Exploring Our Celtic Spirituality

A Pilgrimage to Ireland

Led by:

The Rev. Jeffrey Dugan

and

The Rev. Robert Bergner

Seabury Center for Spirituality

September 8 – 18, 2014

DAY 1: Monday, September 8, 2014 - We will depart from Boston’s Logan Airport for our nonstop flight to Dublin, Ireland. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 - We arrive at the Dublin Airport and drive through Phoenix Park into the city.  We drive by the tree lined O’Connell Street and the old Georgian Squares before we visit the National Museum of Ireland to see its impressive Celtic artifacts.  We will visit the Guinness Brewery and have time for lunch before we check into our hotel where we can have a brief rest or have some free time for shopping.  We will attend Evensong at St. Patricks Cathedral before having a “Welcome to Ireland” dinner.  Overnight at Trinity Capital Hotel Dublin. MD

DAY 3: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 - We take the short drive north of Dublin to visit the stone age passage graves at Newgrange which are older than the pyramids of Egypt and among the most impressive ancient sites anywhere in the world.  We drive through the Boyne Valley and see the historic hills that symbolize the primordial conflict between the lords of this world and the lordship of Christ:  The Hill of Tara, center of the high-king of Ireland and the Hill of Slane where St. Patrick, in the 5th century, lit the Paschal fire as a challenge to the pagan High King of Ireland.  We return to Dublin where there will be some free time for shopping or exploring on your own.  The evening is free for dinner on your own.  Overnight at Trinity Capital Hotel Dublin. B

DAY 4: Thursday, September 11, 2014 - Today we explore Dublin.  We visit the National Museum of Ireland with its impressive Celtic artifacts and St. Patrick’s Cathedral which contains the largest and most interesting collection of church monuments in Ireland.  In the afternoon, we will visit Trinity College to see the famous Book of Kells, the richest illuminated of Ireland’s medieval manuscripts.  We will visit the Chester Beatty Library at Dublin Castle which boasts a diverse collection that captures much of the richness of human creative expression from about 2700 BC to the present.  Here you will find Egyptian papyrus texts, beautifully illuminated copies of the Qur’an, the Bible and European medieval and renaissance manuscripts.  Overnight in the Trinity Capital hotel, Dublin. BD

DAY 5: Friday, September 12, 2014 - This morning we explore Glendalough, the setting of one of Ireland's most important monastic settlements.  We will see a short film, "Ireland of the Monasteries", which will give us a history of the monastery.  We then take a pilgrimage walk led by Father Michael Rogers through St. Kevin's Monastic City and visit the remains of St. Kevin's Cell, the Reefert Church and Tempall na Skellig.  Also, through the graveyard, over the river, and left about 1/3rd of a mile down a slope is the old Abbey Church.  We will have the afternoon free to enjoy the majestic beauty of this special place situated in County Wicklow, the garden of Ireland.  Dinner and overnight in Glendalough Hotel. BD

DAY 6: Saturday, September 13, 2014 - We depart Glendalough and stop at Clonmacnoise, an ancient monastic site situated in the centre of Ireland, founded by St Ciarán in the mid 6th Century.  We also pass through the visitor centre, which displays a number of cross-slabs and the 9th Century Cross of the Scriptures.  We will take the late afternoon ferry from Rossaveal to Inis Mor on the Aran Islands.  St. Enda founded a monastery here on Inis Mor in 485 AD which drew many men and women of faith to the island and resulted in the 10 monasteries that were eventually built here.  We will check into our accommodation and after dinner we will have a talk with Padraigin Clancy, a scholarly expert on St. Brigid, who will be able to introduce us to this remarkable 6th century Irish saint and abbess.  Dinner and overnight Aran Islands. BD

DAY 7: Sunday, September 14, 2014 - This morning our local guide will be Cyril O’Flaherty, who will show us his island, “an island where history meets myth and myth meets magic”.  Our first stop will be to Dun Aengus, a stone age fort perched on 400 foot high cliffs.  We will gather for our own Service in the ruins of St. Enda’s church.  We will also visit the monastery of St. Brecan at the “Seven Churches” and see a Clochán or Beehive Cell, built with dry-wall corbelling.  Dinner and overnight Aran Islands. BD

DAY 8: Monday, September 15, 2014 - Today we explore Connemara, a wild region of bogs, mountains and rugged coastlines.  We will visit Kylemore Abbey, a romantic coastside castle built in the Gothic Revival style.  Originally built as a castle, it became an abbey when Benedictine nuns, fleeing from Belgium during World War I, sought refuge here.  We will drive drive by Killarey Harbour, through the picturesque village of Leenane, the Maam Valley and along the Upper Lough Corrib.  We will stop in Cong and stroll through Cong Abbey and see the Monks fishing spot.  This evening we will have dinner in Glenlo Abbey’s River Room Restaurant with stunning views over the grounds of the hotel down to the River Corrib.  Overnight in Glenlo Abbey, Galway. BD

DAY 9: Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - We depart for County Clare and stop in the Burren, meaning “Great Rock”, one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe.  We see the Cliffs of Moher, Standing 702 feet at their highest point, they stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic Coast.  We also visit Kilmacduagh (Church of the son of Duagh), the monastery which was founded by Saint Colmán MacDuagh about 600 AD.  The most conspicuous feature of the well preserved round tower (33m High) is that it leans almost 50cm from the perpendicular.  The extensive remains include a cathedral, Church of St. John the Baptist, Glebe House, O’Hayes Church and St. Mary’s Church.  In the evening we will board the Corrib Princess where we will enjoy dinner followed by an Irish Coffee demonstration, traditional Irish Music, Song and Dance.  Overnight in Glenlo Abbey, Galway. BD

DAY 10: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - This morning we explore the seaside city of Galway.  We will see the Spanish Arch, built in 1584 to protect the harbor, Lynch’s Castle, and the Old Quays where Spanish traders unloaded their ships.  We visit the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Galway’s finest medieval building.  The church was built in 1320 on the ruins of an older church.  The first important transformation came in 1485 and many of its finest features date from that time.  The church boasts one of only two smiling angels in the world and it is also said that Christopher Columbus prayed here before his trip to the New World.  This evening we will have our Farewell to Ireland Dinner in the Pullman Restaurant in Glenlo Abbey’s Orient ExpressOvernight in Glenlo Abbey, Galway. B

DAY 11: Thursday, September 18, 2014 - We will depart from Shannon airport for our nonstop flight to Boston’s Logan Airport. BD

Price:  $2,999.00*.  Price is based on a minimum 30 Pilgrims, double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Boston’s Logan Airport.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single Supplement:  $559.00

* Excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice and tips for the driver and guide that are payable upon completion of services.  Estimated taxes and fuel surcharges are $340.00 per person and may change.

* 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 $1.35 to the Euro.

$300.00 per person deposit due by March 1, 2014 with registration and copy of passport.

Final Payment due by June 1, 2014.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until March 1, 2014:  $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ March 2 – May 31, 2014:  $300.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ June 1, 2014 or later:  NO REFUND

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, M Meals on Aircraft

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