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Irish Examiner
23-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
'It's been very healing': Cork man's 170km walk raises over €19k for parental bereavement charities
Content advisory: this article deals with infant loss and parental bereavement. Each of us has lost someone we've loved — and felt the impact of their presence, no matter how brief, continue to resonate. Last week, Cork man Finbarr Buttimer, honouring the life of his daughter Nóra, set out on a journey to raise funds for the organisations that provided he and his fiancée with critical support when it was needed most. Trekking the full 170 kilometres between Cork city and Dingle, Co Kerry, Buttimer initially sought to raise €2000 for parental bereavement charities Féileacáin and FirstLight. As of Monday morning, the support and solidarity he's received from the wider community has seen that figure reach nearly ten times that amount, as he continues to document his journey on Instagram. "This is a walk to Dingle for my daughter, Nóra, who sadly passed away six months ago," Buttimer told the Irish Examiner on Friday. "She was a healthy baby, but when she was born, there were complications around her birth, and sadly, 12 days later, she passed away. "Over that six month period, my fiancée Mae and I have had to rebuild our lives, and the two charities that I've decided to raise for played a huge role in that. "The first one is FirstLight. They're a long-running charity, involved in providing crisis intervention and grief counselling for bereaved parents, at any age or any stage of their grief or of their loss, and they were there to help us with that immediate support, which was vital. " Féileacáin, then, has been like our community. They're another parental bereavement group who help with advocacy, who help create things like memory boxes, for example. "We have some mementoes of Nóra at home that Féilecáin have put together - a lock of her hair, and other very nice pieces that we really cherish, and remind us of her. "They also run a very active five-a-side soccer group for dads, run tournaments around the country, and for me personally, they've been an amazing source of strength and community, because I feel less alone. I feel like I'm with people who understand what the experience is like whenever I'm playing with them. "They run other groups as well, like pregnancy after loss groups, and support groups for children and families who have lost [loved ones]. There are so many other charities and groups who are also involved in this space, like Bumbleance, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, and LauraLynn." Finbarr Buttimer, under the Shandon Bells as his walk from Cork to Dingle got underway last week. For Finbarr, choosing to excur to Dingle from his hometown of Cork City was a matter of fulfilling a personal wish for his daughter. "It's a place that I would have gone on holidays a lot as a child growing up, and it's a place that I always wanted to bring Nóra, so I'll bring her with me in spirit. "The reason I'm doing a walk is because I like to do these long-distance walks; in 2022 I did the Via Francigena, the Camino from Canterbury in England to Rome, I did that over three months, then in 2023, I walked from Cork to Rosslare to raise money for Simon Community and the Nasc migrant rights centre in Cork. "So it felt right that, in order to mark Father's Day, to mark six months since Nóra's passing, that we would hold this event. And the response has been absolutely amazing." It might not have been Finbarr's first long-distance walk, but any such undertaking brings with it a certain degree of preparation and training, and this journey has been no exception. "I learned a lot about walking in Ireland from the trip to Rosslare. Having lightweight gear is important, having good shoes is important, and not carrying too much food or water is actually an important thing. "But then the other thing, obviously, is this isn't a typical walking trail. I did, beforehand, have to do a lot [of prep], I had to look at a lot of maps. I had to look at what roads are quietest, what times would have been quietest. "Also, I've been camping the whole way, and so at the first night, for example, I was relying on the kindness of strangers to allow me to camp in some farmer's field or in a forest somewhere. "A lovely couple, and I would like to mention them, Fiona and Brian on the Butter Road. They let me camp in their garden, they said, 'look, it's no problem', and gave me tea and cakes and everything. "It was so generous of them to see this random man show up, for them to give me that shelter there for the night." Moving out from the city and into the countryside has brought with it its own set of considerations, but also, helped set a tone for the weekend legs of Finbarr's journey, and helped bring his focus to the purpose of his excursion. "Once you get outside of the city, there's a lot of industrial and farm traffic. Once I got past Tower and onto the Butter Road and beyond, it became quieter, and as I came up by Bailinagree, one or two cars would pass every hour, then roads would turn into boreens, and boreens would turn into boreens with the green strip down the middle. "Then it became really idyllic Irish countryside, where I could focus less on having to stay in on the side of the road with cars going past, and I could look up around the landscape. It was like the Boggeragh mountains and Millstreet, and the reeks in the distance, Claragh mountain. "I think because of the rain earlier in June and the sunshine now, there's a real lushness to the landscape, and a lot of the hedgerows are in bloom. It's just unbelievably idyllic, and it's been very healing. "From that point of view. It's kind-of like a green bath, or, I don't know what the term is... we're surrounded by nature, and you feel a real sense of peace about you. "It's just a whole different perspective on on Ireland, really, and on the landscape. And it makes me appreciate it a whole lot more. "All along the way, I'm thinking of Nóra. The word 'féileacáin' means 'butterflies' [in Irish], and in Irish mythology, butterflies represent the souls of relatives that have passed, who have come to visit and reassure you that everything's okay. "I'm always seeing butterflies, and robins remind me of her as well, and they're all along the road, so I feel that she's with me, and I know that she'll be with me going forward in the walk and beyond." Finbarr Buttimer is undertaking a walk from Cork to Dingle to raise funds for Féileacáin and FirstLight, following the passing of his daughter Nora. By his calculations, Finbarr's walk was set to conclude by Tuesday of this week, and along the way, support has ranged from friends and family, to the charities involved, to a wider community that has been following his updates online and reaching out to show support and solidarity. "The response has been absolutely incredible. I'm incredibly moved when I think about it, because we see in the donation page the amount that we've raised, just that in and of itself, shows that hundreds of people are thinking about Nóra, they're thinking about me and Mae, and they want to show us their support. "These are all people we would have loved her to see, and people are reaching out to her by giving, that just means the world to us that so many people are thinking of her because she deserves that. "Those two causes... when I was in Millstreet the other day, I was in touch with FirstLight, and if the fundraiser were to end then, and half of the money were to go to FirstLight then, I think it was something like fifteen families could be provided for, with crisis intervention and psychology support. "To know that through Nóra, we can do good in the world is an incredible feeling, and it honours her memory. As parents, that's what our duty is now, going forward, is to is to honour her, and I feel that with this amazing support, we've been able to do that." The Walk to Dingle for Nóra fundraising page is still open on GoFundMe, staying open until Monday June 30. All funds raised will go directly to Féileacáin and FirstLight, charities that provide assistance to bereaved parents. Follow the last few legs of Finbarr's journey, as well as post-walk fundraising updates, at his Instagram page: @finbarrformerlybaz Special thanks to Julia Healy for her assistance with this article.
Irish Examiner
04-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Pilgrim trails have come full circle and are so popular now
A feature of our time has been that the ancient paths once footed by medieval pilgrims are having a renewed moment. Seeking meaning beyond materialism and recourse, for a time at least, to a less complicated way of living, increasing numbers are seeking the elusive butterfly of fulfilment and self-awareness by walking the Pilgrim Path to Canterbury, St Olav's Way in Norway and the Via Francigena to Rome. Above all else, however, modern day pilgrim walkers are discovering a New Jerusalem on the Camino of St James — a fishing net of paths all leading to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. Numbers completing this mystical Spanish trail have risen from fewer than 100 in 1967 to almost 500,000 in 2024 as increasing numbers of wayfarers heed the ageless call of a long walk to a place of sanctity. Until recently, few of those seeking a pilgrim walk in Europe would have considered Ireland as a possible destination, mainly because this country was believed to lack penitential trails. On the contrary, Ireland has a network of mystical paths and a vibrant pilgrim tradition, with all major routes long predating the Camino, some by up to 1,000 years. Throughout history, pilgrimage was an important devotional expression for Irish people with penitents journeying to Glendalough, Gougane Barra, Croagh Patrick, Mount Brandon, and Lough Derg. Later, during the 19th and 20th centuries, when the Catholic Hierarchy emphasised more formal in-church worship, interest in the Irish pilgrim paths evaporated and they became overgrown and largely forgotten. St Declan's Way is a 115-kilometre route reputed to have been walked by St Declan when he travelled to Waterford to meet with St Patrick. Pictures: John G O'Dwyer It is sometimes said that the past never completely dies but eventually comes to revisit us. And so it is that Irish history has come a full circle; in the 21st century people are again taking to these ancient tracks on about 500 kilometres of fully waymarked trails that follow the steps of penitents past. The pilgrim journey is, however, vastly different these days, with little overt emphasis on the penance and prayer of former years. Instead, those who follow our ancient spiritual trails are generally a casual and relaxed bunch — more interested in the benefits from the walk itself than reaching the penitential destination. Unlike penitents past, many will have their backpack moved ahead each day, while none will take on the arduous task of footing it back to the starting point, as medieval pilgrims were obliged to do. And unlike hikers, who generally prefer to explore pristine environments with the minimum of human influence, pilgrim walkers are happier with the well-trodden trails followed by past generations with more emphasis on history, mindfulness and engaging with the surroundings than on the religious origins of the route. St Declan's Way To some, pilgrim walking may seem just another form of hiking, but for most participants, it hides a quest for deeper meaning, which is rarely found among general trekkers. As the modern expressions of spirituality becomes more informal and individual, pilgrimage is now as much a voyage of personal renewal as a physical journey. With the decline of formalised religious practice, consumerism has increasingly become a value that we use to give purpose to our lives, but what do we replace it with when our physical needs have been satisfied? The growing numbers who are, once again, following the ancient tradition of a pilgrim walk are proof of a renewed desire for higher meaning that the rampant materialism of our age leaves largely unsatisfied. While not presented the same challenge as mountain climbing, pilgrim walking, nevertheless, takes us out of our comfort zone, and in doing so, enables us to know ourselves better. Footing these ageless trails not only offers this opportunity for self-discovery, it also provides a link to the past and provides the feelgood experience of bringing additional visitor spend to rural communities. Since pilgrim paths, in the main, follow routes through populated areas they also expose us to chance encounters with local people which are rare for those visiting on fully packaged holiday experiences. Great Irish Pilgrim Journeys by John G O'Dwyer In my new book titled, Great Irish Pilgrim Journeys, I describe the paths followed by medieval Irish pilgrims both here and abroad, such as The Celtic Camino, The Pilgrim Passport Journey, St Declan's Way and many other well-walked trails. Accompanied by detailed maps and photographs of the landscape along the paths, the walks described take anywhere from four hours to eight days to complete. In this way, I believe the book offers a pilgrim walk for everyone and will act as a complete resource for Irish people and overseas visitors wishing to discover the rich history of the ancient pilgrim trails trodden by our forefathers. Great Irish Pilgrim Journeys is now available from bookshops nationwide and the publishers at
BBC News
30-04-2025
- BBC News
Nun's hope for new Pope after 1,200m pilgrimage
A nun who is walking 1,200 miles (1,931km) on a pilgrimage to Rome said she hopes there will be a new Pope elected by the time she Elizabeth Carr, from Newark in Nottinghamshire, began her walk of the Via Francigena on 6 March, and is currently at Lausanne in is due to land in the Italian capital on 16 July, and said she is "a little ahead" of cardinals set to meet in Vatican City to elect a new Pope next week, she said she hopes the new leader of Catholics honours the legacy of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday. 'Spiritually enriched' Sister Carr, 50, is raising money for the Newark Emmaus Trust charity, which helps young homeless said she watched Pope Francis' funeral over the weekend, as hundreds of thousands of mourners poured into Rome to pay their respects, and said the late leader will leave a lasting legacy of kindness, especially to people in need."Having chosen the name Francis, it just speaks volumes to me really, that he had a great love for the poor," she said."He made himself accessible, that's the main thing I'll remember about him."I do feel like he's left a great love for people, and a great openness to all sorts of people."Sister Carr said she will soon be making her way down through the mountain passes of Switzerland into adapted to the rigorous demands of the trek, she said she has been "spiritually enriched in many, many ways" during the pilgrimage, and is praying for a smooth end to her journey."We're going much better than we were at the beginning in terms of the feet - the blisters, thank God, [but] the pack is still pretty heavy," she said."It's just been amazing to do this walk - each day is a grace."I have said to myself 'we'll try and get there' [on time], and it's been worth it even if I have to stop at some point, but hopefully we'll get there."I really am hoping that they will have elected a new Pope by then, and I'll get a chance to place myself in his shadow."
The Independent
29-04-2025
- The Independent
Five of the best pilgrimage routes to walk this summer
The UK and Ireland offer various pilgrimage routes for walking enthusiasts, providing both physical and mental health benefits. The South West Coast Path, England's longest national trail, stretches 1,000km and follows the coastline of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset. The Stonehenge Ancient Day Pilgrimage offers a shorter 11km route exploring Neolithic sites and the surrounding landscape. The Via Francigena, a 2,000km path from Canterbury to Rome, includes a 31km section in England featuring historical ruins and art installations. Ireland boasts St. Patrick's Way, a 132km trail marking key sites related to the patron saint, and St. Declan's Way, a 115km route with historical significance.
The Independent
28-04-2025
- The Independent
The UK and Ireland's best pilgrimage routes to walk this year
Putting one foot in front of the other is a simple process with the power to relieve some of life's most complex and complicated problems. For thousands of years, religious devotees and spiritual pilgrims have hiked long distances on personal journeys that carry them much further than the kilometres covered on a map. The benefits have been medically proven. Walking increases endorphin production and reduces cortisol levels, with studies showing a 12% improvement in mood after just 20 minutes of walking. According to NHS England, 150 minutes of weekly walking reduces depression symptoms by 30%. The British Heart Foundation, meanwhile, suggests that that consistent walking can lead to a 25% reduction in coronary heart disease risk. Throughout May, there's a push to get people out on trails as part of National Walking Month. But at any time of year there are coastal cliff walks, cross-country rambles and mountain stomps to enjoy. Find fulfilment along some of these worthy routes. South West Coast Path England's longest national trail is the subject of a new film due for release at the end of this month. Based on the best-selling memoir by Raynor Winn, The Salt Path follows the story of a couple who lose their home and embark on a long-distance walk with only a few pennies in their pockets. It took them two summers to complete the 1,000km South West Coast Path, which follows the coastline of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset. Those with a bit more cash to spare can complete the full journey on a new 56-night itinerary from Minehead to Poole. How: Macs Adventure offers the 56-night Full South West Coast Path tour from £7,469pp, including B&B accommodation and luggage transfers. Visit Not every pilgrimage route requires strong legs and an even tougher resolve. In the space of less than 24 hours, hikers can reflect on the ancient relationship between land and the cosmos by following a path along sacred terrain connected to Stonehenge. Starting at Woodhenge, a Neolithic timber circle aligned with moon cycles and ancestral rites, the 11km trail weaves through lesser-known sacred sites and ends at the Cuckoo Stone. Pass the King Barrow Ridge Bronze Age burial mounds, where east-facing tombs are illuminated by the rising sun, and follow a ceremonial route linked to the River Avon, which has been used for more than 5,000 years. How: Stay at country inn The Great Bustard, where rooms starts from £200 per night including breakfast. Visit The Via Francigena Travel through fields, farmland, chapels and castles to experience part of the Via Francigena (The Road to France), a 2,000km path from Canterbury to Rome. Running to Dover on the south coast, this 31km section of the trail is packed with historical ruins, including former 13th century inn La Maison Dieu. Following major restoration work, the Grade II listed building opens to the public this month for the first time in history. As part of the new North Downs Art Trail, several art installations have been placed along the route, inspired by their surroundings. How: Hope Walking offers a guided one-day excursion from £20pp. Visit St Patrick's Way Key sites relating to Ireland's patron saint form the backbone of this 82-mile signed walking trail which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Starting at the Navan Centre in Armagh, walk along paths slicing through dramatic landscapes before reaching the apostle's final resting place at Down Cathedral in Downpatrick. A literal highlight is a section traversing the 12 peaks of the Mourne Mountains – although trails are reassuringly easy to follow. Walkers can collect stamps in a special Pilgrim's Passport which includes a map of the trail to collect a Certificate of Achievement. How: The Natural Adventure Company offers a nine-day St Patrick's Way self-guided walking tour from £1,045, including luggage transfer and accommodation in local guest houses. Flights to Belfast extra. Visit Although little known outside Ireland, a 1,500-year-old pilgrim route has the potential to be as popular as the Via Francigena or even Spain's Camino de Santiago following plans for major investment. For centuries, devotees have walked in honour of St Declan, an evangelist famous for spreading gospel teachings to residents of Ireland. Starting in his birthplace of Ardmore in Waterford, the 115km route continues through the Knockmealdown Mountains to the Rock of Cashel, where he was said to have paid homage to St Patrick.
