Turas (Ireland)

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Turas ([ ˈt̪ʊɾəs ], Irish for "travel", plural turais [ ˈt̪ʊɾəʃ ]) is an annual pilgrimage in Ireland . In Glencolumbkille (Irish: Gleann Cholm Cille ) it takes place every June 9th and on Croagh Patrick on the last Saturday in July. However, people can commit to it at any time.

Station of the Turas

Orbits

The pilgrim circles each station three times clockwise ( deiseal ), kneels down, prays, and then, turning away from the stone, makes a declaration that includes renouncing the world, flesh and the devil.

The village of Glencolmcille in County Donegal and the surrounding area is famous for its five-kilometer turas on June 9, the feast day of St. Columban. It has 15 stations and takes about three hours. Historically, the turais were performed barefoot at midnight on the eve of June 9th.

The stations consist of megalithic systems , natural landscape elements , crosses and columns. The stations are located on burial mounds and court tombs or on cross slabs (also cross pillar), which may be covered with pagan symbols . They have names like:

  • Station 1: Tuama Cúirte na Sráide (the Straid Court Tomb)
  • Station 2: Gallán Croise ("the column of the cross")
  • Station 3: Áit na nGlún ("the place of the knees"), the Garvecross Cairn
  • Station 4: Mullagh na Croise ("the hill of the cross")
  • Station 5: Cill or Teampall Cholm Cille ("the Columcilles Church")
  • Station 6: Cathaoir Cholm Cille ("the throne of Columcilles")
  • Station 7: Tobar Cholm Cille ("the source of Columcilles")
  • Station 8: Garraí an Turais ("the garden of Turas") or Garraí Cholm Cille ("the garden of Columcilles")
  • Station 9: Cloch an Aonaigh ("the stone of the meeting")
  • Station 10: An Fhothair ("the abyss")
  • Station 11: An Droim Rua ("the red back")
  • Station 12: Baile na nDeamhan ("the home of the demons")
  • Station 13: An Gaineamh ("the sand")
  • Station 14: An Caiseal (Cashel, Steinringfort)
  • Station 15: An tStraid (Straid, "the street")

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