Cosán na Naomh (The Saint’s Road)

Cosán na Naomh, or The Saints’ Road, is an ancient pilgrimage path which starts at Ventry Strand and finishes at the foot of Mount Brandon in County Kerry. The tradition of pilgrimage to Brandon Mountain dates back to the earliest times, before the pagan deity Crom Dubh was reputedly ousted from the mountain by St Brendan the Navigator. The 18km trail follows the path of medieval pilgrims and passes by important heritage and ecclesiastical sites. The pilgrimage route may well have pre-Christian origins, and the mountain was an important site in Pagan Ireland, especially for the festival of Lughnasa.