ROUTE: Faughart to Dundalk

by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps

• Total Distance (approx): 6 miles, 9.6km
• Terrain: Paved: Minor roads (L-roads), sometimes on pavement on more major routes. Grassy/sometimes muddy: Meadow/Farmland.
• Start: Faughart Graveyard/Well
• Accommodation:   Dundalk

Glen Gat House (042 9337938), www.Glengathouse.com, Email: glengat@gmail.com Lismar B&B (042 9357246), www.lismarhouse.com, Email: info@lismarhouse.com

Gallery Images

Route

Directions WALKING ROUTE: approx 6 miles 9km. Exit FAUGHART Shrine car park and turn right and continue walking straight. After .5 miles take the turn right signposted (there is a broken Faughart Community sign half hidden by a hedge at the turn) towards KILCURRY on the L7108. At O’Hagan’s pub crossroads continue straight across towards KILCURRY. At the crossroads in KILCURRY (you will see the Kilcurry Church where Brigid’s Relic is housed ahead on your left and the Big Tree just before it.) continue straight across (still the L 7108). There will be a sign for Dundalk to the left and Armagh to the right, you will be walking straight ahead towards the Church. After 2 miles (from Faughart) at a Y junction with a chevron road sign veer left. After approx .4 miles you will walk under the M1 bypass overhead bridge. After .3 mile at Barleyfields turn right at the red bricked bungalow. Continue on over the stone bridge at the Castletown River through Toberone townland. At the T junction (you will see Fatima Church ahead) turn right, then immediately left at Mullhollands shop onto the Milltown Road (passing the Dundalk Rugby Football Club). At the next crossroads cross the Castleblayney road straight through to Mount Avenue which is signposted the Castletown Motte near Cuchulain’s Mound on the right hand side. At the REDUCE SLOW sign turn right to the entrance to SALLY COX’S DEERPARK. Walking across her land which is part of the ancient pathway and holds the sacred healing stream of Brigid. Exit at the Carrick Road and turn left to walk into DUNDALK to Glengat House B&B. Map

Getting to the Start Point – Faughart

If you are travelling by public transport, we recommend catching a taxi from Dundalk to Faughart, see phone numbers below. On our organised pilgrimage, we will arrange lifts from Dundalk to Faughart.

Local Taxi Numbers

Dundalk Taxi Tel: 042 93 777777 and 042 93 333333.

Driving from the North

Head south on N1 toward Exit 18 (Sign posted for Dún Dealgan Thuaidh/Dundalk North/N52/Cairlinn/Carlingford/R173/Baile Mhic Scanláin/Ballymascanlan) Take this exit and at the first Roundabout (Major Hollows Roundabout) take the 2nd exit onto R132 At the next Roundabout (Ballymacscanlan Roundabout) take the 4th exit off this roundabout on to the N52 and drive over the bridge. Follow the road for 1.4km until you arrive at a T junction. Turn right at the T junction and you will see a car park on your left for St. Brigid’s Well and Shrine.

Driving from the South

Take M1 ​to exit 18. Take the first left turn on to L71000. Drive 1 mile (1.6 km), Faughart Shrine is on the Left Hand Side. GPS Co-ordinates Discovery Map 29: J 049 127 Longitude: 6° 23′ 52″ W Latitude: 54° 3′ 11″ N View Larger Map

Getting to the End Point – Dundalk

By Bus from Dublin

Bus Eireann’s 100X service departs from Custom House Quay on the hour. It arrives into Dundalk’s Long Walk bus station. Get off at the second last stop in Dundalk, opposite McDonalds. Glengat B&B (which we usually use on Brigid’s Way) is only one minute walk away. View Glengat on Google Maps www.buseireann.ie The Matthews bus service departs hourly from Parnell Street. It terminates in Dundalk at The Marshes Shopping Centre. You can get a taxi from the shopping centre to Glengat B&B or walk for about 15 minutes. View Glengat on Google Maps www.commuter.matthews.ie

By Bus from Dublin Airport

Bus Eireann’s 100X bus departs at 20 minutes past every hour. It arrives into Dundalk’s Long Walk bus station. Get off at the second last stop in Dundalk, opposite McDonalds. Glengat B&B is only one minute walk away. View Glengat on Google Maps www.buseireann.ie

By Train from Dublin

Departs from Connolly Station. www.irishrail.ie

By Train from Belfast

The Enterprise train service leaves from Belfast Central rail station approximately every 2 hours and takes 75 minutes. www.translink.co.uk Trains arrive into Dundalk’s Clarke station from where it is a 10 minute walk into Dundalk town. Glengat B&B is about a 5 minute walk away. View Glengat on Google Maps www.irishrail.ie There is no convenient bus service from Belfast to Dundalk.

Travel From Airports near Belfast

Flights arrive into George Best Belfast City airport and into Aldergrove, Belfast International Airport. Both these airports have bus services which bring you into Belfast city centre. (Airport express 600 bus from George Best Airport and the Express 300 bus from Aldergrove). www.translink.co.uk From there, take a taxi to Belfast Central railway station and follow the instructions above.

Driving from the South

Most routes are via Dublin and the M50. Follow signs for the North and Belfast. Leave the M50 at Junction 3 for the M1. Remain on the M1 until Exit 16 signed Dundalk South. When you leave the motorway take the 3rd exit on the roundabout for Dundalk town . Stay in left lane until you reach a large junction; the Xerox building is on the right, with the Crown Plaza Hotel on the left. Turn left at this junction for Dundalk town centre. You will go through 3 sets of small lights – 1 at a college – 1 at a hospital and 1 just before going over a bridge. When you go through the 3rd lights and cross the bridge prepare to turn left. The Glen Gat is ahead on the corner on the right.

Driving from the North (via Belfast)

Take the M1 out of Belfast and follow the signage for Dublin. This will involve coming off the M1 at junction 8 and coming onto the A1 (still signposted Dublin, the South) via a series of roundabouts. Remain on the A1 (which becomes the N1 when it crosses the border) until Junction 18, signposted Dundalk North. Follow the signs to take you into Dundalk town centre. You will pass the Greyhound stadium on your left and a few minutes later, a Lidl on your right. Get into the right hand lane and take a right hand turn at the second set of lights. This road will bring you into the town centre.

Driving from Monaghan, Enniskillen, Sligo and Cavan

Drive through Castleblaney on to the N53 until you come to Dundalk.

Additional Information

For information about the Dundalk area, contact the Dundalk Tourist Office

ROUTE: Ardee to Slane

by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps

• Total Distance (approx): (12 miles 19km)
• Terrain: Paved: Minor roads (L-roads), sometimes on pavement on more major routes.
• Start: Ardee
• Accommodation:  Slane

Slane Farm Hostel, (042 9884985), www.slanefarmhostel.ie, Email: info@slanefarmhostel.ie

Gallery

Route

Directions

Turn right out of the Meeting of the Ford car park.  Walk straight to the end of the town & at the crossroads turn right & walk by the church past ‘MediaSpa’. Turn left before the bridge after approx 300m. (at the ‘Nearbuy’ shop). Walk straight through the Housing estate & at the last house veer right & to a downwards past fields.

This is the L1264(3) a long straight road to Slane.

You will pass many crossroads, continue straight past:

Ballapousta. Stop to look if possible at the beautiful stained glass windown of Brigid on the right handside aisle.

Smarmore;

Grangegeeth; passing the derelict Grangegeeth Inn Pub on your left. Continue straight.

At 14km there is a crossroads with a Famine Stone on the left & a red brick cottage on the right.

Continue straight onto the N2 into Slane Village. Note the turn right up to the Hill of Slane for later when we will have Ceremony there from 5-6pm.

Walk down into, relax & enjoy this very picturesque & historic village. The bridge at the end of the village over the River Boyne (Boann) is spectacular (we’ll be driving by it on the way to Newgrange Lodge later).

Getting to the Start Point – Ardee

Check out Bus times from http://www.buseireann.ie

ROUTE: Slane to Tara

by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps

• Total Distance (approx): 14 miles, 22.5 Kms
• Terrain: Paved: Minor roads (L-roads), sometimes on pavement on more major routes.
• Start: Slane
  • River Boyne
  • Newgrange (optional)
  • Skryne Castle
• Accommodation:  Tara (2 Nights)

Tara House Accommodation (046 9078248) www.tarahouseaccommodation.ie, Email: info@tarahouseaccommodation.ie

Gallery

Route

WALKING ROUTE (14 miles 22.5kms)

We will meet at Slane Farm Hostel entrance.

We will walk through the village of Slane to the River Boyne and cross the picturesque bridge and take the first turn right upwards at the yellow N-02 0600 sign and continue straight on this picturesque winding country road. Look back through the hedgerows to see the Hill of Slane in the distance. As you continue on your right hand side you will see a large Mound in farmland. We believe this to be Thurstianstown Motte on the Brigid’s Way Cygnus Alignment.

At the next T junction marked the Taín Trail turn right. Continue straight on this winding L1600 country road. Eventually it curves to the right at a row of stone cottages on the left &

Beauparc Station on the right. Continue along this winding country L road.

You will cross over a humped back bridge. Following along at Hayestown, you will see a Topaz garage and shop on your right at a cross-roads signed for Ard Mulchan church (4.2mile, 7km from Slane).

Continue straight on this road walking uphill. After the crest of the hill there is a short plateau, then a further short climb. Look sharp right here for 2 rusty gates and an ivy covered hidden wall, signalling Farmer David Carey’s field. He has given us permission for our picnic lunch in the field, known as Dean Hill, which has a trigonometry post at the top and a fine view over the county. Do check to see if there are animals in the field beforehand.

Continue walking on the same road until you reach a Y junction at a cream coloured house by the Finnegan and McGovern Bar Furniture sign, turn left and continue straight on this road. You will pass a crossroads marked Navan and Slane, continue walking straight ahead.

Follow this road uphill, until you come to a T junction at a cream coloured house. This area is called Realtoge. Turn left here, walk downhill 0.5 miles to the next T junction at Brownstown House (carved into the pillar) and turn right here. Follow this road approx 0.5miles cross straight over the Kentstown – Navan R153 road onto the L5053 road and walk along for approx 0.5miles.

Go straight through the crossroads signed Duleek Trim & also through the next cross roads which is beside a castle ruin. Continue on this road until you see Walterstown Church in front.

Turn right at Walterstown Church for SKREEN. Follow this road for several miles until you come to the ‘5 roads’ known as ‘the Green’ where there is a very large mast in a field on the left hand side and a sign for Skreen 1km. Here you take the second right hand turn onto a beautiful small country road.

When you reach Fox’s pub at the next cross-road, turn right here and follow the steep road upwards to SKREEN Castle ruin and Mrs O’s pub. Stop for a welcome rest here.

Now walk left here downhill veering right and continue straight on this L500 road, until you cross over the road bridge over the M3 motorway.

Stay on this road until you come to the N3 road. Carefully cross the N3 onto the L6201 road directly in front signed Rath Maeve. Continue on this road until you come to a T junction at Rath Meadbh (Maeve). You may look over the fence to see this dilapidated Cairn. There are usually animals in the field so be careful if you wish a closer look on this private property.

Turn right here and continue up this winding country lane towards the HILL OF TARA. As you approach Tara on your left you will pass The Well of the White Cow. Next you will see Courtney Davis, the renowned artist’s Open Studio with a relic of Brigid in his beautiful painting. Come in to receive your Brigid’s Fire Blessing and to reflect on your Pilgrimage Intention.

ROUTE: Tara to Moynalvey

by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps

• Total Distance (approx): 10 miles, 16km
• Terrain: Paved: Minor roads (L-roads), short sections on more major routes.
• Start:  Hill of Tara Car Park
• End: Fagan’s Pub, Moynalvey (From Fagan’s Pub in Moynaley we will get a lift back to the same Accommodation in Tara.
• Accommodation:  Tara

Tara House Accommodation (046 9078248) www.tarahouseaccommodation.ie, Email: info@tarahouseaccommodation.ie

Gallery

Directions

Leaving from TARA carpark, walk past Maguires towards the Holy Well, continue straight on this road, ignoring a right hand turn, until you reach Rath Meadhbh (brown sign). Ignore the left hand turn at Rath Meadbh.

Continue on this road until you come to a cross-roads which crosses the Dunsany-Navan-Drogheda road. Turn right here and follow this road into DUNSANY. The small church on the left in the village has a beautiful stained glass window of St Brigid beside Mary Mother and St Patrick over the altar.

Go through the staggered cross-roads at DUNSANY (stone building called the Piano House on the right hand side). (The 1st sign is Summerhill & the 2nd sign Kilcock.) Ignore all roads to the left and right and stay on this road signposted for KILCOCK (19km).

Continue straight on this road past a stone cottage on the right hand side towards Summerhill (10km), until you come to a crossroads where the road crosses the R154 road, signposted to Trim and Dunshaughlin. You will see the Teagas Research Centre sign on the right hand side.

Cross the R154 road, taking the smaller road directly in front of you signposted for MOYNALVEY.

Follow this road several miles until you come to a cross-roads with The Shanks Mare pub on your right hand side. Turn left for MOYNALVEY (2km).

Continue on this road until you come to Fagan’s pub for a very welcome pint.

Getting to the Start Point – Tara

Check out Bus times from http://www.buseireann.ie

By Bus from Dublin/Dublin Airport

Catch the 109 Bus (Kells direction) from Busaras. Get off at Tara Cross. Approx 1km walk from bus stop to start point. Turn left off bus at Tara Cross. Walk back to junction marked Tara 1km and turn right to climb the Hill of Tara. There is also a bus service to Tara Cross direct from Dublin Airport.

Additional Information

Guided Tours of the Hill of Tara are available at certain times of year, see the Heritage Ireland website for details.

Alternatively, an audio guide to the Hill of Tara can be downloaded from Abarta Audio Guides.

ROUTE: Moynalvey to Donadea Forest Park

by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps

• Total Distance (approx):  WALKING ROUTE (13 miles, 22km) with two generous stops to rest en route.
• Terrain: Paved: Minor roads (L-roads), sometimes on pavement on more major routes.
• Start: Moynalvey ( Start Fagin’s Pub, Moynalvey following a lift from Tara Accommodation)
• Accommodation:  Donadea Forest Park

Joan McGearty’s B&B, Donadea Forest Park  Tel: 045 869883

Gallery

Route

Directions

At Fagan’s Pub entrance walk left past the Church (righthand side) to a crossroads. Cross & continue straight to the L6215. Continue straight on this road following the signs for KILCOCK.  At the KILCOCK 5km sign turn right.

We’ll stop at Brigid’s well on our right hand side at Bridestream near Brigidswell Stud approx 3 km from KILCOCK.

Entering KILCOCK we can buy our lunch & walk past Gregory’s Tavern to School St & the canal where we can sit & eat before leaving Kilcock.

Walk  over the bridge & turn immediately left (under the  canal bridge ) into  Connaught street. Walk along this road past houses , the railway line and the canal  is on your left hand  side. Keep walking for 1.5miles past the right hand turn at the 80km  sign .  Turn right at the sign for  Clonfert Pet farm  on the left.  Continue on this road  for  4.5miles ignore all turns  until you come to a main road   signed for  Maynooth 6km. Here you turn right  towards Donadea  Forest Park and  continue  walking this road until you come to the  Kilcock – Clane road which  is  a very busy road  so caution is needed.  Cross this road on to the L1010   which is signed for  Donadea  Forest Park. Continue  along this road  until you arrive  at  Stop sign  beside sign  for  Knockally Golf Club Y junction where you  veer right.. Continue along this road until you arrive  at  entrance to Donadea Forest Park 2^nd castellated gate. If early relax in Donadea Forest Park inside the gate until dinner.

Getting to the Statring Point

This is only possible by car.

Local Taxi Numbers

• Kildare Cabs (Kildare) +353 45 530814 / 530815
• Tully Cabs (Kildare) + 353 86 801 1676