by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps
- Total Distance (approx): 8 miles / 14 km
- Terrain: Grassy and flat
- Start: Robertstown
- End: Milltown
Gallery
Route
Directions:
Leaving from Robertstown cottages, turn left out the gate and walk to the stone Binn’s Bridge (near Charlie Weld’s pub) at the start of the village. Cross over (be careful of oncoming traffic) to the opposite side of the canal, signed ‘The Barrow Way’. Walk on keeping to the Canal bank road passing some local nature art on your right hand side.
At the Fenton stone bridge and Lock 19 cross over the bridge and turn immediately left to continue walking down the canal on the same side as before (the right side). You will see the ‘Barrow Way’ signs pointing in this direction too.
At the next stone bridge marked ‘Robertstown 2 km’ you will see the ‘Travellers Rest’ pub across the road. Cross over this bridge and walk on the left side of the canal (opposite side)
At the next hump backed stone bridge Huband Bridge (signed on the left hand side, hard to see) take the turn left (don’t go over the bridge) and continue on the left side to what is known as the Milltown Feeder. You will see there is a wooden chalet and green mobile home at this turn and you’ll be walking past them. Continue on. Walk past a wooden bridge on your right and again continue on.
At the next ivy covered stone ‘Pluckerstown’ bridge, cross over to the right hand side as the path is easier to walk on. Look left as you walk further on to see the Hill of Allen & its tower.
At the next concrete bridge, cross over the main road and continue walking on the left side of the canal bank. You will pass another ivy covered stone bridge and ruin of an old mill on your right hand side. Keep walking, nearly there.
Continue on to Milltown and to The Hanged Man’s pub for a very welcome pint. The walk ends here at The Hanged Man’s pub in Milltown. (It is recommended that you leave a car here in the carpark of the Hanged Man’s pub to travel home or to arrange lifts from here) If this is not possible we will try to arrange lifts back to Robertstown or you can get taxi’s, see numbers are below.
Getting to the Start Point
This is only possible by car or taxi from Kildare
Local Taxi Numbers
- Kildare Cabs (Kildare) +353 45 530814 / 530815
- Tully Cabs (Kildare) + 353 86 801 1676
Additional Information
Please note that there is NO driver today as we walk on the canal which has no car access.
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Route and Maps
Pollardstown Fen to Kildare
- Total Distance (approx): 5 miles, 9km
- Terrain: Paved: Minor roads (L-roads), Grass verges or footpaths on more major roads, Wooden Boards in Pollardstown Fen, Grass in The Curragh and at Brigid’s Garden Stream.
- Start:Pollardstown Fen
- Rathbride Healing Stone via The Curragh
- Kildare Heritage Centre (Market Sq, Kildare Town) (shops, cafes, restaurant in the area)
- St. Brigid’s Fire (in the grounds of St. Brigid’s Cathedral)
- Brigid’s Healing Well
- Accommodation: Kildare
Silken Thomas (045 522232), Website: silkenthomas.com, Email: info@silkenthomas.com
Solas Bhríde Centre and Hermitages (045 522890), Website: solasbhride.ie, Email: info@solasbhride.ie
Gallery Images
Directions
WALKING ROUTE
From the Pollardstown Fen car park follow the path to the Boardwalk start and loop around this magnificent wild nature reserve back onto the path & return to the carpark (approx 20 mins). From the carpark turn right & walk on taking the first left turn (there is a Pollardstown Horse Feed sign nearby) onto a small road L7023.
Cross over the stone railway bridge for your first view of the Curragh of Kildare. At the T junction turn right and follow the sign for Rathangan R401. Cross back over another stone railway bridge onto the Upper Curragh (be careful of traffic on this bridge.)
Spread out on the left side & wander this magical plain. Keep the road within your sight line. At the white stones at Cloonmore Lodge cross over the road to wander on the right side of the Curragh to Rathbhride Cross (signed Rathangan/Kildare/Allenwood) & the Healing Stone.
Leaving Rathbhride Crosss continue on towards Kildare by wandering on the Curragh between the road (within your sightline) & the wood chip horse track. When you come to the end of the white rails & meet a dirt track veer right back onto the road to pass the Cill Dara Golf club. Go through the gate beside the cattle grid to leave the Curragh. (Note there is a sign to Kildare facing the wrong way here. Follow the Cattle Grid sign to Kildare.)
You are now walking the last part of your Pilgrimage into Kildare past houses & over the stone railway bridge, past the Solas Bhríde house at Dara Park into Kildare’s Market Square for a Welcome by the Brigidine Sisters & Tom from the Heritage Centre in the Market House.
Walk across the Square to Brigid’s Cathedral and the Fire Temple in the grounds of the cemetary. Return to the Market Square and find Bride Street, walk straight along Bride Street to the new Solas Bhride Centre Site. Continue along the road past the Solas Bhride Centre, on the left you will find the Healing Well and on the right, you will find the turn for the Garden Well.
Getting to the Starting Point
You can drive to Pollardstown Fen and leave your car there or you can leave your car in Kildare Town and transport will be arranged by Brigid’s Way to bring people to Pollardstown Fen.
The easiest way to get to Pollardstown Fen is coming from Kildare (take Exit 13 onto the N7). Drive into the centre of Kildare and at the traffic lights at the Square turn left onto the R415. Travel towards Milltown and before Milltown you will see a sign on your right hand side for Pollardstown Fen (it’s a very small road). Drive to the carpark on your left hand side where you can park. Alternatively you can park your car in Kildare town (no parking fee on Sundays) and get a taxi out to Pollardstown Fen. (see numbers below) and arrange a taxi to take you back into Kildare town to pick up your car.
Local Taxi Numbers
- Kildare Cabs (Kildare) +353 45 530814 / 530815
- Tully Cabs (Kildare) + 353 86 801 1676
Additional Information
An audio guide to the Heritage sites around Kildare can be downloaded from Abarta Audio Guides or is available as a free smartphone app from Guidigo.
The Kildare Heritage Centre can help you to plan your time in Kildare.
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Bard's Corner, Community
We walk with Brigid
And Brigid, she walks with us x2
She is the Maiden, Mother and the Crone
She is the sacred feminine
She has revealed to us the Cygnus Way
An ancient path between Sky and Earth
Refrain
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Bard's Corner, Community
Brigid, you were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater
wholeness in mind, body and spirit.
Amen
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Bard's Corner, Community
Brigid of the Mantle, encompass us,
Lady of the Lambs, protect us,
Keeper of the Hearth, kindle us.
Beneath your mantle, gather us,
And restore us to memory.
Mothers of our mother, Foremothers strong.
Guide our hands in yours,
Remind us how to kindle the hearth.
To keep it bright, to preserve the flame.
Your hands upon ours, Our hands within yours,
To kindle the light, Both day and night.
The Mantle of Brigid about us, The Memory of Brigid within us,
The Protection of Brigid keeping us
From harm, from ignorance, from heartlessness.
This day and night, From dawn till dark, From dark till dawn.
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Bard's Corner, Community
It was the day of Saint Brigid’s walk from Faughart to Kildare.
Patrick the piper played a melodious tune.
Weather turned warm.
Water, iced or ordinary, and biscuits.
Sitting on the stone steps,
I watched the crowd gradually erupt into joy.
Pat told the story of earth mother and saint,
Well spring he drank.
Met old acquaintances there, we talked of those times.
Pleasant, warm.
Pat welcomed me.
Back to where the other walkers were
I had conversation with Dolores.
Intermingled.
We sat on the grass talking and got the feel of the pilgrimage.
Happy.
Dolores and Karen took charge.
We stood around the altar on the ground
In a wide circle.
We brought in the four directions.
The North, the South, the East, the West.
And Earth, Heaven.
Held hands and danced and chanted.
We wished those going on the walk good fortune,
Experiential of Brigid, the pilgrimage,
The countryside they would walk through.
Then the core group came in and took Brigid´s gifts
For the long journey.
Tom stamped their passports.
It was as if we were in love with one another,
Exchanged smiles, words, glances.
Patrick began his ancient tune
And they followed on the first leg of the Way,
Leaving the field in a forming line as I found my lift,
Jodi and Sinead.
And in my soul I said goodbye
To the participants of that holy day.
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Bard's Corner, Community
A Barnacle is a form of Irish ‘Haiku’ inspired by Nora Barnacle, James Joyce’s muse. The form captures a ‘soul moment’. The first line is literal, the second emotional and the third spiritual.
Pilgrims blaze a trail,
Brigid’s fire burns,
Fiercely.
~ Karen Ward
Nuair a suilímis le Bríde,
Cuireann sí timpeall orainn grá mór á clóca bheannacta
Agus is iad ár n-anam agus dá chuid amháin.
As we walk with Brigid,
She wraps us lovingly in her blessed cloak
And our souls and hers become as one.
~ Siobhán Cahill
Light pierces the leafy canopy,
Strong woman of Spirit beholds,
Initiation.
~ Karen Ward
Firelight, fireside, companions of the flame.
United we rise tall, flicker far to the sky,
Gather heat and warmth….
Enough for a whole universe
~ Alyson McEvoy
Share your barnacle by email at info@brigidsway.ie
by admin | Mar 23, 2016 | Bard's Corner, Community
We are the women who walk.
We come from many lands
We are many ages
We live many lives
We walk for our own reasons and yet
We walk with common purpose
We have our own unique sorrow and joys
and yet
We grieve and rejoice together
We are the women who walk
Some with fierce strides boldly moving forward
Others faltering, unsure if there can be another step
Together we make the journey
We walk in our solitude and yet,
We are never truly alone
We walk in companionship and yet,
inwardly we walk our own landscape
We are the women who walk
We came for our own reasons
We seek our own purposes
Together, we open the Way
