

​

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 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), 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).

​

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.

1. ​Leg 1 - Downpatrick to Drogheda (105.4 miles or 169.6 km)

2. Leg 2 - Downpatrick to Rathcroghan (121.9  miles or 196.1 km)

3. 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).  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 download for both the Northern and Southern routes from Rathcroghan to Croagh Patrick.  Use the contact form to apply to join us for our pilgrimage in September of 2026.  You can also click on the links below the YouTube video below on your smartphone to download the ArcGIS Field Maps application and the link for the routes.  Route maps are currently only available via ArcGIS Field Maps until further notice.  Failte Ireland will be taking over the mapping and data management in 2026 or 2027.

Let’s Walk Together