The Bruce by Ryan
Today was a day to remember for Irish weather as the pilgrims from St Albans, Washington DC, made their way across the North Channel in Ballycastle, N Ireland, to the remote Rathlin Island. This small island is within sight of Scotland and maintains a strong connection of Scottish and Irish history.
On the ferry ride over to the island the pilgrims got permission by some of the private land owners to traverse their property in search of the more “local” hotspots. It was not long before the pilgrims found themselves exploring abandoned brick homes and caves that littered the rocky shoreline of the island. We took some time at one cave in particular to hear a story about the Scottish King, and companion of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce. It was in a Rathlin cave that the Bruce fled to after a defeat by English hands, but through the perseverance of a spider making a web Robert was inspired to continue his campaign against the English.
After a nice lunch on the rocky beach the pilgrims continued their exploratory hike across cliffs and bogs until finally they returned to the harbor in time for a warm tea while waiting for the ferry home. It was a day to reflect on the perseverance necessary for the work of reconciliation, and the perseverance in the hike reminded the pilgrims that those tasks are not easy.