Northern Ireland section of major new European Christian heritage walking trail launched

(L-R) Patsy McLean (President, Friends of Columbanus ROI), Councillor Mark Brooks (Mayor of Ards and North Down), Councillor Fintan Phelan (Chairperson of Carlow County Council), Alderman Deborah Girvan (Chairperson, Friends of Columbanus, Bangor), and Frances McNally (National Lottery Heritage Fund). Image: Graham Baalham-Curry.

The first Northern Ireland section of a major European Christian heritage walking trail has been launched in County Down.

A new 20-mile section for the Columban Way Heritage Trail was launched this week in Comber. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the trail stretches from Comber to Bangor and is the first section of the Columban Way to be officially launched in Northern Ireland.

The Columban Way forms part of the wider European “Via Columbani” heritage trail, tracing the footsteps of St. Columbanus, who was originally from Leinster. The route will pass from Mount Leinster, on the border of Counties Carlow and Wexford, to Bangor and across eight countries of Europe, finishing in Bobbio, Italy.

The launch of the first section in the Republic of Ireland will take place in County Carlow later this month. The ambition is to link both sections throughout the island to create an impressive cross-border, long-distance walking trail.

Similar trails within the Columban Way umbrella are currently being established across Europe. Once completed and linked, this European trail has the potential to become the second longest pilgrimage route in Europe, after the Camino de Santiago. It involves the nations of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Republic of Ireland, Switzerland and the UK.

The first NI section takes in Comber Town, the Somme Museum, the Lead Mines, Whitespots, Clandeboye Estate/Helens Tower, Grey Point Fort, Bangor Abbey, North Down Museum, as well as one of the finest shoreline walks in Ireland.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Mark Brooks, said:

“Ards and North Down’s heritage is one that should be embraced by everyone. This 20-mile section of trail will encourage more people to learn about our history, including the impact the area had in a European context through the links with Columbanus.

“There are some spectacular views along the route too and I would encourage everyone to take some time out and visit the various points of interest along this section of the Columban Way.”

Born in 543 AD, Columbanus and his disciples left Bangor in 591AD, to travel throughout Europe. According to Robert Schuman, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, he is “the patron saint of all those who now seek to build a better Europe”. The term “Europe” was first used to refer to a geographical entity in his writings.