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The Fire That Burns Within The Pilgrim. It's a Long Way from Tipperary to Santiago

Kevin Considine

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2021
The Fire That Burns Within The Pilgrim. IT’S A LONG WAY FROM TIPPERARY TO SANTIAGO:

Just a few days before Santiago, walking just before dawn through the hilly forest between Triancastela and Sarria., my body fatigued, the feet aching, but at least the infected decaying tooth better after a week of antibiotics. This is my 6th Camino but the feeling is different. Sensing connection to the pilgrims of hundreds of years ago as I am closing in on 3000 kilometers walking. As well with my friends, Falko of Germany, Per of Sweden, and Tom of Austria who walked from their homes in previous years, only now starting to understand their journeys. I passed through Villafranca two days ago where there is a church of Santiago just a day before crossing over the mountain pass O Cebriero. In 1186 the local bishop received a Papal disposition to offer Compostelas to those pilgrims that were sick or dying and likely to die making the climb. Sensing their pain makes me wonder about the fire that burns within the pilgrim. That burns within me. Long ago anybody that had walked from deep in Europe here would very likely have lost friends and or family who perished on the dangerous pilgrimage.
1A64B991-CD02-4395-A50B-7FE82D0AC682.jpeg
(The grave of cousin John Kevin Scanlon with his shell on top of my pack)

The Camino today is a more joyous journey but I have a new respect for my friends and the old pilgrims that walked long distances. I didn’t know why but there was a growing sense that the journey must be completed, that I would crawl if necessary. There was no choice. Passing the Church of Santiago in Villafranca I felt some clarity. I was not just walking for myself but feeling the weight of ancestors as well. My start in Ballina, Tipperary and walk to my ancestral homes in Clare seems an eternity ago. I had forgotten about it but I stopped to look deep in my pack and still have the small shell from John Kevin Scanlon’s grave that I picked up back in Carrigaholt, Clare, Ireland in May.

So I lift my pack and strap it on my back and walk on thinking that reaching Santiago this time will be truly special. But knowing that this journey, pilgrimage will end in Muxia where I will return John Kevin’s shell to the sea.

Ultreia!
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Thank you, thank you for sharing your deep understanding of the pilgrim heart. I recently bought tickets to walk on the Camino for the 5th time. My family response has been noticeably reserved. My husband who does support me considers my time on the Camino as "vacation" despite my efforts to explain otherwise. And so I will go this fall and future Caminos for reasons sometimes unknown even to myself. The fire that burns within is real!
 
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Pilgrim heart!!! That's so true..
I walked the Ingles in the memory of my dad.. this
It is only shared by other pilgrims, for my acquaintances too they think is a holiday as they cannot evaluate what a pilgrimage is.
I hope one day they will too understand, as I prayed for them in the cathedral..
Buen camino David, may God always look over you.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Up Tipp and buen camino!
 
Pilgrim heart!!! That's so true..
I walked the Ingles in the memory of my dad.. this
It is only shared by other pilgrims, for my acquaintances too they think is a holiday as they cannot evaluate what a pilgrimage is.
I hope one day they will too understand, as I prayed for them in the cathedral..
Buen camino David, may God always look over you.
Who will understand, not having walked?
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.

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