Every country has a center and for Ireland it is Uisneach. Sometimes acknowledged sometimes overlooked, it has remained the geographical and energetic center of this island. From this point the Stone of Divisions marked out the land into four provinces with a fifth in the center around Uisneach.
We start in the north in the land of Ulster. Politically separate from the rest of the island it is part of Great Britain. The traditional heart of this region is Navan Fort, the ancient Emain Macha of Irish history and legend, a Neolithic enclosure atop a hill outside of Armagh. We will hear the legends and stories of this historically rich land. We explore the huge megalithic complex of Beaghmore Stone Circles set in a stunning landscape. The Janus Idol and Lusty Man stone figures on Boa Island are a pre-Christian mystery.
Making our way south over the border (no passport controls here!) we enter the province of Connaught. After a visit to St Hugh’s Well (Tubbervoey) and Sweat House we explore the western heart center of Cruachain Ai. At Rath Cruachain, the coronation site of the kings of Connaught, we find solar energy. Close by Oweynagat, the Cave of the Cats or the entrance into the Underworld, is a place of the goddess.
Moving further south into Munster province we discover some of Ireland’s Christian heritage on Holy Island, or Iniscealtra in Lough Derg. We will take the short ferry ride across to the island where we find one of the enigmatic Irish round towers and the ruins of three early churches. We will stay overnight in world-renowned Limerick and sample traditional Irish music and maybe a pint of Guinness in one of the many local pubs.
Heading back north we will visit the heart center of All Ireland at Uisneach in Westmeath. This is the sacred site of the ancient goddess Eri from which Ireland gets its name, Ire. Just a short drive away we stay for the rest of our journey in the old town of Kells, famous for The Book of Kells and its High Crosses. We are now in the eastern province of Leinster. Here we visit the Bru na Boinne visitor center where we learn about Newgrange and Knowth cairns, Ireland’s most famous Neolithic sites. We will be guided inside Newgrange, a passage tomb but also a place of initiation and spiritual initiations that is aligned to the midwinter solstice sunrise.
Knowth has some of the finest Neolithic stone carvings in Europe that decorate most of the kerbstones around the base of the cairn and we will get the key to enter Dowth cairn for private ceremony.
The ancient seat of the high kings of Ireland at Tara is our final heart center to visit before utilizing the wonderful acoustic properties of Fourknocks underground chamber. Finally we get a bird’s eye view of seventeen counties from the top of Loughcrew or Slieve na Caillighe - the Mountain of the Witch. We will make our final connections with this special land both within some of the chambered cairns and in the Hag’s Chair.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday, 1 August: Arrive at Dublin airport where you will be collected by your tour guides. Drive to hotel in Armagh, Ulster via Proleek Dolmen – a place to first connect with the energies of this land. The province of Ulster is part of Great Britain and so British pounds are the currency. Introductions followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 2, Saturday, 16 August: Orientation meeting. Our first visit is to Navan Fort, the ancient Emain Macha of Irish history and legend and the earliest capital of Ulster. According to the early Christian scribes, Irish history began with the founding of Emain Macha. Traces of a giant Celtic temple have been found here. Then we experience the Beaghmore stone circles (7 circles and nine stone rows) - a stunning and powerful center of Neolithic sacred sites.
Day 3, Sunday, 17 August: We leave the first hotel and head south towards the Republic of Ireland. On route we visit the ancient cemetery of Caldragh on Boa Island in Lower Lough Erne. Here we find two remarkable pre-Christian statues – the Janus Idol and the Lusty Man. This is like no cemetery you have ever visited before! Close by is the restored stone circle, alignment and cairn of Drumskinny. Then we cross over into the republic and the province of Connaught. We visit St Hugh’s Well (Tubbervoey) and Sweat House. Arrive at our hotel at Carrick-on-Shannon. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 4, Monday, 18 August: In ancient lore the kingdom of Connacht (or Connaught) was ruled from a ritual center at Cruachain Ai. This large complex of ancient sites allows us to experience the variety of structures from the Neolithic age including the low hill or mound of Rath Cruachain, the coronation site of the kings of Connaught and a male or solar energy site. Oweynagat - the Cave of the Cats or the entrance into the Underworld is a place of the goddess.
Day 5, Tuesday, 19 August: We leave the hotel and head further south into the province of Munster. In County Clare we find Holy Island - Iniscealtra in Lough Derg. We will take the short ferry ride across to the island where we find one of the enigmatic Irish round towers and the ruins of three early churches. Stay at a hotel in Limerick. Free evening in Limerick to maybe find a pub with live traditional music.
Day 6, Wednesday, 20 August: Free time this morning in Limerick. Leave the hotel and drive east into the province of Leinster. We will go to Uisneach the geographical and energetic center of All Ireland. Uisneach, which was once in a fifth province of Meath, is the sacred site of the ancient goddess Eri from which Ireland gets its name, Ire. The Stone of Divisions or Catsone marks the direction of the four provinces surrounding this sacred center. It is said that the first fire in Ireland was lit on this hilltop and that it was a fire here at Beltane that sparked other beacon fires across the land. Picnic lunch and afternoon at Uisneach when we visit the heart-shaped holy well and the Catstone or navel stone of Ireland. Stay at hotel in Kells for the rest of the tour. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7, Thursday, 21 August: Today we visit the Bru na Boinne visitor center to learn about Newgrange and Knowth cairns, Ireland’s most famous Neolithic sites. We will be guided inside Newgrange known as a passage tomb but also a place of initiation and spiritual rites of passage. It is aligned such that the midwinter solstice sunrise casts a shadow that extends deep inside the passage to the central chambers. Knowth has the finest Neolithic stone carvings in Europe that decorate most of the kerbstones around the base of the cairn. We will get the key to enter Dowth cairn for private ceremony.
Day 8, Friday, 22 August: Visit to Tara the ancient capital of Leinster and the ancient seat of the high kings of Ireland when Tara replaced Uisneach as the seat of power. There is a complex of sites at Tara including Grainne’s (Sun Goddess) Mound, the Mound of Hostages, the Stone of Destiny and Teach Cormaic. Lunch in the café at Tara followed by a visit to the holy well there. Afternoon visit to Fourknocks cairn. We are able to get the key to enter this underground chamber which has wonderful acoustics and is a perfect place for toning and sound work. Dinner at the hotel
Day 9, Saturday, 23 August: A climb up the hillside to the cairns of Loughcrew on top is rewarded with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. The old name for Loughcrew was Slieve na Caillighe, Gaelic for Mountain of the Witch. We can gain private access into Cairn T which has the Hag’s Chair set into the northern side of the kerb. Final afternoon free for exploring Kells or for last minute shopping. Farewell dinner at the hotel.
Day 10, Sunday, 24 August: Drive to Dublin airport for return flights home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Collection from and return to Dublin airport
- All land transportation
- Nine nights accommodation in quality hotels
- Nine breakfasts and five evening meals
- All admissions and tour guide fees
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Ireland
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Archeology/History
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