Archaeological find shines light on ancient religious rituals

[rug]

Large pilgrimage route on island lost to folk memory has been found on Co Mayo island

Tue, Dec 24, 2013, 09:44
Lorna Siggins

A medieval pilgrimage “round”, or circuit, has been identified on the Mayo island of Caher, which archaeologists believe shines fresh light on religious practices in the west of Ireland up to 1,000 years ago.

Caher, a rocky outcrop lying between the southern tip of Clew Bay and Inishturk, marks the sea end of Bóthair na Naomh, the so-called saint’s road, up to the summit of Croagh Patrick and down towards the Atlantic.

A maritime pilgrimage comprising a circuit of the island takes place annually a fortnight after Reek Sunday, but recent fieldwork has identified an outer arc of altars or “leachts”, making up a second and larger pilgrimage circuit on the south and west sides of the island.

Some of these are now only faintly visible and their existence appeared to have been lost in local folk memory, after the island was abandoned in 1838, according to archaeologist Michael Gibbons.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/archaeological-find-shines-light-on-ancient-religious-rituals-1.1636852

[riverwalker]

1. Croagh Patrick

made that pilgrimage many years ago. Lots of loose rock, I brought my trekking poles and this was so long ago, no one knew what they were: "Hey, you forgot your skis! Where's the snow?"
But they got me to the top, it was magnificent.

[TexasProgresive]

2. When you made the pilgrimage were some pilgrims barefoot?

It seems to me that was the tradition. I can't imagine it but some are tougher than others.