Featured Tours
Celtic Ireland

A Pilgrimage to Ireland

Our Celtic pilgrimage visits major sites of the ancient peoples of Ireland and of the early Celtic saints, particularly those associated with saints Patrick, Brigit, and Columcille, the “Holy Trinity” of Irish saints.

We’ll explore Kilkenny, Ahenny, Newgrange, Tara, Monasterboice, Clonmacnoise, Cashel, Kildare, Glendalough, and Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. Plus, we’ll travel to Northern Ireland to visit Newcastle, Downpatrick, Saul, Armagh, Derry, and Belfast.

Throughout the pilgrimage Ed Sellner, Ph.D., a noted Celtic scholar, will present informed seminars and encourage lively discussions on the history, teachings, and spirituality of Celtic saints as they apply to contemporary Christians.

Sample Daily Itinerary

Day 1
Depart from USA for Shannon Airport.

Day 2
Board our motorcoach and depart for tour of Rock of Cashel, view Ahenny Crosses and on to Kilkenny. Evening meal together with introductions. Overnight in Kilkenny.

Day 3
Guided tour of Jerpoint Abbey, St. Cannice’s Cathedral, and Kilkenny Castle. Dinner followed by the seminar: “The Early Celtic Church and its Spirituality.” Overnight in Kilkenny.

Day 4
Depart for Glendalough for a tour of the visitor center,and the famous monastic ruins. Eucharist [optional] in the afternoon, with time to walk around the lakes and Wicklow Mountains. Dinner and overnight in Glendalough.

Day 5
Depart for Kildare, and pilgrimage to the churches and holy wells associated with St. Brigit of Kildare. On to Dublin with evening free to scout out the city. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 6
Tour of Kilmainham Gaol, where famous Irish prisoners were jailed, including the martyrs of the 1916 Easter Rebellion. On to Trinity College and the Book of Kells. The rest of the day is free to explore the city, its great National Museum of History and National Gallery of Art. Abbey Theater or Jury’s in the evening, or just relax in one of Dublin’s many pubs. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Dublin

Day 7
Visit Newgrange, Tara and Monasterboice. Discussion and dinner together at Dublin hotel. Free evening.

Day 8
Depart for Northern Ireland, the site of St. Patrick’s foundation in Armagh. Tour of both Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals. If time, we will stop at St. Patrick’s gravesite in Downpatrick. Otherwise, we will visit the next morning. Dinner and overnight in Newcastle, “where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.”

Day 9
Depart for Belfast and a city tour. Special dinner this evening. Overnight in Belfast.

Day 10
Visit Derry, founded by St. Columbille, and tour the city. On to Giants Causeway, associated with the Irish legendary figure, Finn MacCool. Visit to Corrymeela, a contemporary community that fosters reconciliation between northern and southern Ireland, Catholics and Protestants. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Belfast.

Day 11
Depart from Belfast enr oute to Westport. Stop at W. B. Yeats’ grave and information center, located in the shadow of Ben Bulben. Dinner and overnight in Westport.

Day 12
Depart for the beautiful, scenic Connemara Area. Kylemore Abbey is one of our stops before we arrive in Galway for two nights. Dinner and overnight in Galway.

Day 13
Tour Clonmacnoise, one of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites and the home of St. Ciaran, located at the crossroads of Ireland. Afternoon free in Galway with opportunity to visit Kenny’s Bookstore and numerous other shops. Seminar, “The End of the Early Celtic Church: Implications for Today,” and discussion preceding dinner. Dinner and overnight in Galway.

Day 14
Travel through the Burren countryside. Check in at a hotel near Shannon Airport, with time at Dirty Nellie’s before we gather for an Irish Evening.

Day 15
Transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

Pilgrimage Guides
Ed Sellner, Ph.D. is professor of Pastoral Theology and Spirituality at the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota. Ed is a noted scholar in the areas of lay ministry, mentoring, spiritual guidance, and Celtic spirituality.

Author of numerous articles and books, Ed’s publications include Mentoring: The Ministry of Spiritual Kinship (2002), The Celtic Soul-Friend (2002), Soul-Making: The Telling of a Spiritual Journey (1991), Wisdom of the Celtic Saints (1993), and Father and Son: Time Lost, Love Recovered (1995).

Karol Baumeister is the founder and owner of AGT – American Group Tours. Karol specializes in Ireland and Northern Ireland, arranging individual and group travel. She has also escorted groups to various destinations in Europe, Mexico the Middle East and the USA.

For over 20 years, Karol has been involved with the Children’s Program of Northern Ireland, bringing 10 and 11 year-old children from Belfast to stay with a Midwestern family for a five-weeks each summer.

Contact us for more information on next pilgrimage to Celtic Ireland!

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