Significant literature has been produced about pilgrimages which led travellers to far away destinations on dangerous paths, but pilgrims travelling to local sites within their own countries also faced perilous setbacks. In exploring these various challenges, it is hoped to inspire further research into these local pilgrimages in order to better appreciate medieval culture, their desperation for divine aid, and the devotion to belief that inspired them to face such obstacles. 

About the speaker:
Kara Kersh is a PhD student at Trinity College Dublin in Medieval Studies. She received her master’s degree in Medieval Studies at the University of Aberdeen, where she studied pilgrimage travel and Old Norse.