Paddy Beag took us on a walk through the stations of the Turas CholmCille. We met at the Protestant church. Paddy opened the souterrain for all and sundry. Now there is a ladder to get you down into it – a big change from the past when you had to clamber up and down with the help of strong arms. Even though I have been in the souterrain many times before I never miss an opportunity to go into it again.
After the souterrain we walked the short distance to the first station, an iron-age cromlech that has been repurposed as a religious monument. Paddy started off in Irish but soon switched to English for the crowd who couldn’t understand him. He told us that at each station there were specific prayers said but three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys were said at every station. He also told us that at the first station each person decided their intention for doing the pilgrimmage – they made up their mind why they were doing it or for whom they were doing it.
We continued to the second station. This station is know as “Alt na nGlún” because you kneel down on a special flat rock. Here is where you publicly state your intention. There is another rock that you must use to bless yourself and kiss before passing it around your body three times. Then you have to walk around the station three times, which I did.
The larger group carried on, heading for Leaba CholmCille and the holy well. But I have seen those before and heard the stories that go with them so I headed back to Roarty’s to enjoy Christine’s chicken curry.
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