New Camino marks Kilbroney Church Bicentenary
On Saturday 2 April a group in the village of Rostrevor walked out together along a new pilgrimage route, the St Bronach’s Camino. The walk was part of the bicentennial celebrations of Saint Bronach’s (Kilbroney Parish) Church and the walk through the village was led by the Rector, the Rt Revd Darren McCartney, and author and artist Susan Farrell.
Walkers visited a number of locations associated with St Bronach in Rostrevor, heard about her history and how her influence remains strong to this day.
The Saint Bronach’s Camino followed on from work done by a previous rector, Canon Dermot Jameson, through Saint Bronach’s School of Celtic Studies. This group celebrated Saint Bronach’s feast day on 2nd April every year with various events.
It was wonderful to revive and re–establish this act of devotion. Bronach was ‘A disciple of Saint Patrick who built a refuge for sailors who were shipwrecked in Carlingford Lough.’ If she came from the Slemish direction, and was tasked with going out across Ireland to spread Christianity, she would have done this by river and sea.
According to the genealogies of the saints she was the daughter of a King of Dalriada, mother of Saint Mo Chóe of Nendrum, and sister of a bishop. Historical records from her time are sparce but began with the introduction of monasteries and abbeys when the original inhabitants of Christian communities, both men and women, began to record Irish Christian history.
Bronach inherited her brother’s bishop’s crozier when he died making her an abbess. Abbesses at that time had equal power to bishops and princes and recognised no ecclesiastical superior except the Pope.
In times past the residents of the village on her Saint Day, 2nd April, walked with candles from the Faerie Glen Bridge along rights of way adjacent to the Kilbroney River up to her church, situated in what is now the Old Kilbroney Graveyard. This route is no longer passable.
From the shore the pilgrims made their way to Crag Graveyard. The old church ruins are believed to be that of Saint Paul’s built in 1723/3. Perhaps this was the site of Bronach’s first settlement? In those days this site could have been seen from the Lough and would be a refuge for travellers. The old church was replaced by Saint Bronach’s in 1822 and the bell from Saint Paul’s is on display there.
Pilgrims had a rest at Saint Bronach’s for lunch and then moved on to Saint Mary Star of the Sea to see the bell. Here we listened to Siubhán Ó Dubháin’s The Bell of Saint Bronach sung by Matthew McGrath and everyone had a chance to ring the bell which had been brought out of its secure niche for us.
The stained–glass window in Saint Mary Star of the Sea has a very beautiful image of Bronach with her crozier and bell. She is depicted in a highly stylised way, a very correct depiction of what perhaps a holy women should present as in a place of worship, head covered and humble. Notable is the red cloak. This is a sign of status and wealth in Irish Celtic society, suitable for the daughter of someone who has enough gold to be a slave owner.
Pilgrims continued to the old graveyard. The Celtic cross, the old church building, and the well, are all signs that a religious community did indeed exist here – Bronach’s early Christian community, an abbey.
The holy well is dedicated to Saint Bronach with one legend saying that Bronach was killed by a pirate, (most likely a Viking raid) fell here and the spring burst out of the spot where she fell.
Those participating in the walk were awarded a Camino certificate.
Revd Elizabeth Hanna
The moderate–to–easy walk takes approximately three hours and follows a loop from Faerie Glen, Shore Road, finishing at Kilbroney Old Graveyard. The route also includes Crag graveyard, Kilbroney Parish Church and St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, where the famous St Bronagh’s Bell is on display.
The next Camino will take place on 2nd April 2023.
