XXVI Columbanus Day 2025

The 26th Columbanus Day celebrations will take place in Carlow from 11th – 13th July 2025.

This page will be filled with all the updates and information you need in advance of the celebrations.

County Carlow will play host to a major international celebration this summer, as over 250 visitors from France, Italy, Germany and Northern Ireland, along with many more from local counties, will arrive for the 26^th Columbanus Weekend, taking place from 11th to 13th July 2025. The gathering, part of a rotating European tradition, which sees Columbanus Day celebrated every second year outside Italy, honours the life and legacy of St. Columbanus—a 6^th century Irish missionary monk born in the shadow of Mount Leinster on the Blackstairs Mountains who had a fundamental impact on European Christian heritage.

The weekend’s programme will highlight Carlow’s spiritual, cultural and historical connections to the saint, with events taking place in Carlow Town and Myshall. The recently established Columban Way, a 571km walking route inspired by Columbanus’ journey from County Carlow to Bangor in County Down, also features prominently. On Saturday morning, pilgrims will walk a section of the route from the Nine Stones on Mount Leinster to Myshall, based on the theme of “Walking Together in Hope.”

Key events include:

Friday 11^th July

• Launch of the exhibition “Ireland and the Birth of Europe” by Prof. Dáibhí Ó Cróinín at Carlow County Museum
• Symposium at Carlow College, St Patrick’s: “If You Want to Know the Creator, Understand Creation” (Columbanus, Sermon 1)
• Ecumenical Evening Prayer with the Columbanus relics in Myshall, followed by a ceremonial procession from the Adelaide Memorial Church to the Church of Exaltation of the Cross.

Saturday 12^th July

• Pilgrim walk from the Nine Stones to Myshall on the Columban Way
• Address by former President Mary McAleese: “Columbanus, the Man from Myshall” in the Church of Exaltation of the Cross
• Evening concert in the Cathedral of the Assumption followed by an Irish music night in Carlow Town

Sunday 13^th July

• XXVI Columbanus Day Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption, attended by religious leaders from throughout the island and continental Europe and civic authorities
• Closing Pilgrim’s Lunch at the Woodford Dolmen Hotel

Bishop Denis Nulty, who was central in bringing the Columbanus Weekend to Carlow, remarked:
“The Columbanus Weekend is, for the first time, being hosted in the Irish Republic. It’s an opportunity to place Myshall, the birthplace of Columbanus, alongside the St. Gallens, the Bobbios and Luxeuils of this world. I welcome this opportunity to reintroduce St. Columbanus to Carlow and Ireland, a Saint who spent 48 years of his life on this island, with 24 years on mainland Europe. Our three day festival comes in the middle of Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year of Hope, may we be pilgrims of hope this July. The entire weekend brings with it enormous capacity to unite communities of different faiths and cultural traditions together both in Ireland and across Europe inviting all to explore Columbanus’ significance to our everyday lives. This weekend is a testimony to shared faith and friendship, and to Carlow’s growing role in spiritual and cultural tourism.”

Fr. Pat Colgan of the Columban Fathers at Dalgan Park in Navan, County Meath noted:
“The Columbanus Weekend reminds us that the legacy of this great saint continues to foster unity and dialogue across nations. We are deeply grateful to the people of Carlow for embracing and hosting this important event.”

Sr. Anne Gray of the Columban Sisters at Maghermore, CO. Wicklow stated: “The Columbanus Weekend is significant for its ability to shine a light on the important message of biodiversity and climate change that was so central to his teachings. The natural environment of the Columban Way here in Carlow and throughout Ireland is a key selling point for those who walk it and we are fortunate to enjoy some stunning, unspoilt scenery here in the county”.

Cllr Fergal Browne, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, added:
“The Columbanus Weekend can link Carlow in a very tangible way to our neighbours in Northern Ireland, the UK, France, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. This weekend represents a really important step in the realisation of a much bigger vision for Carlow and Columbanus’ connection to Europe”.

Patsy McLean, Chairperson of Friends of Ireland – Republic of Ireland and Chairperson of Myshall Muintir na Tíre also stated:
“St. Columbanus’ message of peace and understanding is more relevant than ever. We are excited to welcome guests from across Europe to walk and worship together in the footsteps of a true European pioneer.”

Notes – The European Columban Way is a 6,000 km European pilgrim route that traces the footsteps of Irish monk Columbanus who was born in the shadow of Mount Leinster in 543 before departing for Bangor where he lived for 20 years and founded a famous monastery.  At the age of 48 Columbanus travelled to Europe where he travelled through a number of European counties including Northern Ireland, the UK, France, Austria, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Germany, Switzerland and Italy who have all been busy developing the route in their respective countries. He died in Bobbio in 615 AD. The Irish section of the route is 530km.

For further information, contact:
Carlow Tourism | E: [email protected] | T: 059 913 0411 | www.kandle.ie

Full Programme of Events below, all events are free except the Pilgrims Walk on Saturday.

This project is part funded by Creative Ireland under the Shared Island Funding Scheme

Information Video on The Columban Way

Bishop Denis invites you to come to Carlow and celebrate Columbanus Day on 13th July 2025.

St Columbanus was born in Myshall Parish on the side of Mt Leinster in 543 AD and became the great evangeliser of Europe.