In 2020, Peggy Stringer, an experienced Camino walker, found her usual pilgrimage to Spain canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead of giving up, the Carndonagh-born businesswoman saw an opportunity to bring the spirit of Spain’s famous hike to her native Donegal.
As vice president of the Donegal Association in Dublin, Stringer was determined to keep the Association’s charity efforts alive despite the pandemic halting most fundraising events. Along with five friends, she embarked on a 160-kilometre trek across Donegal to raise money for Cancer Care West. Their efforts brought in €5,460 and sparked the idea for a major charity event in Northwest Ireland.
Naming it the ‘Donegal Camino,’ Stringer captured the essence of purposeful walking through Donegal’s breathtaking wilderness. This evocative title helped the event quickly gain momentum.
In 2021, she invited Donegal Person of the Year 2015, Deirdre McGlone, to join the team. McGlone, with her business experience from co-owning Harvey’s Point hotel, boosted the event’s marketing reach. Also joining was TV personality Noel Cunningham, a board member of Cancer Care West and the current Donegal Person of the Year.
The second Donegal Camino saw about 50 participants raise €20,000 for cancer support, firmly establishing the event as both a fundraiser and a celebration of Donegal’s scenic beauty.
Since then, the Camino has grown exponentially. The 2024 event attracted 735 walkers and raised a record €122,000. Now a key fixture in Ireland’s walking calendar, it brings hundreds to the Northwest every September and has raised €280,000 in total for cancer support services by offering seven unforgettable days hiking through the Donegal highlands.
Starting annually from Malin Head, Ireland’s northernmost point, the Camino winds south to the majestic sea cliffs of Sliabh Liag. Its route highlights Donegal’s stunning landscapes and offshore islands.
A unique feature is its non-linear format: rather than one continuous trail, the Donegal Camino offers standalone hikes that change each year. This approach solves logistical challenges and encourages participants to return to experience new parts of the Northwest.
Participants arrange their own accommodation and transport to each hike’s start point. The organizers ask for a €100 donation per day walked to Cancer Care West, though this is flexible. Walkers may join any or all of the hikes.
The Donegal Camino 2025 will continue supporting the Cancer Care West Support Centre Donegal, promising more remarkable hikes and fundraising success ahead.
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