12.04.2023
New Film Highlights Dublin Links to Santiago de Compostela
A new short film, Camino de Dublin, written and directed by historian Caoimhe Leppard, documents the ancient pilgrim journey that medieval pilgrims would have taken from St James’s Gate through the city of Dublin to the area in which pilgrims would have embarked to set sail for Spain, allowing us to follow in the footsteps of those medieval pilgrims today.
The history of St James’s Way dates to the beginning of the 9th century with the discovery of St James’s tomb at Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain. Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims of all faiths, ages and backgrounds walk to the Cathedral in Santiago, which is the resting place of Saint James the Apostle.
St James’s Gate, on James Street in Dublin has been a traditional embarking point for Irish pilgrims commencing their pilgrimages from Dublin since the 13th century. Pilgrims assembled here, before walking through the city and setting sail to Santiago de Compostela. The links between this ancient part of Dublin and St James span more than 800 years and we can see plenty of evidence of the Camino within this short distance.
This documentary features interviews with Turlough O’Donnell SC, former Chairman of the Camino Society of Ireland and Patt Gibbs who leads the volunteers in the Camino Information Centre, who discuss the role of the Camino Information Centre and the motivations of pilgrims who are undertaking the Camino from Dublin in modern times.
Dr Susan Hood, Librarian and Archivist of the Representative Church Body Library speaks to us about the Alen Register, a 16th century compilation of medieval sources which report the intention of a hostel for pilgrims in Dublin who intended to travel to the shrine of St James at Santiago de Compostela.
Many thanks to all those involved with the filming in The Camino Information Centre, Pearse Lyons Distillery, and The Representative Church Body Library.
You can view the film on the Dublin and Glendalough YouTube channel here: