FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A PILGRIM WAY FOR THE SHANNON ERNE CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOPS SLR Consulting February 2019 1
Feasibility Study: Background PILGRIM WAY FOR SHANNON ERNE Being undertaken by a unique Partnership of: • 13 local development companies (LEADER) • 13 local authorities* • In partnership with Waterways Ireland • Project Coordination by West Limerick Resources • Partnership contracted SLR Consulting with Alan Hill to conduct this feasibility study for the Pilgrim Way *Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Galway, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, Donegal and Fermanagh. 2
SLR Consulting (Team) • Dr Deirdre Lewis – Project Manager • Alan Hill – Tourism Development • Aislinn O’Brien – Masterplanner • Paul Gordon – SLR / Mapping & GIS • Nick O’Neill – site surveys 3
Structure of the Workshop this evening Time Topic By Whom SLR staff 6.30pm Registration Tea & Coffees on arrival Shay Riordan WLR & Project 6.45pm Introduction Partners Deirdre Lewis 6.50pm Project Overview : Pilgrim Way Alan Hill 7.00pm Learnings from International Pilgrim Ways ALL participants 7.10pm Workshop 1: Mapping Local Knowledge Deirdre Lewis 7.35pm PLENARY – combine responses 7.45pm Workshop 2: Mapping the Potential of Sites ALL participants Alan Hill 8.15pm PLENARY – combine responses Deirdre Lewis 8.30pm Close out & indication of next steps 4 4 4
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PILGRIM WAY for the SHANNON ERNE “ For almost two thousand years the Pilgrim Way has been a place of escape. Early Christian monks escaped persecution in the Middle East by sailing to the island of Ireland, the most westerly land mass in Europe. Their yearning for isolation, love of literature and longing to live in harmony with nature, led them to settle on the inland waterways, islands and heartlands of Ireland. The waterways became the 'Spiritual Highways' and their legacy a Pilgrim Way rich in natural and built heritage that has been trekked by many… and may be explored by those longing to escape today ” 6
Vision for Pilgrim Way for Shannon Erne • To develop a cross-border waterways journey from North Kerry via Fermanagh to South Donegal • Focused on spiritual sites, on and along the waterways • Attractive to both domestic and overseas visitors • Enable visitors to enjoy the Way journeyed by monks – Ireland's monastic and Early Medieval history – Ancient stories of Monks and Viking raiders. 7
AIM OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY: PILGRIM WAY • Opportunity to explore a unique, lengthy and well- managed spiritual experience on the island of Ireland • Create a brand of " sufficient scale and singularity " to attract overseas visitors . Objectives Pilgrim Way will drive a revitalised and sustainable prosperity in local communities t o enrich lives and transform communities economically, socially and recreationally. Opening access to a world of natural and built heritage , Opportunity to start or expand local businesses based on heritage, arts, tourism and recreation , which grows local economies and attracts further investment. 8
PARAMETERS FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY: PILGRIM WAY Focus on Early Medieval sites of international significance or capacity to attract an international audience • Early Medieval ( 5 th Century to 12 th Century) • Within 10km of the Shannon Erne navigation • 350km in length - forming 20km sinuous corridor from North Kerry to south Donegal, via Fermanagh • Potential to expand and link with related experiences in each county along the waterways – like leaves from a spinal branch This project will focus on the feasibility of the Pilgrim Way ‘spine’ as a first step – the ‘leaves’ can bloom later! 9
Baseline Mapping of Pilgrim Sites Data Compilation of sites proposed by Project Partners 110 nominated sites – within 10km of Shannon-Erne (either side) 10 1 1
CURRENT MAP OF PROPOSED PILGRIM WAY SITES you will have a map of your area on your table 11
Planning: Site Visits & Baseline Appraisals Tier 1: Internationally Significant Sites: • Lough Derg, Co Donegal • Devenish Island / Lough Erne • Lough Ree / Inchcleraun (Quaker) Island • Boyle Abbey, Roscommon • St Mels, Longford • Rindoon Peninsula, Roscommon • Clonmacnoise Monastic Site • Clonfert Cathedral • Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) • Limerick Cluster • Adare Cluster • Scattery Island • (Others?) 12
Planning: Site Visits & Baseline Appraisals Tier 2: Significant Sites: • Sites of national significance, with potential for further development as Pilgrim Way sites Tier 3: Linking Sites: • Sites within vicinity (5-10km) of highly significant sites that will add interest for the Pilgrim Way visitor in a given locality 13
Shannon Erne; links to Pilgrim Paths • Extensive network of national Pilgrim Paths • Significant work completed by heritage interests in developing network of Pilgrim Paths • Team to engage with Pilgrim Ways – (National & International/ EU) • ICOMOS – International Council for Monuments and Sites 14
Key Issues for Consideration • Site access – many sites are held in private ownership • Many sites are active sites of religious observance • Retaining the mystical/ spiritual essence of the sites • Transport linkages along Shannon Erne for integrated Pilgrim Way - will require multi-modal approach given there is no fixed ‘trail’ • Establishment of carrying capacity to ensure do not destroy • Management of Pilgrim sites to highest standards • Potential linkages to Irish and European pilgrim ways • Promotion of the Pilgrim Way as an international trail • Funding and development/ implementation 15
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International Pilgrim Ways : findings World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) recognition of religious / pilgrimage tourism:- • " ... one of the most effective tools to foster inclusive and sustainable development ..." • " ... a form of tourism driven by a given faith / set of beliefs ..." • " ... pilgrimage suggests that the participant is engaged in a journey to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion ..." 17
International Pilgrim Ways : Range of Religious / Pilgrimage Tourism Internationally:- • Traditional Pilgrimages - Lourdes; • Religious Tourism - visiting religious sites because they are unique and sacred; • Church Tourism - La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona / St Peters, Rome; • Religious Events - Spanish Holy Week processions / Passion Plays, Austria; • Missionary & ‘ Voluntourism ’ - Gap years; • Retreat - monastery visit / stays - St Katherine Protectorate, Egypt • Faith Based Cruises - expanding segment of the religious tourism market; • Religious Routes - Council of Europe Heritage Routes (e.g. Camino to Santiago or Via Francigena; • Spiritual Pilgrimage - Mount Fuji, Japan • Secular Pilgrimage - visiting grave of heroes (Elvis to WB Yeats) - also 'pilgrimages' to sites of great human or environmental tragedy from Ground Zero to Monte Cassino. 18
International Pilgrim Ways : findings Spirtual Tourism Development - International Perceptions • Advantages: this type of niche tourism raises awareness of humanity's common heritage and provides resources for preservation; significant accelerant for local development; builds cultural understanding. • Challenges: preservation of religious sites and monuments; upholding respect for faith based practices; • Requiring inclusive/integrated development of host communities. 19
International Pilgrim Ways : findings Global Factors Influencing growth of Religious Sites / Pilgrimages: • Search for authenticity; • Personal beliefs in a secular age; • Hunger for new tourism offerings; • Search for the unusual; • Cheaper flights & access ; • Internet & Smart Devices aiding Interpretation; • Need for sites to generate revenue to survive . 20
International Pilgrim Ways : Conclusion Managing religious and pilgrimage tourism requires a deep understanding of : • the experience sought • the site itself and • the interaction between the participant and the site. 21
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Workshops (4-5-6-7 th February 2019) • Meeting many agencies / local authorities • This week : 4 x workshops up and down the Shannon Erne • Limerick, Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon, Enniskillen • Engaging with landowners/ local people/ heritage groups We need your help! • Understanding of local sites & significance • Stories, saints, patterns, cures, other significance • Access, Constraints, Safety, Structural/ Other concerns 23 2 2
WORKSHOP 1.1 Mapping Local Knowledge • What Pilgrim sites (churches/ chapels/ monasteries/ holy wells/ other) are you aware of in your locality? • PLEASE FOCUS ON SITES THAT ARE ON YOUR MAP! • Are these sites still in active spiritual use ? • What saints are associated with these sites? • What rituals/ pilgrimages/ patterns / cures/ practices are associated with these sites? 24
WORKSHOP 1.2 Mapping Local Knowledge • Are there other significant Pilgrim places/ features within 5km of the main site? • Are these Pilgrim sites in public/ private ownership? • Are these Pilgrim sites accessible to the public? • What Viking sites are you aware of in this area (if any)? 25
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