My MODx Site

On 14 October, the pilgrims meet on the walls of Derry (Londonderry to the British), the second largest city of Northern Ireland. These walls, 8 metres high and 9 wide, gave Derry its reputation as an impregnable city.

View of Derry from the wall. The city was the scene of bloody clashes between Protestants and Catholics: 14 civilians were killed there on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972.

The pilgrims pray for peace in St. Columba's Cathedral in Derry.

The cathedral's beautiful stained glass windows date from Victorian times.

In the afternoon, the pilgrims walk towards the Giant's Causeway, east of Derry by the Atlantic Ocean. Forty million years ago, a stream of molten lava was cooled rapidly by the sea, and formed the enormous hexagonal columns, eroded over the years, that make up the Causeway.

Descending to the Causeway along the steep coastline.

The Causeway's rocks formed of basaltic lava in strange geometrical shapes.

The next day, the pilgrims take part in vibrations at Beaghmore : the standing stones and stone circles uncovered at this lonely and majestic spot are 4000 years old, and testify to the presence of the Celts.

The pilgrims' four buses then go south to meet at Armagh, ecclesiastical capital of Ulster, where both archbishops of Ireland – Catholic and Anglican – have their residence. Before lunch, the pilgrims gather in the Catholic cathedral of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who also converted Ireland to Christianity.

Prayer & song in this beautiful neo-Gothic cathedral.

After the meal, the pilgrims gather in the Anglican St. Patrick's Cathedral, where they are present at a warm meeting between the Anglican archbishop, Alan Harper, and the Catholic priest, Father Kennedy, who take part in the peace negotiations. All pray together for peace and reconciliation.

Arriving in Belfast for the night, the pilgrims admire the murals, artistic expression of political rebellion.

The next morning, the pilgrims help at a mass in the Catholic cathedral of Belfast.

Then they take the boat, leaving Northern Ireland to continue their voyage in Scotland. Arriving in Glasgow for the night, they pray in front of the cathedral of St Mungo, the city's patron saint.

Glasgow Necropolis, a Victorian garden cemetery, is a historical place to meet and to promenade.

As night falls, the pilgrims turn their steps towards their hotel, passing over the river Clyde.

The next day, after visiting Glasgow's remarkable Burrell collection, the pilgrims head north-west, towards the island of Iona, and stop for a picnic on the bonny banks of Loch Lomond.

From the town of Oban, they take ship for the splendid and austere island of Mull.

The next day, all the pilgrims meet on the island of Iona, by Mull, and admire the Celtic crosses.

The cloisters of the abbey.

The pilgrims help with a very beautiful ceremony conducted by the Iona community faithful.

A moment's peace to gaze on the beauty of the island.

Some discover Iona's sandy beaches in the gloaming.

The sheep are among the island's typical inhabitants! There are many of them grazing on this verdant land.

The pilgrims take the ferry from Iona back to Mull.

The next day, they take the boat back to the mainland and then, after three hours on the road, they reach Edinburgh. There a festive evening awaits them in an old church converted into an event venue: the Hub.

The pilgrims visit Edinburgh Castle, a formidable fortress built in the 16th century and residence of the Kings of Scotland, before saying their farewells to return to their own countries.