MAGIC OF CELTIC IRELAND

There is a magic about Ireland which is recognized by people worldwide, maybe because its name means Land of the Goddess Eriu. The varied landscape of lush green meadows, mountain ranges and spectacular coastline certainly lead one to believe that this land is blessed. Stories of fairy folk and leprechauns also reflect the belief that the land has guardians. There is a feeling of spirituality held within the land that has been honoured by successive generations through different belief systems over millennia. Our travels will take us back in time and into the realms of myth, legend and deep wisdom as we make a circular journey through the provinces of the Republic of Ireland visiting sites revered as sacred by Pagans and Christians for thousands of years. This opens a doorway for each of us to discover forgotten aspects of our inner world. As various sages down the ages, including Einstein, have said “Be open tomagic and it will indeed happen!” Our ancestors knew this and they are inviting you to do the same.

After collection from Dublin airport we start our journey in the old town of Kells, famous for The Book of Kells and its five High Crosses, the fifth one the locals are still looking for!

We are in the eastern province of Leinster where we get a bird’s eye view of seventeen counties from the top of Loughcrew or Slieve na Caillighe - the Mountain of the Witch. This site has been revered beyond memory.

Next we visit Newgrange and Knowth cairns, Ireland’s most famous Neolithic sites. We enter deep into the centre of Newgrange cairn, a place that was used for spiritual ceremony before Stonehenge was built! At Knowth we see some of the finest Neolithic stone carvings in Europe.

The ancient seat of the high kings of Ireland at Tara is the traditional center of this province, located by a holy well. What secrets will it share with us? We will use the wonderful acoustic properties of Fourknocks underground chamber where we have private access to connect through ceremony with the ancient energies of this land.

Making our way west we enter the province of Connaught. Here we explore the western center of Cruachain. At Rath Cruachain, the coronation site of the kings of Connaught, we hear from our local guide of Maebh, both queen and goddess, and her epic adventures in this land. Close by is Oweynagat, the Cave of the Cats or the entrance into the Underworld.

Moving further south into Munster province we will be treated to spectacular scenery as we drive around the world-famous Ring of Kerry and stop halfway to discover some of Ireland’s early Christian heritage on the rocky isle of Skellig Michael. We take the ferry ride across to the island where we find monastic beehive huts perched seven hundred feet up the hillside exactly where two powerful earth energy currents cross. This is Ireland’s equivalent of Machu Picchu. We stay in world-renowned Killarney and sample traditional Irish music and maybe a pint of Guinness in one of the many local pubs. We will also visit Dingle to enjoy a boat ride into the harbour to watch Fungi the wild dolphin play in the waters of the Bay.

Heading across to County Wicklow in the southeast we stay in the oldest inn in Ireland. Nearby is the oldest working woolen mill in the country, Avoca Handweavers. Watch the traditional looms at work before browsing the selection of gifts and clothing on offer. We venture into the Wicklow mountains to visit Glendalough, an atmospheric former monastic community complete with a round tower set in a valley of outstanding natural beauty containing two lakes.

Our journey being complete we return to Dublin airport for flights home but the impact of your time in Ireland will stay with you forever.

Magic of Celtic Ireland August 16-27, 2012 (12 days/11 nights) £2155 based on double occupancy Single occupancy supplement: £275 Tour deposit: £450

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Itinerary: August 16-27, 2012

Day 1 Thursday 16th August

Collection from Dublin airport and drive to hotel base in Kells – (1 hr drive) for 4 nights. Introductions followed by dinner at the hotel

Day 2 Friday 17th 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 creates a beam of light that extends deep inside the passage to the central chambers.
Lunch at the visitors centre. Knowth has the finest Neolithic stone carvings in Europe that decorate most of the kerbstones around the base of the cairn. Free choice dinner not included

Day 3 Saturday 18th 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 soundwork. Dinner at the hotel

Day 4 Sunday 19th August

After lunch a climb up to the hilltop cairns of Loughcrew is rewarded with panoramic views of seventeen counties. The old name for Loughcrew was Slieve na Caillighe, Gaelic for Mountain of the Witch. We can gain access into Cairn T which has elaborately carved and decorated stones in its inner recesses and the Hag’s Chair set into the northern side of the kerb. Return to Kells for lunch and personal time to see the High Crosses of Kells (ancient carved stone crosses), visit Kells Abbey or the Heritage Centre, view the copy of the fabulous illuminated manuscript The Book of Kells or to have some free time. Free choice dinner not included

Day 5 Monday 20th August

Today we move hotel to Carrick-on-Shannon (2 hrs drive) for 2 nights. Free afternoon to explore this fascinating town or take a cruise on the River Shannon. Dinner at the hotel

Day 6 Tuesday 21st August

Just ½ hr drive from our hotel is the visitors’ centre of Cruachain Ai where we will be told the legends and history of Ireland. In ancient lore the kingdom of Connacht (or Connaught) was ruled from a ritual center at Cruachain. 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. Free choice dinner not included

Day 7 Wednesday 22nd August

Today we have a long drive as we head to County Kerry in the southwest in the province of Munster to our hotel in Killarney (5hrs) for 3 nights. We will stop for lunch en route. Free time to explore Killarney, famed for its unequalled beauty and its busy streets of shops, pubs and restaurants. This is an ideal place to experience ‘the craic’ of listening to traditional Irish music played by locals in one of the town’s many pubs.. Dinner at the hotel

Day 8 Thursday 23rd August

Killarney is at the entrance to a peninsula of outstanding natural beauty with Dingle Bay to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and Bantry Bay to the south. At the eastern end near Killarney is Lough Leane and Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, a mountain range containing the highest peak in Ireland. The Ring of Kerry is a circular road around the peninsula allowing us to experience the breathtaking views. Halfway around the 100 mile circuit we will stop to take a local boat over to Skellig Michael eight miles off shore. This small island was an isolated monastic community possibly as early as the 5th century. The cluster of stone beehive huts on this rocky island peak are reached by six hundred slate steps rising from sea level, an arduous climb made worthwhile by the stunning views and the feeling of sheer power of the place. It is a power centre of the Apollo and Athena earth energy currents which run southeast across Europe connecting Ireland energetically to energy vortexes all across mainland Europe. Free choice dinner not included

Day 9 Friday 24th August

(1 ½ hrs drive) Today we visit the charming fishing port of Dingle from where some pilgrims in the past started their journey on the Camino pilgrimage to Compostella de Santiago in Spain. Today many pilgrims come to Dingle to see Fungie the wild dolphin who lives in the waters of the bay. We will take a boat ride into the harbour to see him come and play alongside the boat. Free time to explore Dingle. Dinner at the hotel

Day 10 Saturday 25th August

Move to Woodenbridge, to Ireland’s oldest inn (5 hrs drive) for 2 nights. This journey takes us across the south of Ireland
Free choice dinner not included

Day 11 Sunday 26th August

On our last full day we visit the former monastic site of Glendalough which means ‘Glen of the two lakes'. This is a valley of great natural beauty and serenity surrounded by the Wicklow Mountains. There are various buildings from over a thousand year period including a spectacular round tower; an interpretation centre explains this rich history. On our way back we will visit Ireland's oldest working woolen mill at Avoca. We will see the traditional looms in action before browsing their shop and tearooms. Farewell dinner

Day 12 Monday 27th August

To Dublin airport (1 hr) for flights home or private time in Dublin