Cleric sacrificing his soles on gruelling barefoot walk

A CHURCH of Ireland Rector in Clogher Diocese is undertaking a pilgrimage of a different kind by walking from his church in Fermanagh to St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin passing a number of areas of Meath on his journey.

Revd Stephen McWhirter, Rector of Rossorry Parish Church, will be walking from the landmark church on the outskirts of Enniskillen to St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, a distance of around 100 miles during two weeks in Lent. Not just any walk but barefoot!

He will leave after morning service in Rossorry on Sunday, 30th March and finish in Dublin on Palm Sunday, 13th April with daily distances varying from just a few miles to 11 miles.

His route will include stops in Carnaross, Kells, Navan and Trim.

Revd Stephen explains; “I had initially thought, walking by myself, I’d just head off. However I need a lot of paperwork and registration with both the PSNI and the Gardai to happen. Also support vehicles travelling ahead for me to warn oncoming traffic.

“I needed to attend to a fairly rigorous Risk Assessment as I’ll be walking barefoot. As you know I’ve experienced this from last Lent however a walk to Dublin does seem a step up.

“Following the biblical principal of taking nothing with me, I’m doing exactly that so will be heavily reliant on the generosity of strangers to feed and water me. I’m contacting colleagues both in the CoI and Roman Catholic churches who are allowing me to sleep in churches on the way to Dublin.”

His route will include the following Meath stopovers at the end of each of the days listed below:

Sunday, 6th April – Carnaross, (St Ciaran’s Roman Catholic Church)

Monday, 7th April – Kells, (St Columba’s Church)

Tuesday, 8th April – Navan, (St Mary’s Church)

Wednesday, 9th April – Trim, (Agher Church)

Also along the route, Revd Stephen will be calling at a number of national schools, speaking to pupils about the history and role of pilgrimages.

The route is filled with places of historic interest. The original church of Rossorry is named after St Fanchea who helped to build a monastery on the banks of Lough Erne. Revd Stephen will also be passing through Trim, where a monastery was traditionally thought to be founded by St Patrick. Maynooth, also on Revd Stephen’s walking route is a well-known university town served by two churches named St Mary’s; St Mary’s Church of Ireland which is incorporated into the walls of St Patrick’s College, Ireland’s national seminary for the training of priests and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. At St Michan’s Church, Dublin

Revd Stephen’s final walk day will begin at St Jame’s Gate, the traditional beginning of the medieval pilgrimage route, with his destination of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin which for over 800 years has been a site of religious significance.

Revd Stephen will be raising funds along the way for a community hub at Rossorry and extension to the car park as well as the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen.

While Revd Stephen will be accompanied on parts of the journey by a support team, he will be relying on his sturdy staff for support as he walks. It has personal significance for him as it belonged to his father, Roy, who used it at Bangor Heritage Centre where he played the role of St Patrick for visitors.

Donations can be made through a QR code or the “gofundme Soles for Souls” page.

Regular updates will be made throughout the walk on the Rossorry Church Facebook page.