NEXT WEEKEND 13th - 14th September 2025
Walk the Cross — IRELAND
Walk the Cross — Ireland (13–14 Sept 2025)
A two-day, prayerful pilgrimage beginning at The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Carryduff, visiting the statue of Saint Patrick at Saul (Downpatrick), and walking through to Finaghy (St Michael) with a 4pm Eucharistic Procession to St Peter’s Cathedral finishing with Mass, the Anointing of the Sick and Benediction.
Total distance: ~33 km across the weekend (one km for each year of Jesus’ life).
Register / enquiries: walkthecross33@gmail.com — or contact Anto on 07368 125572 (WhatsApp link/QR on the poster). (Poster schedule is primary.)
Weekend schedule
Saturday 13 Sept — Pilgrimage day 1
Meet: 09:00 at Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Carryduff (see below).
Plan: Park cars in Carryduff, board transport that will take pilgrims to the statue of St Patrick at Saul (Downpatrick). From Saul we will walk together towards Carryduff. (Bring lunch/snacks for the day.)
Sunday 14 Sept — Pilgrimage day 2
Meet: 09:00 at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Carryduff.
Plan: Walk towards St Michael’s Church, Finaghy.
16:00: From St Michael’s there will be a Eucharistic Procession to St Peter’s Cathedral, followed by Holy Mass, Anointing of the Sick and Benediction.
IMPORTANT INFO FROM ROBERT NUGENT
By Coach / bus (recommended if you don’t want to drive)
We have a bus booked at 9:45 after the mass on the 13th in Carryduff the price is £10 per person, to secure a place on the bus (53 seats) please send amount to the following link. https://revolut.me/robertanugent
Or via iban to IE24 REVO 9903 6073 9927 77
The cost is £10 or 11.50 euros. Expensive but I called several companies and all were booked out. Hi, we have a bus booked at 9:45 after the mass on the 13th in Carryduff the price is £10 per person, to secure a place on the bus (53 seats) please send amount to the following link. https://revolut.me/robertanugent Or via iban to IE24 REVO 9903 6073 9927 77
Public buses (Translink): The main public service linking Belfast and Downpatrick is Ulsterbus service 515 (Belfast ↔ Downpatrick). Timetables and journey planning are on Translink’s site — this is useful for pilgrims traveling from Belfast or other towns. If you’re using public buses to reach Downpatrick/Saul, check the latest Translink timetable for service 515/215.
Key places, addresses & contacts
Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Start / meeting point) — Knockbracken Drive / Saintfield Road area, Carryduff, BT8 (Parish office phone: 028 9081 2238).
Statue of Saint Patrick / Saul / Saint Patrick Centre (Downpatrick) — Saul Memorial / nearby Saint Patrick Centre; there is dedicated parking/coach parking at the Saint Patrick Centre for visitors. saintpatrickcentre.com
St Michael the Archangel (Finaghy) — Finaghy Road North, Belfast
St Peter’s Cathedral (Belfast) — Divis Street area (Falls Road / west Belfast) — Cathedral of the Diocese of Down & Connor; limited on-street parking locally.
Getting there — detailed travel guidance
By car
To Carryduff: Carryduff is ~6 miles (c. 10–20 minutes by car) south of Belfast city centre. Use satnav for Knockbracken Drive / Saintfield Road (BT8) to reach the parish car park. Parish bulletins show car park use for events; arrive early on the day to secure space. drumbocarryduff.ieMapcarta
By train
Nearest rail for Finaghy: Finaghy railway station (serving south Belfast) gives easy access to St Michael’s if you are coming from the city. For Carryduff there is no local station — Belfast city stations (Great Victoria Street / Lanyon Place) are the nearest major rail hubs and a short bus/taxi from Carryduff.
By air
Fly to Belfast (George Best City / Belfast International/ or the larger Dublin) then transfer by rail/bus/taxi to Belfast; from there follow the bus/train guidance above.
Taxis & private hire
Local taxi operators can be used for short hops (Carryduff ⇄ Downpatrick / B&B ⇄ start point). Example local contacts: Carryduff Taxis (local listing) and various Downpatrick taxi firms — always book in advance for early departures or late returns.
Parking & coach drop-off
Carryduff (Immaculate Heart of Mary): parish car parks and nearby on-street parking are normally used for parish events — arrive early and follow steward instructions. drumbocarryduff.ie
Saul / St Patrick statue: the Saint Patrick Centre provides a pre-pay car park with >100 spaces and coach parking — a convenient drop-off for pilgrims starting at Saul and not needing to park cars at Carryduff.
St Michael’s (Finaghy): street parking close to church is common; limited disabled parking is sometimes available (check parish notes).
St Peter’s Cathedral (Belfast): parking near the Cathedral is limited; expect to use street parking or designated temporary car parks if event stewards advise (parish usually arranges local parking help for big services).
Accommodation — suggestions by area
(book early — weekend dates can fill fast)
Near Carryduff / south Belfast (convenient for the start point & Finaghy)
La Mon Hotel & Country Club — 41 Gransha Road, Castlereagh (close to Carryduff). Comfortable 4★ option with onsite parking. lamon.co.uk
Crowne Plaza Belfast / local 4★ hotels — a short drive into the city or to the Carryduff area; good for groups.
Near Downpatrick / Saul (good if you prefer to stay closer to Day-1 route)
Denvir’s Coaching Inn / Denvir’s Hotel, Downpatrick — central Downpatrick accommodation and restaurant. denvirs.com
Dufferin Coaching Inn (near Killyleagh / Downpatrick) — B&B style option on the coast. Dufferin Coaching Inn
Luxury / city options (Belfast city centre / Holywood)
Culloden Estate & Spa (Holywood) — 5★ country estate, excellent if you want a more luxurious stay and easy access to city transport. Culloden Estate and Spa+1
Helpful tip: If you want to avoid daily driving, choose one base (Belfast city / Carryduff / Downpatrick) and use the event transport / local buses for the Saturday start.
What to bring / practical packing
Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes / trainers (some rural paths and road verges).
Weather layers: waterproof jacket, hat (Ireland weather is changeable).
Water bottle (refillable), light snacks, packed lunch for Saturday. In Crossgar there are some places to stop for food: AJ's, McCarthy's Coffee & Sandwich Bar, also Mad Plaice & Quinns ...Fish & Chip Restaurant & Take Away. In Saintfield there is the White Horse Inn.
Rosary / prayer aids, sunblock, small first-aid kit, blister plasters.
Mobile phone with power bank
Hi-vis vest or bright outer layer for visibility on country lanes.
If you have mobility needs: walking poles, seat cushion — Calvary Hill approach and some paths may be uneven.
Stewarding & safety
The pilgrimage will be stewarded: marshals will set pace, manage road crossings and keep groups together. Please follow marshal instructions.
Walk two abreast where possible; keep to the left at road junctions; cross only where stewards indicate.
If you leave the group, tell a marshal so we can account for you.
Bring personal medication and emergency contact details.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Do I need to do the whole 33 km?
No. You may join for as much or as little as you wish — the poster explicitly invites pilgrims to join “for as much or as little as you feel able.”
Is transport to Saul provided?
Yes — drivers will park in Carryduff and pilgrims will get a bus to Saul so the walking section starts from Saul back to Carryduff. (Register early so organisers can estimate transport requirements.) £10 fee, see Robert Nugent's bus details above.
How do I get from Belfast city centre to Carryduff?
By car (~20 minutes) or by bus — Translink routes and Belfast local buses connect city hubs to the Carryduff area; the Translink journey planner will help with timetables.
Is there parking at the Saint Patrick statue (Saul)?
Yes — coach and car parking are available at/near the Saint Patrick Centre and Saul statue area. However we will be walking towards Carryduff and would be better to park there.
Where will Sunday Mass be held?
The Eucharistic Procession will end at St Peter’s Cathedral (Belfast) at 4pm and finish with Mass, Anointing of the Sick and Benediction. Please check the event WhatsApp for any final time/route changes.
Contacts & registration
Register / enquires: walkthecross33@gmail.com (use this to reserve transport seats or let organisers know any accessibility needs).
Event website: www.walkthecross.ie
WhatsApp / mobile contact: Anto — 07368 125572
