Pictures from Ireland

A Celtic Expedition of Poetic Proportions

A Pilgrimage to Ireland

Led by:

Sister Barbara Jean Brown and Sister Julian Wilson
Anamchara Fellowship
Newark, DE

May 7 – 17, 2010

Trip map

DAY 1, Friday, May 7, 2010 - Depart the United States for our trans-Atlantic flight to Shannon, Ireland. D

DAY 2: Saturday, May 8, 2010 - Our Pilgrimage to Ireland begins:  Arriving at Shannon Airport, we will meet our driver and travel to Ennis which is close by and where we will have some free time before continuing on to see the Spectacular Cliffs of Moher.  From there we go on to the lovely Dingle Peninsula where we will have dinner in a restaurant in the picturesque small harbor village of Dingle.  We will overnight in the nearby Dingle Harbour Lodge. D

DAY 3: Sunday, May 9, 2010 - We begin our time on the Dingle Peninsula where we attend Eucharist at Kilgobban Church.  We continue with an extended drive along the beautiful coast.  We will see Mount Brandon and stop along the way to see ancient beehive huts and the Gallarus Oratory, one of the first churches ever built in Ireland.  We return to Dingle where we will be free to enjoy dinner in a local restaurant of our own choosing.  Overnight Dingle Harbour Lodge. B

DAY 4: Monday, May 10, 2010 - This morning we enjoy a one hour Irish Language class.  The class will be a basic introduction to conversational Irish learning basic words, phrases (with sound) and basic greetings.  Our teacher will also give the history and current status of the Irish language.  After our class, we are free to explore Dingle town at our leisure.  There is a saying: Dingle isn’t heaven, but it’s a local call from there.  For those of us feeling adventurous, we can arrange our own local activities.  For example, we can take a pony trek, have a session at the Dingle music school, or enjoy some time spent at the potter’s wheel.  We are free to arrange our own dinner.  Overnight Dingle Harbour Lodge. B

DAY 5: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - Today we depart Dingle for the capital of Ireland - Dublin, stopping at the Rock of Cashel, the seat of the Archbishops of Ireland for 7 centuries.  Here we will find a spectacular group of medieval buildings standing on a giant circular mound rising 200 feet above the surrounding plain.  Legend has it that the devil, flying over Ireland in a hurry, took a bite out of the Slieve Bloom Mountains to clear his path and spat it out here in the Golden Vale at Cashel.  After our visit, we continue on to Dublin where we will have dinner and overnight in All Hallows College Conference Center. BD

DAY 6: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - Today we travel to Glendalough, the setting of some of Ireland's most important monastic settlements.  At the visitor's center, we will see a film, "Ireland of the Monasteries", which will give us a brief history of the monastery.  There will be a pilgrimage walk through St. Kevin's Monastic City and the remains of St. Kevin's Cell, the Reefert Church and Tempall na Skellig.  We will visit the graveyard and the old Abbey Church.  We can enjoy as much or as little of this pilgrimage walk as we wish before returning to All Hallows College Conference Center for our evening meal and overnight. BD

DAY 7: Thursday, May 13, 2010 - Today we travel through the green rolling hills of the Boyne Valley for a visit to Knowth, a Stone Age passage grave.  This great mound was built over 5000 years ago and has two passages with entrances on opposite sides.  We will visit Monasterboice, one of the most famous religious sites in Ireland.  Here we will see the famous 10th century High CrossesMuiredach’s High Cross is the finest in all of Ireland.  We will also see the West Cross, known as the Tall Cross which is one of the largest in Ireland.  We will return to All Hallows College Conference Center for overnight. B

DAY 8: Friday, May 14, 2010 - Today we will visit Kildare where St. Brigid founded a double monastery (for both men and women) and where a sacred fire was kept burning continuously for 1,000 years.  We will visit Solas Bhríde, a small Christian centre, which has as its focus St. Brigid and Celtic Spirituality.  Here the nuns have developed a pilgrimage called “Walking in the Footsteps of Brigid”.  The pilgrimage will lead the pilgrim to historical sites associated with St. Brigid including a visit to St. Brigid’s Cathedral, St. Brigid’s Church and the Wells.  We will return to All Hallows College Conference Center for our evening meal and overnight. BD

DAY 9: Saturday, May 15, 2010 - Today is completely free to explore on our own.  We can explore Dublin and all it has to offer at our own pace.  We are free to enjoy lunch and dinner at our own leisure.  We will return to All Hallows College Conference Center for overnight. B

DAY 10: Sunday, May 16, 2010 - This morning we will attend Christ Church Cathedral for Eucharist.  We will have time to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy lunch at our leisure in Dublin.  In the afternoon 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 will return to the All Hallows College Conference Center for overnight. BL

DAY 11: Monday, May 17, 2010 - Depart our hotel for our return flight to the USA. B

Price: $2,769.00  Price is based on double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Newark, NJ.  Air transportation available from other cities.

* Excludes airline taxes and surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice. Estimated taxes as of July 22, 2009 $117.87 per person.*

** The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the Euro and the US dollar.  We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the Euro.  Your pricing was based on the exchange rate of $1.41193 to the Euro. **

$300.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport.

Final Payment due by February 5, 2010.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ August 14, 2009 – February 5, 2010 - $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ February 6, 2010 – March 22, 2010 - $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After March 23, 2010 :  NO REFUND

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.