Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimages Ireland

Sample Itinerary:  Youth Pilgrimage Ireland

Exploring Our Celtic Spirituality

DAY 1, – Our Pilgrimage to Ireland begins:  Upon arrival in Dublin, we will depart for Glendalough stopping along the way to purchase groceries for our meal preparation at the retreat house.  We will enjoy lunch at the Glendalough Hotel and then visit the Heritage Centre and Museum where we see a video entitled “Ireland of the Monasteries”.  This evening we will have a group meeting followed by dinner at our retreat house.  Dinner and overnight in self catering retreat house, Co. Wicklow.     BLD

DAY 2,. – St. Kevin’s Monastic City:  We will have an early morning in order to tour St. Kevin’s Monastic City before the crowds arrive.  We will visit St. Kevin’s Church, Kevin’s Cross, The Cathedral, The Round Tower and St. Mary’s Church.  We will then return to the retreat house and the rest of the afternoon will be free.  Dinner and overnight in self catering retreat house.     BLD

DAY 3 – Today we will enjoy a day in Dublin where we will visit Trinity College to see the magnificent Old Library and the 1200 year old Book of Kells, the beautifully illuminated version of the Gospels, designed by monks in the 9th century.  We continue on to the National Museum, housing a rich collection of Irish antiquities from the prehistoric times to the end of the medieval period.  This afternoon we will be free for shopping and personal exploration in Dublin.  We will enjoy a traditional Fish & Chips dinner before we depart Dublin.  Dinner and overnight in self catering retreat house     BLD

DAY 4. – Depart for a full day in Kildare, site of the 6th century St. Brigid’s Monastery, St. Brigid’s Cathedral and St. Brigid’s Well.  We will have some time for prayers and Pilgrim liturgy at the Well.  We continue on to Clonmacnoise to visit St. Kieran’s Monastery, a tiny 9th century church believed to contain the tomb of the founder.  We travel to Barna, Galway for dinner and overnight in a family run Guesthouse.    BLD

DAY 5,– We travel today to Galway City to shop and then transfer to Rossaveal, a small fishing port on the West coast of Ireland.  We will depart on the Rossaveal Ferry to Inishmore (big Island), Aran Islands.  The Aran Islands are richly unique with landscapes of limestone rock, a stretch of cliffs facing the Atlantic Ocean and clean beaches. It is also a place steeped in cultural heritage and history. Gaelic language is the first language of its residents.  Inismore has 27 nationally protected monuments - more than anywhere else its size in Ireland or even in Europe. Most of these monuments are spiritual sites, dating back to the early Celtic monastic period or even further back to the pre-Christian and even pre-Celtic times.  Overnight Guesthouse.     BD

DAY 6,. – Today we will meet with Dara Molly a former Catholic priest who has developed his teaching and Celtic resources on the Aran Islands.  Dara will accompany the group for a full day tour of the Island.  We will rent bicycles (weather permitting) and visit Dun Aengus, an 8th century B.C. fort.  We will reflect on the pre-Christian tradition as well as the Monastic Heritage on Aran.  After lunch we continue to the Seven Churches, St. Kierans and the Seal Sanctuary.  After dinner we will enjoy Irish Set Dancing Lessons with a local expert.  Overnight Guesthouse.    BLD

DAY 7, Tues. – Morning worship with Dara at St. Kevin’s Church.  We will have afternoon Sabbath followed by an evening visit with Padraigin Clancy, Irish folklorist.  Overnight Guesthouse.     BLD

DAY 8, – This morning we say “goodbye” to Inishmore as we travel by ferry and transfer to Galway City.  We continue on to the Burren, which means “rocky land” in Gaelic.  The rare Burren is unique botanical environment in which Mediterranean and alpine plants rare to Ireland grow side by side.  In the southern part of the Burren, limestone gives way to the black shale and sandstone that form the dramatic Cliffs of Moher.  We continue on to Ennis to visit Ennis Cathedral.  Dinner and overnight Park Inn, Shannon Airport.     BD

DAY 9, – After breakfast we drive to the Shannon Airport for our return flight home. BD

To enquire about this itinerary or to request an customised itinerary, contact Go West with details of your requirements.

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