On Sunday 11 October, 34 Year 14 pupils from St Paul’s High School walked into Santiago de Compostela and arrived at the Cathedral of St James, completing their Camino. The pilgrimage is a new international project for the school, planned and led by our own staff, and it ended where pilgrims have ended their journeys for more than a thousand years.

The group flew from Dublin to Santiago on Wednesday 7 October and travelled to Portomarín in Galicia to begin the final stretch of the Camino Francés, the French Way. Over four days they walked about 92 kilometres: 25 kilometres to Palas de Rei on Thursday, almost 29 to Arzúa on Friday, 19 to Pedrouzo on Saturday and the last 19 into Santiago on Sunday. They stayed in albergues, the pilgrim hostels found along the route, and each pupil walked with a pilgrim passport issued by Camino Society Ireland.

The Camino is first of all a pilgrimage. For centuries pilgrims have walked to Santiago to visit the tomb of St James the Apostle, and on arrival our pupils joined that tradition, lighting candles in the cathedral and sitting together before its high altar at the end of their walk.

The project was conceived and led by Mr P Slane, Co-ordinator of International Projects. He was joined by Ms C Fearon, Vice-Principal, Mrs O McArdle, Acting Head of Year 14, Miss M Downey and Mr D Britton, who walked with the group.

Part of the cost of the project was met through fundraising, and the group carried a banner bearing the names of the local businesses who sponsored it. Their support, and the generosity of families and friends at home, helped make the Camino possible.

Congratulations to all 34 of our pilgrims. Thank you to Mr P Slane and the staff team, to our families, and to every sponsor and fundraiser who helped carry St Paul’s to Santiago. The group returns home on Monday 12 October.