Goddess Tours International
The Goddess in Ireland
Paps of Anu
A sacred sites tour of Ireland for women
September 2014
Ireland is a magical, mystical land, redolent with the spirit of ancient sites, the sacred landscape, and traces of the many Goddesses from Irish myth and legend. We shall explore some well-known and many lesser-known places associated with Goddesses and Saints, including the legendary Maeve, the river Goddess Boanne, the much-loved Bridgit, and the ancient hag Goddess Cailleach Beara. We shall travel to hidden and remote places throughout the whole of Ireland, in the company of experienced guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis who know and love the sacred land of Ireland.
- See Ireland from the inside
- Experience Irish culture, music and the spirit of the land
- All accommodation arranged
- Transportation to all the sites
- Time for rest and recuperation
- Be with a small Goddess-loving Group
Bridget’s Well, Faughert
The Tour Introduction
Ireland has seen many changes over the last few decades, driven by the success of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ economy, followed by a severe recession. Despite these changes, the country retains a deep wellspring of Celtic and prehistoric history, language and music. Tour Guide Cheryl Straffon has researched this prehistory for the Irish section of her book The Earth Goddess
There will be plenty of time to connect with the sites and the spirituality of the landscape, and there will also be opportunity to reach out to the Goddesses at the sites. Join us now for a magical mystical tour of the sacred island of Ireland.
Carrowmore dolmen, Maeve’s Lump
Itinery
The Tour will begin in Dublin on the east side of Ireland and go in an anti-clockwise direction towards the north, then over to the west coast, and finally back by the southerly route to Dublin. About 15 sites will be visited, including burial chambers, stone circles, holy hills, sacred wells, and Sheela-na-gigs, all with Goddess associations and stories. Accommodation will be in well-appointed B & Bs, and meals (not included) taken in local pubs and restaurants.
Details of sites
We start the Tour at the Hill of Tara, Ireland’s legendary sacred centre and the location of the Mead-Hall of Maeve, the Goddess/Queen of Connacht. From here we go to Newgrange, the most famous passage tomb overlooking the River Boyne, legendary home of the Goddess Boann.
We then travel further up the Boyne Valley to Loughcrew, a passage tomb with inscriptions on the Hill of the Cailleach, the ancient Hag Goddess of Ireland. From here we travel to Faughert, legendary birthplace of the Goddess/Saint Bridget and the site of her well, before turning south to Carrowmore with its wealth of megalithic dolmens aligned to the large Mound named after Maeve. Meave is still with us as we pass through Rathcroghan, her legendary home, and on to two incredible Brideswells and shrines dedicated to Bridget, one at Roscommon and one at Liscannor.
Along the way, we visit a mermaid Sheela-na-Gig at Clonfert Abbey and a beautiful stone circle by a lake at Lough Gur that is overlooked by a holy hill where the Goddess Aine was celebrated up until recent times. Then we catch a glimpse of the magnificent Paps of Anu, named after the eponymous Goddess of all Ireland, before calling in to see St.Gobnait’s Sheela-na-gig at Ballyvourney. Then we head to the furthest west peninsula of Beara, named after the Cailleach Beahra, a rugged unspoilt area with many stone circles and a boulder stone said to represent the Cailleach Beahra herself.
Cailleach Beahra stone
Finally, we head back east, calling in at Kildare, the centre of Bridget worship in Ireland, and pay our respects to her at the Cathedral and at Tobhar Bride, a peaceful sanctuary just outside the town. Thus, spiritually refreshed by the Tour, we make our way back to Dublin and return home.
Tobhar Bride
Tour Guides
Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis
Costs
The total cost for the full 10 day Tour is £950 (shared accommodation) and £1050 (single accommodation). [Payment may be made in your own currency equivalent to these sterling amounts].
This includes:
- Collection from Dublin and return there at the beginning and end of the Tour
- Accommodation in twin or single room B & Bs throughout the Tour
- Transportation to all the sites
- Informed tour-guiding and ceremony with guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis
You are responsible for making your own arrangements for the following:-
- Transport to Ireland
- Your travel insurance
- Your lunch and evening meals (we will eat together as a Group)
- Adequate clothing and footwear (Ireland’s climate can be unpredictable!)
As we shall be a small Group, it means that we can try and look after your individual needs as much as possible. The magic of the sites should speak for themselves, but we are also very happy to share our knowledge and love of these places and their meanings with the Group, and to spend time getting to know you and ensuring that you have a deeply fulfilling and nurturing time.
Uragh circle, Beara
Important things to note:-
If you choose the shared room occupancy you are responsible for providing a room mate. If you wish, we will endeavour to select a room mate for you from any others who have booked for the Tour in this way, but if we are unable to do so, then you will need to pay the single room occupancy supplement. This is a standard requirement for tours of this nature.
A deposit of £100 must be paid at the time of booking this Tour, and the balance no later than 8 weeks before the commencement of the Tour. You have 28 days in which to change your mind about the booking, after which time the deposit becomes non-refundable. This covers any administrative and cancellation charges that we may have to pay. If you are forced to cancel your booking after paying the full amount, the following refunds will be given: Before 8 weeks prior to the Tour – total amount less £100. Between 8 – 4 weeks prior to the Tour – 50% refund. Within 4 weeks – no refund. If we are forced to cancel the Tour for any reason, we shall refund any money paid in full.
The prices for this Tour are set at a rate current at - Seprtember 2012. We hope that this price will be the final price you pay, but in these uncertain economic times, if the exchange rate between the pound and the euro changes significantly before the beginning of the Tour, we reserve the right to impose a surcharge to reflect this which will be no greater than the change in rates. We shall only do this if there is a significant fall or rise in the exchange rate. · We shall endeavour at all times to ensure that care is taken of your needs and abilities, but equally you are responsible for your own safety, and by signing up for the Tour, you agree to absolve the Tour and its organisers from any responsibility for your own safety.
Sunset over Beara
Booking
You download details of our "The Goddess in Ireland - a sacred sites tour of Ireland for women" as a PDF document, 191kb.
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