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WALES & IRELAND'S ANCIENT EAST
May 2024



 

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Our pilgrimage begins on the beautiful coast of southwest Wales, with St. David's, a cathedral town named after the country's patron saint and site of his 6th C monastery, serving as our home base.  Moving northward we visit the lovely Welsh mountain valley that was home to St. Melangell, a 7th C Irish princess and hermit.  We trace part of the ancient pilgrimage route along the Llyn Peninsula before journeying by ferry to Ireland.  In the Boyne Valley north of Dublin we visit a 5,000 year old passage tomb, then travel to the renowned medieval center of learning, Clonmacnoise.  In Kildare we learn about St. Brigid and how her concern for justice continues today in her order, the Brigidine Sisters.  Celtic art comes alive as we view exhibits at the National Museum of Dublin and the Book of Kells at Trinity College.  We conclude with several days in the serene Glendalough Valley, site of the well-preserved 6th-12th C monastic settlement founded by St. Kevin, allowing us to integrate all we have learned and experienced. 

St. David's, Wales (May 18-20)

  • Sunday morning choral Eucharist at St. David's Cathedral

  • Guided tour of the Cathedral

  • Pilgrimage walk to sites associated with St. Non, mother of St. David

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Machynlleth and the Llyn Peninsula of Wales (May 21-23)

  • Visit Carreg Samson, a 5,000 year old Neolithic tomb

  • Guided tour and prayers at Pennant Melangell, an ancient shrine and modern retreat center

  • Pray at St. Beuno's Church, site of continuous Christian worship since the 6th C

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Boyne Valley and Kildare, Ireland (May 24-26)

  • Tour the ancient Newgrange passage tomb, which predates the Egyptian pyramids

  • Visit Monasterboice with its well preserved Celtic high cross and adjoining 19th C Irish famine memorial

  • Explore Clonmacnoise and Clonard, sites of important medieval centers of learning

  • Worship at Solas Bhride Centre, with meditation walk at St. Brigid's Well

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Glendalough, Ireland (May 27-30)

  • Guided tour of the monastic city and sites associated with St. Kevin

  • Day trip to Dublin to view early Christian artifacts associated with St. Patrick and others

  • View the Book of Kells, a superlative example of a Celtic Christian illuminated manuscript

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