Polish hiking pilgrimage heading for Carrauntoohil

A 27-strong Polish hiking group left Dublin on Monday to begin a three-week, 500km trek across Ireland that will conclude in Killarney on September 15.

Organised by NINIWA—the youth ministry branch of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Poland—the ‘Eurotrip: West Coast Ireland’ expedition will see participants trek through the Wicklow Mountains, Mayo, Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, and Kerry, before completing an ascent of Carrauntoohil.
The group travels “by faith”, carrying all equipment in backpacks without support vehicles or pre-booked accommodation, pitching tents wherever their daily route ends. Daily Mass is offered along the way with prayers dedicated to the young people of Europe.
Originally planned for New Zealand, the route was redirected to Ireland due to Middle East flight disruptions.
The expedition holds major personal significance for team leader Fr Dominik Ochlak OMI, who worked as a carpenter in Killarney before joining the priesthood. This trip marks his final expedition after nine years leading NINIWA’s hiking projects.
“For me, this journey is a return to my roots. I spent a very important chapter of my life in Ireland, in Killarney, where I lived and worked as a carpenter before becoming a priest. You could say that where everything once began, something is now coming to an end,” Fr Ochlak said.
“I truly believe this will be one of the most demanding—and at the same time one of the most beautiful—expeditions in NINIWA’s history,” he added.
NINIWA has run international expeditions for 20 years, with past groups covering 80,000km across 57 countries, including rides to Siberia, Norway, and Jerusalem.

Flora and fauna celebrated during Heritage Week

Chris Barron and Tara Buckley from the Killarney National Park Education Centre led a series of popular guided walks across the Muckross Peninsula as part of National Heritage Week.

The events highlighted both the rich history and biodiversity of the park, drawing strong interest from locals and visitors alike. A standout feature of the week was the nocturnal guided walk, where ideal nighttime conditions offered participants a glimpse into local wildlife with significant bat activity recorded along the route.
The guided walks coincided with the early signs of the seasonal transition across the park, as autumn leaves begin shifting to lighter greens and rich browns across the Muckross landscape.
Photos: Valerie O’Sullivan.