Students from An Cumann Gaelach in St Mary’s University College, Belfast, walked a stretch of El Camino de Santiago recently. It is clear that the friendship, the help and the hardship had a big impact on them. They had studied the book Bóthar go Santiago by Mícheál de Barra before setting out and they had their homework done. They walked from St Jean Pied de Port to Roncevalles, on to Zubri and finally to Pamplona in three days and their friendship was stronger at the end of the journey. They forgot College life, home life and all the cares of the world during that time.
When you walk El Camino de Santiago – even if it is only a little stretch – you understand the importance of friendship and support. The students felt a sense of achievement and they felt they had helped each other on the way. There is no doubt that they were exhausted but they overcame every obstacle in their way and were very proud of themselves when they reached their destination. Not only did the students help each other, but they helped pilgrims from all over the world. It is clear that they strengthened their bond with each other and with others and they did it all through the medium of Irish. I hope they are well recovered and ready for the next challenge.
An Cumann Gaelach ar an Camino
Shiúil mic léinn ón Chumann Gaelach ar Choláiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire i mBéal Feirste cuid de El Camino de Santiago ar na mallaibh agus ba léir go ndeachaigh an cumann, an cuidiú agus an cruatan go mór i bhfeidhm orthu. Rinne siad staidéar ar an leabhar Bóthar go Santiago le Mícheál de Barra sula ndeachaigh siad chun bóthair agus bhí an obair baile déanta. Shiúil siad ó St. Jean Pied de Port go Pamplona taobh istigh de thrí lá agus ba láidre a gcaidreamh agus a gcumann ag deireadh an aistir. Rinneadh dearmad ar shaol an choláiste, ar shaol an bhaile, ar bhuairimh an tsaoil agus ar feadh trí lá ní raibh cíos cás ná cathú orthu. Shiúil siad ó St. Jean Pied de Port go Roncevalles, ó Roncevalles go Zubiri agus ó Zubiri go Pamplona. Nuair a shiúlann duine El Camino de Santiago – fiú mura bhfuil ann ach píosa beag de – tuigeann sé nó sí an tábhacht a bhaineann le cumann agus le cuidiú. Mhothaigh na mic léinn gur bhain siad rud éigin amach agus mhothaigh siad gur chuidigh siad lena chéile ar an tslí. Is cinnte go raibh na mic léinn tuirseach traochta ach sháraigh siad gach constaic ar an bhealach agus bhí siad an-bhródúil astu féin agus ceann scríbe bainte amach acu. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine agus ní amháin gur chuidigh na mic léinn lena chéile ach chuidigh siad le hoilithrigh as tíortha eile agus ba léir go ndeachaigh siad i gcumann lena chéile agus leis na strainséirí eile seo agus go ndearnadh é uilig trí mheán na Gaeilge. Tá súil agam go bhfuil siad ina gcruth féin arís agus réidh don chéad dúshlán eile.
