An Irish Pilgrimage:
To the Island of Saints and Scholars
Group Leaders:
The Rev. Canon Stephen N. Brannon &
Dr. James J. Rawls
ACIS Group ID: 20372
U.S. Gateway: San Francisco
Departure Date: 14 May 2008
Return Date: 25 May 2008
Length of Trip: 12 Days
Countries Visited: Ireland and Great Britain
Overnights: 5 Dublin, 3 Tralee, 2 London
Highlights: Hill of Tara, St Kevin’s Glendalough monastery, St Brigid’s holy well and cathedral in Kildare, Dublin’s Trinity College and Book of Kells, Dublin city tour, Choral Evensong in Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican), Choral Eucharist in St Patrick’s Cathedral (Anglican), Newgrange megalithic passage tomb, Clonmacnoise monastery, journey aboard narrow-gauge bog railway, Rock of Cashel, historic Dingle Peninsula, spectacular Ring of Kerry, boat excursion to Skellig Michael, two free evenings and free day in London
Program Fee:* $3239
+ $95 US: ACIS Registration Fee
+ $335 US: Tax/Inspection/Supplement Fee
*(Note: Discount of $200 if registered by August 1, 2007)
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1. Wednesday, May 14, 2008....................................... Overnight Flight
Departure from the United States.
Day 2. Thursday, May 15, 2008..........................................Dublin
Arrival in Dublin. Transfer to our hotel located in a serene setting just outside of Dublin. Reception and Welcome Dinner.
Day 3. Friday, May 16, 2008..........................................................Dublin
Excursion to Hill of Tara, center of Celtic Ireland until arrival of St Patrick in fifth century. Tour Glendalough, founded by St Kevin in sixth century.
Day 4. Saturday, May 17, 2008......................................................Dublin
Visit St Brigid’s well & cathedral in Kildare. Dublin city tour including Trinity College & Book of Kells. Attend Choral Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral.
Day 5. Sunday, May 18, 2008.........................................................Dublin
Worship at Choral Eucharist at St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by tour of cathedral. Afternoon excursion to Newgrange (c. 3000 BC), the most important megalithic passage tomb in Europe.
Day 6. Monday, May 19, 2008........................................................Dublin
Journey westward to monastic settlement at Clonmacnoise, founded by St Ciarán in sixth century. Climb aboard narrow gauge railway for a bog tour in Offaly.
Day 7. Tuesday, May 20, 2008......................................................Tralee
Today’s journey brings you first to the Rock of Cashel to visit the imposing ruins of Cormac’s chapel. Continue to our hotel in County Kerry. Dinner included.
Day 8. Wednesday, May 21, 2008................................................Tralee
Hop on board a Jaunting Tour to Muckross House, a stately Victorian home, and Ross Castle. Afternoon tour of historic Dingle Peninsula, including remote Reask Monastery, Kilmalkedar Church, and Gallarus Oratory. Dinner included.
Day 9. Thursday, May 22, 2008.....................................................Tralee
Discover Ireland at its most beautiful as you travel around the spectacular Ring of Kerry. Visit heritage centre and cruise around the Skelligs to view seabirds and ancient monastic dwellings perched on craggy outcroppings. Farewell Dinner.
Day 10. Friday, May 23, 2008.......................................................London
We travel today to Shannon for our short flight over the Irish Sea to London. Relax, unpack, and enjoy a free evening in one of the world’s liveliest cities.
Day 11. Saturday, May 24, 2008...............................................London
Experience a full free day and evening in London. Ideal opportunity to visit St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, and British Library to see its unrivaled treasures. Consider attending Choral Evensong at 3:00 at Westminster Abbey.
Day 12. Sunday, May 25, 2008..............................................Departure
Time permitting, opportunity to attend morning service at St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington before transferring to the airport for return flight.
An Irish Pilgrimage: To the Island of Saints and Scholars will be an outward journey through some of the most beautiful countryside in the Republic of Ireland. Our pilgrimage together will be a journey inward as well, a time of spiritual enrichment and renewal. Our pace will be leisurely with time for prayer and reflection as we consider the unique world of Celtic Christian spirituality. Our icons into this fascinating world include St Patrick, St Kevin, and St Brigid.
Along our pilgrim's way we'll explore the major sacred sites in Ireland, visiting such magnificent reminders of our spiritual heritage as the Anglican cathedrals in Dublin and Kildare, and the ancient monastic settlements at Glendalough and Clonmacnoise. We'll also explore some out-of-the-way gems, such as the great passage tomb at Newgrange, the rarely visited Christian beehive huts and dry-stone churches on the Dingle Peninsula, and the spectacular offshore Skellig islands where a community of monks lived in isolation for six hundred years. Not to be missed is the breath-taking natural beauty of the Ring of Kerry! For fun, we'll board a narrow-gauge railway to try our hands at cutting turf and ride “jaunting carts” to visit stately Muckross House and nearby Ross Castle. Most evenings will be free for you to experience Irish life (and pubs?) as you wish.
Registration will be limited to 30 participants. Please visit our web site at www.OnPilgrimage.com for further information. You may contact us at snbrannon@aol.com or (707) 938-3367.
You also are invited to an Irish tea and informational meeting at 166 France Street, Sonoma, California at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, July 22, 2007.
Completed registration forms should be returned to ACIS with the $95 registration fee. Credit-card registration also may be made online at www.ACIS.com/registration. If registered by August 1, 2007, you will receive a $200 discount.
