Visit ancient Celtic and early Christian sacred sites feeling their energies as you explore a country rich in legend, myth and folklore allowing its beauty and essence to bring healing, peace and transformation to your life as you take in this ancient sacred island's spirituality. As we journey we will encounter many holy wells, Celtic churches & abbeys, ancient crosses, round towers, ring forts, stones circles, etc. We will encounter on all levels the beauty and majesty of the Book of Kells, Christ Church Cathedral, New Grange, the Hill of Tara, Clonmacnoise, Glendalough, Ballintubber Abbey, Skellig Michael, Gougane Barra and many more mystical sites.
As you travel you will experience Ireland, a land rich in beauty, Celtic spirituality, legend and myth. Renowned for its holy places, it is here where Druids once taught and the Celtic culture thrived. You will be enchanted by the folklore and fairy tales as you discover this beautiful island. The tour's dates are: August 14th - August 24th.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Thursday - After passing through immigration in Dublin, at 9:00 AM you begin your adventure. First, travel a short distance to the center of Dublin, where you discover the charm of the city as you embark on a brief walking tour. You may choose to visit the many historical sites including Christ Church Cathedral, National Museum of Ireland, and Trinity College, home of the "Book of Kells." You may also explore the many shops in Dublin, take time for afternoon tea, or frequent one of the many pubs. Then enjoy country hospitality when you arrive at our hotel. There, you are served a delightful meal in a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, retiring early to relax and refresh yourself after your long journey.
Day 2: Friday - Today you experience The Boyne Valley. You will visit three ancient temples. These sites are older than the pyramids of Egypt and their uniqueness will astound you. Each temple was carefully built to be aligned to the sun. Some believe these are remnants of the Atlantian civilization.
At Newgrange you view the enormous stones etched with ancient art that surround the temple. As you enter the temple, you experience its energy as the ancients did before you. On winter solstice the sun rises in perfect alignment, casting a beam of light down the center of the temple.
Next, you travel on to Knowth which consists of one large temple surrounded by more than eighteen satellite structures believed to be tombs. Ancient kings once ruled from this site.
Later, you visit Dowth the third of the great temples. This one honors the goddess, since Dowth's alignment with the setting sun at Winter Solstice places it at the end of the sun cycle taking it into the womb of Ireland believed to be female.
Visiting these three sites show two different concepts of restoration and one that has yet to be restored.
Tonight you take pleasure in a typical Irish meal and join in the friendly atmosphere.
Day 3: Saturday - Today, you visit the magnificent Cairns of Loughcrew, also known as Slive Na Callaigh or the Hill of the Witch. The central and biggest Cairn is known as Cairn T. The largest kerbstones are near the entrance to the tomb. A large stone in the northern part of the kerb is known by three names, 'Chair of the Witch', 'the Chair of Queen Tailtiu' and 'Queen Maeve'.
In the afternoon, you visit Tara, one of the most venerated places in early Ireland. Tara is one of the largest Celtic monuments in Europe. In ancient Celtic spirituality and mythology, Tara was revered as a dwelling place of the gods.
You will have time to visit a Tara gift shop, featuring all things Celtic. There you can partake in afternoon tea. That evening, you return to Dublin where you enjoy a beautiful dinner and a traditional Irish Cabaret with new and old friends.
Day 4: Sunday - The ‘little people’ are sure to touch your heart in Glendalough. Here, you will be enchanted by feelings of joy and peace as you walk the well-traveled and the less traveled paths through this ancient site. This ‘Glen of the Two Lakes ’ is the only surviving example of an entrance to an early Irish monastery and university. As you stroll through this ancient power site, you will be encouraged to take in the calmness. Here you can take part in a local custom. Tie your wish on the tree at the holy well and become part of the landscape.
As you walk through this picturesque valley, you will encounter Trinity Church , Saint Mary's Church, Reffert Church and Saint Kevin's Cell.
In the late afternoon, you bid farewell to Glendalough and travel a short distance to your hotel. There, you relax and get ready for a fun-filled evening.
Day 5: Monday - We say goodbye to Dublin and head south to Kildare. There, we visit the flame of Saint Brigid's. Her flame burned for over a thousand years prior to the English reformation. The flame was rekindled in 1993 by the Brigidine sisters. Saint Brigid is believed to have been a Druidic priestess who converted to Christianity.
People who visit the holy well often tell stories of miraculous healings and divine inspiration.
This afternoon you will travel to Killarney where we dine in our hotel.
Day 6: Tuesday - At Muckross House you view the gardens and have afternoon tea. You may choose to rent a jaunting car and journey back in time as you explore the mystical grounds and magical forest. Some have reported seeing a leprechaun or two.
Later that day, you wander through an ancient abbey and view the Yew tree growing in the center courtyard. You continue to explore Kilarney and its lakes.
After you return to your hotel, you have time to put your feet up in preparation for dining and entertainment.
Day 7: Wednesday - As your journey continues you visit the Dingal peninsula and the mystical Gallarus Oratory with its inscribed stone. It is one of the finest examples of an early Christian church. The small oratory was built of large cut stones neatly fitted together to resemble an upturned boat. Later, you experience Kilmalkedar Church and Cross, Ogham Stone, Alphabet Stone, Sundial and Saint Brendan's House. The early history of the site is associated with Saint Maolcethair who died in 636 AD. It is also the starting point of 'the Way of the Saints', which takes you to the top of Mount Brandon along the old pilgrims' path. Visit Beehive Huts and Dunbeg Fort. It is a fine Iron Age promontory fort with four outer defensive banks of stone.
Enjoy your evening with a wonderful dinner, music and a traditional Irish coffee to wrap up your day.
Day 8: Thursday - Today is not for the faint of heart! You travel by boat to the breathtaking sanctuary of Skellig Michael located 8 miles off the southwest coast of Ireland . You may choose to climb the 620 steps to the top to view the monastic remains and beehive huts used as living quarters and community buildings. Saint Michael's Church and a small area known as The Monk's Garden are situated on a series of panoramic terraces. If you choose to make the trek you are rewarded with breathtaking views. You return to Portmagee for a leisurely Irish lunch at the Moorings. (weather permitting)
Later that day, you travel to Kenmare to explore its stone circle and holy well. Here, you can take part in a ritual, getting in touch with the past. Experience these stones as our ancestors may have done thousands of years before us.
Later, you may choose to shop in the quaint village before you travel on to the exquisite seaside town of Glengarriff where you will dine, take in the local color and spend the night.
Day 9: Friday - Today, you journey to the enchanting valley of Gougane Barra, Saint Finbarr's first settlement on the shores of a beautiful lake. You walk the grounds of the old monastery, stop for tea or shop in the gift store.
For lunch, you journey to the seaside town of Glandore where you eat at a local pub overlooking the beautiful harbor.
After lunch, you travel to the Drombeg stone circle known as the ‘Druid's Altar'. For 3 days, starting at Winter Solstice, the sun disappears behind the hill on the horizon and then reappears in the lower valley. At the point of reappearance, the stone circle is dramatically illuminated.
Remember, don’t sit on a Druid altar unless you can handle the vibrations!
Next, you travel to Blarney where you settle into your hotel or shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. You may visit Blarney Castle and optionally kiss the Blarney Stone.
Day 10: Saturday - Today, you experience the beauty of Blarney and its ancient Druid heritage. In the afternoon adventure awaits you as you discover the beautiful settlement of Lough Gur with its megalithic tomb and stone circles. Legend has it that Lough Gur was formed by the Goddess Aine who appears here in different forms as a mermaid, a young woman, and a hag. As a mermaid, she rises from her traditional home beneath the sacred waters of the lake. As a maiden, she empowers the land's human custodians and as a hag she defends her realm.
As our journey comes to a close, you travel to Shannon for an Irish farewell dinner and celebration at Bunratty.
Day 11: Sunday - We say our farewells and depart for home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Ireland Tour Fee (Excluding Airfare)
- All entrance fees to sites
- All hotel accommodation
- All ground transportation
- 2 meals per day breakfast and dinner.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Ireland
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Church Tours
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