03/09/2026
🥾 **Bishop Martin Hayes retraces the journey of St Maedhóg to St David in Wales**
**Bishop Martin Hayes, Bishop of Kilmore, writes from Wales, where he is retracing the footsteps of St Maedhóg of Kilmore:**
“This weekend I began a special pilgrimage retracing the journey of **St Maedhóg of Kilmore (St Aidan of Ferns)** to his mentor, **St David of Wales**.
St Maedhóg completed his formation with St David before returning to Ireland and undertaking his mission in Ferns, where he became its first bishop. This pilgrimage celebrates that ancient and important connection between **Kilmore, Ferns and St David’s**.
⛴️ On Sunday, I travelled with **Bishop Ger Nash of Ferns**, soon to become Bishop of Ferns and Ossory, and our friend **Tom Higgins**, by ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard. We are following the historic pilgrimage route through the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside towards St David’s.
Today, Monday 31 August, our pilgrimage takes us to **St David’s Cathedral**, site of the pre-Reformation Catholic Cathedral, where we will be welcomed by Bishop Wyn Evans, former Bishop of St David’s. Our visit also includes **St Non’s Retreat Centre**, built in honour of St Non, the mother of St David.
For me, this pilgrimage is about returning to the **sources of inspiration of St Maedhóg/St Aidan** — imagining him walking this Welsh coastline in the company of St David, looking across the Irish Sea towards the land to which he would return with renewed conviction for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We hope that this journey will pave the way for a future pilgrimage involving the **people of Kilmore and Ferns**, celebrating the spiritual heritage we share.
Please keep us in your prayers as we continue this journey.” 🙏
**+ Martin Hayes**
Bishop of Kilmore
