This eleven-day pilgrimage provides an opportunity to explore Celtic Spirituality and presence across Ireland. Highlights include visits to Kildare and Glendalough, associated with St. Bhride (Brigid) and St. Kevin, respectively. Traveling north, pilgrims will visit Fourknocks, an ancient passage tomb, and the Hill of Tara before arriving in the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, Armagh. There we’ll visit pre-Christian sites of worship at Navan Fort and the dual cathedrals of Armagh, one Roman Catholic and the other Church of Ireland. From Armagh, we travel to the Antrim Coast to visit the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills, while also spending time in retreat and reflection at the intentional community of Corrymeela. Our last two nights are in Dublin, where we’ll learn more about early Irish Christianity through illuminated manuscripts at Trinity College Dublin (The Book of Kells) and the Chester Beatty Library. The itinerary may be adjusted according to site access and guide availability. 

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Your group will depart from Pittsburgh to Atlanta at 4:55pm on Delta 1353, connecting to Delta 176 to Dublin, arriving at 8:45am on October 6.

Please arrive at the airport three hours prior to departure. Flight times are subject to change per the airline. Please confirm your flight schedule in the week before your trip.

Arriving in Dublin in the morning, the group will travel by private motorcoach to Glendalough to explore the ruins of the monastic city of St. Kevin with members of the Glendalough Hermitage Centre. We’ll start with lunch (included) at the Glendalough Hotel and a brief opening worship service. Then we’ll enjoy a prayerful tour of the city and a pilgrimage walk up the glen. You’ll have free time in the late afternoon. Dinner (included) and overnight at Glendalough Hotel. 

Today, we travel to Kildare, the home of St. Brigid and the Solas Bhride Centre. We’ll spend the morning learning about the life and faith of Brigid of Kildare and how her spirituality might shape our own faith and impact the world around us. Lunch (included) at the Solas Bhride Centre, followed by some free time in Kildare for personal exploration. We’ll return to Glendalough in the late afternoon. Dinner (included) and overnight at Glendalough Hotel.

We depart Glendalough today and explore the pre-Christian Celtic spirituality that informs the beliefs and rituals of this land. At Fourknocks, you’ll experience a megalithic passage tomb. We’ll have lunch (on your own) before continuing to the Hill of Tara, a site of ritual and political import for early Celts. Following our time at Tara, we continue on to Armagh, arriving at our hotel in time for dinner (included). Overnight at Armagh City Hotel.

Armagh was another important religious site for both pre-Christian and Christian Celts. We’ll explore both with visits to the Navan Fort and the two St. Patrick’s Cathedrals. At the Navan Fort, hear the story of Emain Macha that originated here, get a glimpse at Iron Age Celtic life, and take a short walk to a first-century BC temple. We’ll also have lunch together (included) here. In the center of Armagh, two cathedrals, one Roman Catholic and one Church of Ireland bear witness to the importance of the city as a religious capital dating to the time of St. Patrick. We’ll visit both cathedrals before enjoying free time and dinner (on your own) in Armagh.  Overnight at Armagh City Hotel.

Today, we begin with a visit to the town of Downpatrick and the St. Patrick Centre for an introduction to Ireland’s patron saint. We will also visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on the hill where the saint was buried after his death in 461 A.D. According to tradition, St. Columba and St. Brigid are also buried here. Lunch (included) We’ll also visit the nearby Saul Church, where St. Patrick launched his mission to Ireland, before continuing on to Corrymeela for dinner (included) and overnight accommodations. 

 The Corrymeela Community is a disbursed, intentional Christian community rooted in the values of peacemaking and reconciliation. They welcome groups to their retreat center on the scenic Antrim Coast near Ballycastle in Northern Ireland. We’ll spend the first part of today in retreat, led by Rev. Kiran Young Wimberly, including free time for personal reflection in this scenic locale. All meals are included. Overnight at Corrymeela. 

Today provides time for a leisurely visit to the natural wonders of the Antrim Coast. In the morning, pilgrims can choose between a 4-mile scenic coastal hike or a visit to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. The whole group will reconvene at Giant’s Causeway, where you can opt for a bag lunch (included) or eat at one of two nearby cafes (on your own). At this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the unique rock formations have stood as a natural rampart for millions of years against the unbridled ferocity of Atlantic storms. The rugged symmetry of the columns and the associated folklore never fails to intrigue and inspire visitors. After lunch, in the nearby village of Bushmills, we’ll visit the oldest working whiskey distillery in Ireland. Enjoy a tour of the distillery and the option for a tasting. Return to Corrymeela for dinner and overnight accommodations.

Returning to the Republic of Ireland, we will stop at the early Christian settlement of Monasterboice. It was founded in the late 5th century by St. Buithe and was an important center of religion and learning. The site houses two churches built in the 14th century or later and an earlier round tower, but it is most famous for its 10th century high crosses. Lunch (TBD) en route. In the afternoon we arrive in Dublin where we’ll visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. After a cathedral tour, worship at the Choral Evensong service before enjoying a free evening in Dublin for dinner on your own. Overnight at Hyatt Centric, The Liberties Dublin.

For the final day of our pilgrimage, we’ll visit some of the treasures of Celtic Christianity in the form of illuminated manuscripts. We start at Trinity College to view the Book of Kells. This 9th century book is a richly decorated copy of the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ. It is one of only a few such manuscripts that survived Viking raids. We’ll continue on to the Chester Beatty Library, a museum with an impressive collection of early illuminated manuscripts from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and more; Japanese prints; and European prints. You’ll have the rest of the day free to have lunch (on your own) and explore Dublin. Options include visiting the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol (advance tickets required), Dublin Castle (advance tickets recommended), any of Dublin’s excellent museums, or joining a literary or historical walking tour (advance tickets recommended). We’ll reconvene for closing reflections and a group dinner (included) with a Celtic music. Overnight at Hyatt Centric, The Liberties Dublin. 

We will head for the airport in the morning to meet your return flight to Pittsburgh. The group will fly together on Delta 177 from Dublin to Atlanta, departing at 11:00am. You connect to Delta 2583 from Atlanta to Pittsburgh, arriving at 6:38pm.

Please note that flight times are subject to change per the airline. Please reconfirm your flight scheduled in the week prior to your departure.