Via Columbani News
March /April 2025
Welcome to the first newsletter of the Via Columbani Partnership.
Contacts continue to develop between the many communities across Europe that celebrate the legacy of Saints Columbanus and Gall. The mission of the Partnership is to facilitate collaboration, through cultural, educational, spiritual and scientific projects, and to promote exchange and tourism. In this first newsletter, we summarize some highlights of 2024 and take an initial look at the projects for 2025.
Ireland: a ‘Journey of Discovery’ from south to north
August 17 – September 21, 2024
A highlight of 2024 was undoubtedly the 36-day, 560 km pilgrim walk ‘for peace, healing, and well-being’ along Turas Columbanus/The Columban Way, from Mount Leinster in the southeast of Ireland (County Carlow) where Columban was born to Bangor (County Down), where he left Ireland for his journeys across Europe..
Some pilgrims walked the entire route, connecting with communities along the way, through towns and villages, from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland. People from local communities joined to walk shorter distances, while hundreds gathered at the beginning of the walk, on the banks of the river Barrow and participated in the welcoming ceremonies that took place in Bangor Abbey.
Contact: turascolumbanus@gmail.com
Formal creation and signing of the Partnership agreement
November 23, 2024
As part of the November 23rd celebrations in Bangor, at the commemoration of Saint Columbanus’ death, the statutes of the Via Columbani Partnership were signed by the four founding Partners.
The ceremony was preceded by a conference on the heritage of Saint Gall, including the ancient Irish manuscripts housed in the St. Gallen Library, presented by Dr. Cornel Dora, director of the Library.
Contact: deborah.girvan@outlook.com
Remembering Saint Columbanus Journey Up the Rhine
October 2024
To the north of Strasbourg, the Via Columbani follows the course of the Rhine, retracing the route taken by Columbanus and his disciples by boat, in the year 610, on their way to Switzerland and Austria.
It passes through the villages of Gambsheim, Kilstett, and La Wantzenau, all of them rich in Irish medieval heritage. The three municipalities belong to the parish of Ste. Brigit (honouring Brigid of Kildare) and are located near the site of the former Honau monastery, founded by Irish and Scottish monks in the eighth century CE.
In 2024, signs presenting the Via Columbani were installed in the three municipalities, along the Via Columbani trail.
Contact : jacques.prudhon@wanadoo.fr
Strengthening connections between schools along the route
November 2024
In 2024, visits were organized between schools in Northern Ireland and Italy, with visits between Bangor, Bobbio, and Brescia.
At the heart of these visits were activities for young people, on topics related to Saint Columbanus, such as European unity and respect for nature, organized in collaboration with the Green Butterflies association, in the framework of the Peregrinus project.
In 2025, the network of schools will expand, with planned visits to Luxeuil-les-Bains and other destinations.
Contact: ecoulter700.ec@gmail.com
Alpine walks in Austria and Liechtenstein
May 3-4, 2025 – November 1, 2025
In 2025, the Via Columbani will emphasise its eastward links across the Alps.
On May 3-4, a two-day pilgrimage is planned along the Kolumbansweg in Austria, from Bregenz to Feldkirch, a distance of 30 km, also visiting the newly renovated St. Gall Church in Bregenz.
On November 1, the pilgrimage will continue from Feldkirch in Austria to Vaduz in Liechtenstein, covering a further distance of approximately 17 km.
Contact: wo.sieber72@gmail.com