Mayo cyclists complete sporting and spiritual pilgrimage
The Mayo cyclists who travelled 400k from Strangford Lough to Murrisk.
A group of Mayo cyclists have completed a 400 kilometre pilgrimage across Ireland in order to raise funds for Westport Order of Malta.
The Raceface Group followed St Patrick’s Way, which combined physical endurance with spiritual reflection as participants visited significant historical and religious sites along the route. The journey also garnered attention through a series of social media clips filmed at each stop, helping to spread awareness and support for the fundraising cause.
In a powerful display of unity, two cyclists from Crossgar Cycling Club, Downpatrick, joined the Mayo group, turning the pilgrimage into a true north-south initiative. Their involvement emphasised the event's collaborative spirit, strengthening the bond between participants from different regions of Ireland and showcasing the island's shared cultural and spiritual heritage.
Highlights of the Pilgrimage including the starting point, where the group visited the River Slaney at Strangford Lough – the location where St Patrick made his historic return to Ireland in 432 AD. They travelled to Saint Tassach’s Church, Raholp, one of Ireland’s oldest Christian sites where St Patrick received his last rites, and to the world’s largest statue of St Patrick, a towering symbol of his enduring legacy in Ireland’s spiritual history. At Saul they visited St Patrick’s first church, and in Struell, the sacred wells where St Patrick prayed, offering a serene stop for the group to meditate and reflect.
The group paid tribute to St Patrick at his final resting place, alongside saints Brigid and Columcille, at Down Cathedral and Patrick’s Grave, with the pilgrimage then journeying further west, visiting other iconic sites, such as the Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals in Armagh, St Patrick’s Well in Monaghan and the Cathedral of St Patrick and St Felim.
The group also visited Rathcroghan, the ancient capital of Connacht, and Knock, the site of the famous Marian apparition of 1879, while the final stretch of the pilgrimage included visits to Ballintubber Abbey and Aughagower, both deeply tied to St Patrick’s legacy, and an ascent of Croagh Patrick, honoring the saint’s 40-day fast.
The pilgrimage ended at Murrisk Abbey, with the ceremonial Dipping of the Wheels, where participants, having dipped one wheel in the Irish Sea, dipped the other in the Atlantic, symbolising the completion of their journey across Ireland.
The Raceface Group’s pilgrimage was a powerful tribute to St Patrick’s legacy and Ireland’s rich Christian history. Through their physically demanding journey, participants not only raised essential funds for the Westport Order of Malta but also emphasised the power of unity, faith, and community. With the participation of the Crossgar cyclists from Downpatrick and locals along the route, the pilgrimage became a symbol of collaboration and solidarity across the island. This event will be remembered not just for its fundraising achievements but for its role in bringing people together on a shared spiritual mission.
