Bray Municipal District recently hosted the unveiling of the Bray Celtic Camino Mouteira on Bray Seafront. The Mouteira marks the start of the Bray Camino Coastal Route to St James’s Church in Dublin City Centre.
The ceremony was performed by the Cathoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, along with the Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Melanie Corrigan; Spanish Ambassador H.E. Mr. Ion de la Riva and President of the Provincial Deputation of A Coruña, Mr Valentín González Formoso.
The installation of the Bray Celtic Camino Mouteira, which is the first Camino Mouteira in Ireland, was a joint project between Bray Tourism, Bray Municipal District and the Ireland Camino Society.
The Camino from A Coruña to Santiago is called the Camino Inglés. Since the 12th century, A Coruña has been the main port of disembarkation for pilgrims from Ireland and was recognised by the Cathedral in Santiago in December 2016.
Since this Camino from A Coruña is less than the 100km minimum normally required for a Compostela the Cathedral recognised, a change was required. Because of this ancient tradition, connecting A Coruña with the Camino, the certificate of a completed pilgrimage – the Compostela – should be awarded by the Cathedral of Santiago provided 25km is completed in your country of origin beforehand.
This provides Irish Pilgrims with a great opportunity to do part of the Camino at home in Bray and then connect with the Camino Ingles – in A Coruña. The two parts together – in Celtic Ireland and then through Celtic Galicia – are called ‘The Celtic Camino’ by the Irish Camino Society.
Pictured above are Spanish Ambassador to Ireland Ion de la Riva Guzmán de Frutos, President of A Coruña Provincial Council Valentín González Formoso, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Aoife Flynn Kennedy and Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District Melanie Corrigan at the unveiling of Ireland’s first Camino Mouteira Waymarker on Bray Seafront.
Cathaoirleach, Wicklow County Council, Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, extended a warm Ceád Mile Fáilte to Bray to the Spanish Ambassador, H.E. Mr Ion de la Riva and President of the Provincial Deputation of A Coruña, Mr Valentín González Formoso and all of the delegates from A Coruña and Spanish Tourism.
She noted the importance of the Bray Celtic Camino as a recreational route by both the passive user and the enthusiastic walker and thanked the Irish Camino Society for their support and encouragement. The Cathaoirleach expressed the hope that the installation of the Mouteira Waymarker would encourage more people to start their Camino experience in Bray before continuing on to A Coruña.
Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Melanie Corrigan, stated: “This connection between Bray and the Camino in A Coruña Spain is fantastic. Walking is so beneficial for our physical and mental health as well. The Bray Celtic Camino offers tourism opportunities for Bray, I’m delighted to see the Mouteira Waymarker unveiled and really welcome it.”
Spanish Ambassador H.E. Mr. Ion de la Riva and President of the of the Provincial Deputation of A Coruña Mr. Valentín González Formoso outlined the strong links between A Coruña and Ireland, including the Armada, emigration, music and sport. In addition, they said they looked forward to the future and strengthening of relationships.
Deputy Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council, Michael Nicholson, welcomed the installation of the Celtic Camino Mouteira Waymarker pointing out that the unveiling marks another step in the continued development of the Bray Celtic Camino which was launched in May 2019. He noted that Wicklow County Council, in partnership with Healthy Ireland, is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Wicklow and this includes providing facilities and resources which encourage everyone to be physically active.
Mr Eugene Finnegan, Chairperson, Bray Tourism stressed the group’s enthusiastic support for the continued development of the Bray Celtic Camino and noted its importance for both locals and tourists alike. He expressed the hope that the event would lead to the strengthening of ties between the two regions with modern pilgrims completing the Camino in the two areas.
Mr Finnegan said he was particularly delighted to welcome on behalf of Bray Tourism, H.E. Mr Ion de la Riva: Spanish Ambassador to Ireland; Valentín González Formos, President of A Coruña Provincial Council; Antonio Leira Piñeiro, A Coruña Provincial Council; Manuel Miras Franqueira, President Association of Councils of the Camino Inglés; Maite Loureiro Ventureira, Head of the Tourism Department of A Coruña Provincial Council; Lanzada Calatayud Álvarez, Camino Ingles Project Manager in Ireland and UK, and members of the Irish Camino Society of Ireland.
You can read more about the Bray Camino Coastal Route here.
