Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Parish House Tel: 091-841103 email: benflan1@gmail.com

Carrabane

Athenry

19th June 2009

Dear Dermot,

After Rome and Jerusalem, the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, in the north west of Spain, is the most ancient in Christendom. It dates from the year 815 AD.

St James the Apostle is said to be buried there. Over the centuries, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have gone there; the Irish started out from “St James Gate” in Dublin. (In the 18th century, when Arthur Guinness set up his brewery on the site he retained the name).

Next week (27 Jun to 4 Jul) I will be doing the pilgrimage (the final 120ks) as part of a group of 40 from various places around the country, to raise funds for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust (IHCPT)which brings hundreds of special children to Lourdes each year on Easter Sunday.

The Trust is supported in its work by its donors. At this time, it is hoped to provide a new Respite/Holiday home for children and their families, in Wexford, like the one already in place at Killcuan in Clarinbridge. We are walking to help make this a reality.

YOU TOO CAN HELP! . . . by sponsoring me!

Please do your best to get friends/family/ neighbours to fill in a Sponsorship Card. You can return it to me (with the money, of course!) when I get back from Spain.

(Just for the record: walkers pay for their own flight, accommodation and expenses).

Thank you for your generosity.

Yours sincerely,

Benny Flanagan.

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