Last updated: September 2026
The Columban Way is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled safely, responsibly and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and protect personal information when you visit columbanway.ie or contact us through the website.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:
- Contact us through a form on the website
- Send us an email
- Subscribe to a newsletter or mailing list, where available
- Make an enquiry about the Columban Way or related activities
Depending on how you interact with the website, this information may include your name, email address, telephone number and any other information you choose to include in your message.
We may also collect limited technical information about your visit, such as your IP address, browser type, device type and information about how you use the website. Where this information is collected through non-essential cookies or analytics technologies, these will only be activated in accordance with your cookie preferences.
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use your personal information to:
- Respond to enquiries and requests
- Provide information you have requested
- Communicate with you about the Columban Way
- Administer and improve the website
- Understand how visitors use the website
- Maintain the security and functionality of the website
- Comply with legal and regulatory obligations
We will only process your personal information where we have a lawful basis for doing so under GDPR. Depending on the circumstances, this may include your consent, our legitimate interests, the performance of a contract or compliance with a legal obligation.
3. Contact Forms
When you submit a contact or enquiry form through the website, the information you provide will be used to respond to your enquiry and for any necessary follow-up communication.
We will not use information submitted through a contact form for unrelated marketing purposes unless you have specifically consented to this.
4. Cookies
This website uses cookies and similar technologies for purposes such as ensuring the website functions correctly and, where applicable, measuring website usage.
We use a cookie consent system that allows you to accept, reject or manage non-essential cookies.
Further details about the cookies used on this website, their purpose and duration can be found in our Cookie Policy. You can also change or withdraw your cookie preferences at any time through the cookie settings available on the website.
5. Analytics
We may use website analytics services to help us understand how visitors interact with the website.
Where analytics services use cookies or similar technologies that require consent, these will not be activated until you have provided the appropriate consent through our cookie management system.
Analytics information is used to help us understand website traffic and improve the content, usability and performance of the website.
6. Embedded and Third-Party Content
Some pages may include content or services provided by third parties, such as maps, videos, social media content or other embedded services.
These third parties may collect information about your interaction with their services and may use cookies or similar technologies. Where consent is required, this content or its associated tracking technologies will be blocked until you provide consent.
Third-party providers are responsible for their own privacy practices, and we recommend reviewing their privacy policies for further information.
7. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information.
We may share personal information with trusted service providers where necessary to operate and maintain the website or provide our services. These may include website hosting providers, email providers, IT support providers and other technology suppliers.
Where third parties process personal information on our behalf, we take appropriate steps to ensure that the information is handled securely and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
We may also disclose personal information where required to do so by law.
8. International Data Transfers
Some third-party technology providers may process information outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Where personal information is transferred outside the EEA, appropriate safeguards will be used where required by GDPR, such as European Commission Standard Contractual Clauses or another legally recognised transfer mechanism.
9. How Long We Keep Your Information
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and to meet any applicable legal, accounting or regulatory requirements.
Information submitted through general enquiries will not be retained for longer than necessary to deal with the enquiry and any reasonable follow-up.
10. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or misuse.
While we take appropriate measures to protect information, no method of transmitting or storing information online can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
11. Your Data Protection Rights
Under GDPR, you may have the right to:
- Request access to personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Request restriction of the processing of your information
- Object to certain types of processing
- Request the transfer of your information in certain circumstances
- Withdraw your consent where processing is based on consent
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Irish Data Protection Commission if you believe that your personal information has not been handled appropriately.
12. External Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. We recommend reviewing the privacy policy of any external website you visit.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally to reflect changes to the website, our practices or applicable legislation.
The most recent version will always be published on this page.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, how your personal information is processed or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact us using the contact details provided on the Columban Way website.