DIGNANS ANNOUNCE THEIR MAGICAL, MYSTICAL, MUSICAL PILGRIMAGE TO IRELAND from July 7 - July 17, 2015 Prepare to join our friends, Gerry and Denise Dignan, on their ninth pilgrimage tour to the West of Ireland July 7 through the 17th, 2015. Focusing on the West Counties of Galway, Kerry, and Clare, they invite you to explore the soulful West where that land that is always magical, full of mystery and music and mystical moments. Their invitation goes on to say, Our tours are unique, wholistic experiences of Ireland. We weave together many strands of the enchanting facets of Ireland - from 5,000 year old stone circles and cairns to thousand-year-old castles and abbeys to the remains of emigrantsʼ stone cottages our own ancestors lived in just a few generations ago - we explore it all with great heart and soul and Ireland never fails to meet us face to face, heart to heart, soul to soul, in a close encounter - it is a deeper experience of Ireland. We braid our own beautiful Celtic knot through experiencing the folklore - the folk stories of the country people, the ancient myths of the legendary heroes whose memory lives still in Irelandʼs place names, mountains, healing wells, & faces and spirit of the Irish people. Weʼll have musical sessions with extraordinary traditional Irish musicians, time in the pubs getting to know the locals, times of reflection at the ancient sacred sites, exploration of Celtic spirituality through meditative poetic readings & ceremony, as well as our own high-spirited song and dance sessions(!) and perhaps sharing of the poetry (and limericks!) that bubble up as we travel along. One of the very special aspects of our trips is the people who companion us on these journeys. We draw great seekers who contemplate the mystery of Life as Life reveals itself to us in the living of each day. Ireland is a unique place where one feels a closeness to this Intimate Beyond that blesses us and fills us as we continue to awaken to the amazement of it all. Deep sharing takes place among us who share this time and journey together. We keep our groups small - maximum of about 20 - our bus is a smaller size, so we are able to travel down country roads that larger buses cannot manage, which allows for a more inside view of the real Ireland. We also like to let ourselves ease into the Irish day. None of this on the bus at 8 A.M. sharp! As the publican in Tralee said to me, Slow down, man! Youʼre in Ireland now! And so we do make it a point to synchronize our daily timing with the more settled Irish pace in the countryside. We focus mainly on three counties. We greatly appreciate a deeper exploration in each county rather than trying to cover the entire nation at a surface level. There is so much to see in each part of this small enchanting island! We do have an itinerary scheduled for each day, but it IS Ireland and sometimes as we travel along, the fairies and leprechauns play with us, and the lines of time shift and we find ourselves staying longer in a beautiful place than we had planned, or engaged in a mesmerizing conversation with Irish elders who remember the Ireland of days gone by, or we discover an entrancing old pub with young & old-timers playing their fiddles or or or ... these serendipitous moments beg us to stay on a little longer. It is often these most unexpected moments in Ireland -the land of the unexpected - that become very treasured memories. And so, we travel with an openness to this ever-changing (like her skies) real Ireland full of her charm, welcome, humor, & heart-warming surprises. In 2015 we dive into the dramatic, soul-stirring West of Ireland where the ancient is ever present and the spirit of the Irish people is ever youthful and unpredictable! We will begin by gathering for one day and night in Bunratty Village, then spend 4 nights in the Connemara region of County Galway, three nights in County Kerry, & to County Clare for our final 2 nights - this way we are not packing our bags and schlepping luggage back on to our bus each morning! Also, it gives you the option to spend the day on your own, away from the group, and meeting us back home at the end of the day. Our first official day is July 7th in Bunratty Village, just a 15 minute ride from Shannon International Airport. Within walking distance is the famous Bunratty Castle & Folk Park along with some nice shops and a fine selection of restaurants and pubs. It will be a relaxing day to acclimate ourselves to the time change. We will then head north to the stunning region of Connemara in County Galway. It is a Gaeltacht region, meaning that Irish (Gaelic) is still commonly spoken. Connemara is situated at the very edge of Europe and is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled places that one can find. Connemara has long been regarded as the real emerald of Ireland. From Connemara, we will head south to what is, by many, also considered to be Irelandʼs most picturesque county (though itʼs hard to beat Connemara!) - our destination is County Kerry. Our home base for three nights will be in Dingle Town on the one and only Dingle Peninsula, filming location of Ryanʼs Daughter. Dingle is also a Gaeltacht region. Dingle is a very special place where traditional language, music, arts & crafts are highly revered. The isolation and the natural beauty of Dingle make her a place apart from the rest of the world. Dingle locals have also made a significant contribution to the literary field with iconic works of Irish literature. From Dingle, we will head north to her neighbor, the beautiful, wind-swept, and musical county of Clare. Clare, with its Burren region, the mighty cliffs of Moher, the scenic coastal drive, its plethora of megalithic sites and holy wells, is rich in ancient lore, and a feast for both the eyes and soul. And did I mention the ears and feet? -- Clare is home to some of Irelandʼs finest traditional musicians and many consider Clare to be THE county for the best traditional Irish music! In Ireland, our own inner world opens up to us richly as we open ourselves to the Deep Presence we encounter in the land herself, in the megalithic sites that stand 5,000 years later connecting us still to the Great Seekers (as my Great Aunt Ellen would say) of the Ancient Times, the pristine beaches, the stalwart cliffs that rise from the sea, the hidden coves, the mystical misty vistas, the invigorating coastal winds, the rays of sunlight that burst through clouds and illuminate shimmering green fields and mountain silhouettes on the horizon, the peace of the evening light - so many awe-inspiring moments are ours to receive and hold on to in our journeys through Ireland! We will arrive and depart from Shannon International Airport. Cost: $2299 -- includes accommodation--double occupancy (Single Supplement - $500), moderate-size hotels, coach transportation in Ireland, all breakfasts, three dinners, all pre-arranged performances, entrance fees, tour guides, & return transportation on Paddys bus back to Shannon at tours end. Not included: Airfare, taxi from Shannon Airport to Bunratty B&B upon your arrival, Guinness(!), lunches, tips and remaining dinners, and --because we are subject to the whims of the fairies - magical things that happen to materialize right where we are(!) such as -- a play, a concert, a late-night bus ride to a small village pub for an impromptu musical session with local 0ld-timers. We just never exactly know what Irelands little people may be conjuring up for us! Attention!!! We need a minimum of 12 people for our tour to be viable, so please do not purchase your airline tickets until you get word from us that we have our minimum number of fellow travelers! Deadline for Deposit: To ensure your place on our magical, mystical, musical visit to Ireland, we request that you send in your deposit by January 15, 2015. Contact Denise and Gerry Dignan at 815-439-3701 or Email: dignansong@aol your questions. Go to the Website: gerrydignan to register. youtu.be/cS9Ng7whpS4
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 12:30:19 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015