Spa for the Soul - The Stones of Ireland - A Spiritual Tour of Mystic Places

Though St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th Century, the old spirits are still remembered in the holy places of the countryside & elemental forces can still be felt at many pre-historic astronomical sites. There are still Druids in Ireland & the solstice is celebrated. This tour takes you to the power centres of the more important sites as well as several that are little known but none the less interesting & have a strong sacred ambience. You'll visit megalithic energised 'healing stones' - sometimes aligned in stone rows, stone circles & holy wells, places built by our ancestors thousands of years ago for the community to make contact with the spirit world. Whether the sacred spirituality of these places is Christian, Pagan or something else depends on you. Some think of them as embodying pre-Christian Christianity; others see them as places of very intense earth spirit, where there is particular connection with spirits of the other heavenly bodies - sun, moon & stars.

This tour is available throughout the year as either a self drive or with a driver guide.  Price start at EUR 1300 per person sharing including accommodation, breakfast, service, tax, transport within Ireland and admissions.  For bookings call +353 1 2889433 or 1 800 894 5712 from the US or Canada or e-mail ireland@irishluxury.com

Day 1 Leave Dublin for the granite hills of Wicklow. Our first stop, Castleruddery Stone Circle is in a remote meadow in the foothills of the mountains. From there we travel on to Rath Gall, a huge stone age hill top fort. Huntington Castle, home of the Fellowship of Isis, has great power. At the confluence of two rivers, with ancient yew walks, a bullaun stone & a holy well it is a place to which the spirit will often return. Overnight at The Mill Race Hotel in Bunclody where a spa treatment is included.

Day 2 We'll travel to Kilkenny, stopping briefly in this marble city, before heading on to Cashel, an important site since long before man came to Ireland. Rising from the plain, the limestone outcrop is now topped with ancient church buildings. The base of the high cross was a druid altar. We'll stay near Aherlow - at the eastern end of the Glen is St Berrihert's Well & Kyle and remote and hidden sacred site of Darby's Bed, at Galbally

Day 3 Explore around Lough Gur. It is an intriguing & impressive site with not just the largest stone circle in Ireland but also two smaller stone circles nearby which lend to the mystery. Here you may meet many of the sidhe kings & queens of Ireland. The lake lies within a circle of low lying hills, but once every seven years it appears as dry land, where an entrance to the Land of Youth may be found. The lake's guardian is known as Toice Bhrean (the lazy one) because she neglected to watch over the well, from which the lake sprang forth. It is believed that once every seven years a mortal is 'taken' by the Beann Fhionn, the White Lady. See Knockfierna. In the old tales it is the hill of the Fairy King Donn who was God of the Underworld; Return to the valley of the River Suir.

Day 4 Through Doneraile to Rathmore. Here below the twin dignified, noble & beautiful breast shaped mountains known as the Paps is site of the oldest uninterrupted religious ceremony in Europe. The City "Cromleach Cathair Craobh Dearg" meaning the Fort of the Red Claw is now a Christian shrine but was sacred to Dana the mother of the Gods. Overnight in Kenmare, on the fabulously beautiful Ring of Kerry. Tonight enjoy a traditional Irish dinner with music and dance.

Day 5 Explore the stones of West Cork visiting some stunning alignments & stone circles. Perhaps because it was more populated in ancient times than it is today, or perhaps because our ancestors thoughts turned to worship in such spiritually uplifting surroundings, the area is rich with fascinating sites. Overnight Kenmare.

Day 6 A long drive through beautiful countryside, crossing the Shannon at Limerick & heading North to the Cliffs of Moher, that crash majestically 700 feet down into the Atlantic. Follow tracks across the Burren to Slieve Carron. There is an old church hidden in the woods there with a spring and a holy well, and even a small hermit's cave nearby. More elegant accommodation will be provided close to Bunrattty Castle.

Day 7   Travel towards Dublin, stopping for lunch at St Bridgid's Cathedral and fire house in Kildare. Enjoy a little retail therapy over lunch in the luxury designer outlet village at Kildare, where the vista is closed by a medieval church. Otherworld presence is strong at the Hill of Tara - a place which has occupied a special significance in Irish legend & folklore for millennia. One of the many mounds is a tomb from 2,500 BC. By the 3rd century Tara was the seat of the most powerful rulers, a place where the High King & his Royal Court had their ceremonial residence. The phallic Stone of Destiny (Lia Fail) is said to be the inauguration stone of the High Kings. Spend the rest of your final day visiting the magnificent mounds on the Boyne river, Newgrange & Knowth, which have been designated as UN World Heritage sites before heading towards Dublin Airport for your last night.

Day 8 Depart Dublin Airport - an optional extension available for those who would like to stay on in Dublin for a couple of days.

Adams & Butler Ltd.

The Carriage House

58 Foster Avenue

Mount Merrion

Co. Dublin, Ireland

Tel +353-1-2889433  Fax 353-1-2889282 

ireland@irishluxury.com 
US Toll Free 1-800-894 5712

http://www.privateluxurytravel.com http://www.irishluxury.com
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Ichaun of Irlande, ant of the holy londe of Irlande. Gode Sir pray ich ye, For of saynte charite, Come ant dance wyt me in Irlande

I am of Ireland, and of the holy land of Ireland. Good sir, pray I thee, for holy charity, Come and dance with me in Ireland - 14th c Irish verse