A Celtic Healing Journey to Mystical Ireland

In these turbulent times, pilgrimages can inspire, heal, and nourish us. Relax, and enjoy the enchantment of the Isle of Saints and Scholars. Our anam cara, or guide is Irish-born Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, co-author with Regina Madonna Oliver of Praying with Celtic Holy Women (Liguori, Spring 2003) Reservations are limited and on a first come basis. Contact Fiona at Isle Inn Tours at 1-800-237-9376 (1023 Queen Street, Alexandria, Va. 22314)

• Discover ancient wisdom of Celtic saints like St. Brigit who according to legend was ordained a Bishop, St Gobnait who defended the oppressed people of Ballyvourney against an abusive leader, St. Ita, a mystic, teacher, confessor and anam cara, often referred as "the fostermother of the saints of Ireland", St. Dymphna, patron of survivors of sexual abuse and people with anxiety disorders.
• Pray at Holy Wells and healing shrines at Kildare, Liscannor Knock, and the Achill Islands known for their curative powers.
• Contemplate the Irish landscape as symbol of a spirituality of Encompassing Presence.
• Explore sacred stonework: Ogham stones, High Crosses, the Hag of Beara, a Woman-Wisdom Rock, and sheela-na-gigs, ancient fertility symbols from medieval times.
• Visit ancient heritage sites in Clonmacnois, Gugane Barra and the Rock of Cashel.
• Attend a stunning performance of Gaelic theater by Siamsa Tire, the national folk theater of Ireland in Tralee and a celebration of traditional Irish music at Bru Boru at the Rock of Cashel.
• Stay in first class hotels in Galway, Tipperary, Killarney

Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan is the author of 20 books including the award-winning
Praying with Visionary Women and host of Godtalk TV. She has produced five
videos on Celtic spirituality. For more information, visit www.godtalktv.org
or e-mail: sofiabmm@aol.com

August 4th Mon. Departure from (BWI) or JFK Kennedy International Airport in New York on Aer Lingus.

August 5th Tue. Arrival in Shannon in am. After collecting our luggage and passing though Irish customs we will be met by Sister Bridget and our Irish bus driver who will escort us to our waiting motorcoach. We will stop for a snack at BunrattyVillage. Then we will drive to Cragganowen, a model of an ancient Irish village. This exceptional site offers a glimpse of wattle-huts, typical of early monastic foundations. We will then head north through the scenic Burren and stop at St. Brigit's well at Liscannor, one of more than 3, 000 holy wells that have their roots in mystical, Celtic spirituality. We also stop to view the breath-taking Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. Free evening to rest and relax in Galway. Dinner and overnight at Ardilaun Hotel in Salthill Galway.

August 6th Wed. After breakfast we will drive north along the coast road through the wild beauty of Connemara to the spectacular Achill Island to visit St. Dymphna's monastic ruins and well in Kildavnet. We will do the scenic Atlantic Drive around Achill and then return to Galway via Joyce country in Connemara. Dinner in in Ardilaun Hotel, Galway.

August 7th Thur. Following breakfast we will make a pilgrimage to Knock, the Lourdes of Ireland. In 1879 there was a vision of Our Lady, St. We will journey to the most famous Marian shrine in Ireland at Knock in County Mayo. We will reflect on Mary, mother of Jesus, as icon of God's nurturing, healing love. Return to hotel in Ardilaun, Galway.

August 8th Fri. After breakfast and travel across the heartland of Ireland to Clonmacnois, where we view the three High Crosses. The Cross of the Scriptures has elegant scenes from scriptures and scholars believe it was mentioned in documents dating back to 957. We will also see the seven churches including the nun's church which dates around 1166. There is also a sheela-na-gig, an ancient fertility figure, there. We will continue to Anner Hotel in Thurles for check-in and dinner. Then we will drive to Cashel for a performance of Bru Boru, a stunning presentation of traditional Irish music.

Aug. 9th Sat. We will visit St. Brigit's monastic foundation, fire temple and holy wells in Kildare acclaimed for centuries for their curative powers. According to one of her Lives, St. Brigit was ordained a bishop. Our reflection will contemplate St. Brigit as a wisdom-guide for spiritual seekers interested in earth-healing, justice and equality today. Attend Liturgy in Kildare. Return to Anner Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Aug. 10th Sun. After breakfast we leave Thurles and travel the road through the Irish countryside and stop at the majestic site of the Rock of Cashel. There is an ancient sculpture of St. Brigit lined up with several of Jesus' apostles and two sheela-na-gigs, that some scholars believe symbolized the special protective powers of the fertility goddesses. We will then proceed to our the Avenue Hotel in Killarney for check-in and dinner.

Aug. 11th Mon. After breakfast we leave Killarney and travel the road that provides us a glimpse of the Paps of Anu, a mountain that is named after an ancient mother goddess of Ireland, Anu. Then we will proceed to the seventh century monastery of St. Gobnait of Ballyvourney, a local heroine who challenged oppressors of her people. Here we will pray at the quiet well nestled in the woods. We will then proceed to scenic Gugane Barra, the ancient monastic site of St. Finbarr, the founder of Cork. Here we will pray in a lovely chapel with beautiful stained glass windows of St. Ita and St. Gobnait. Dinner and overnight in Avenue Hotel, Killarney.

Aug. 12th Tue. On this day we travel through Killarney's scenic lakes and mountains to Kenmare, and then onto the rugged Beare Peninsula to the Hag of Beara Rock, overlooking the tranquil Coulagh Bay. In Celtic mythology, the Hag was a wise or spiritual woman who lived in the wild primeval landscape of the Beara Peninsula where local tradition image her as the "Shaper of the Land". Nearby is Kilcatherine, site of one of the early Christian monastic settlements which was established by a Christian nun, St. Caitigern. Here we will reflect on our inner wisdom, playfulness and relationships in the cosmic community. As we journey around the Beara Peninsula overlooking Bantry Bay, we will recall the courageous spirit of St. Cannera who affirmed the equality of women and men in Christ. Dinner and overnight in Avenue Hotel in Killarney.

Aug. 13th Wed. After breakfast, we will drive around the picturesque Dingle Peninsula. Our reflection today invites pilgrims to journey to the edge of Ireland where the landscape is symbol of the feminine spirit of divinity encompassing and surrounding us, protecting and holding us. We will stop at Ballintaggart to see Ogham stones. Ogham stones are one of the most ancient pre-Christian remains in Ireland. The script of these stones is a primitive alphabet of twenty letters representing the earliest phase of Gaelic. There are nine of them in the circular graveyard at Ballintaggart. (2miles southeast of Dingle). We will explore Dun Beg Fort. The prehistoric fort stands on a narrow promontory at the very edge of the cliff. Its four outer stone walls contain the remains of a beehive hut. The road winds out toward Slea Head passing beneath Mount Eagle and leading to the headland. Across the blue ocean lies the Iveragh peninsula and Skellig Islands, and to the west are the Blasket Islands. We will stop at Oratory of Gallarus at Ballyhanna. Scholars believe it dates somewhere between the 9th and 12th centuries. In the evening we will attend a splendid performance of Gaelic theater at Siamsa Tire in Tralee. Dinner and overnight in Avenue Hotel in Killarney.

Aug. 14th Thur. Depart Hotel after breakfast and travel to Shannon airport for departure to United States. We will stop at St. Ita's shrine for our farewell prayer.