The Hag's Journey - North
Ireland | Sept. 20-29, 2019
Rates
- Person - $2599
Duration
- 9 Days
About
Armagh, Derry, Tyrone, Donegal, Sligo, Uisneach, Loughcrew & Knowth
This spiritual tour of the northern region of Ireland (including Northern Ireland), The Hag's Journey - North starts from Dublin Airport and moves into the north country - the area in Ireland that is least visited and is still relatively undeveloped. The north has an amazing energy, and the elements of the Irish countryside are magnified in this unspoiled landscape. The first stops are in County Louth - St. Brigid's birthplace and holy well and the Hill of Ward - an ancient druidic site. Then guests will head to County Armagh and then explore sacred sites through Counties Tyrone, Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Sligo and some surrounding counties - 13 counties in all. Sites include passage tombs, stone circles, holy wells, natural caves, and sacred mountains. The second half of this tour traces the west to east line that of major monuments in Ireland- many affiliated with feminine deities - Carrowmore, Keshcorran, Rathcroghan, Loughcrew, and Knowth.
Sites include St. Brigid's birthplace and holy well, Bective Abbey, Navan Fort, Slieve Gullion, Lough Crew (Hill of the Hag), Beaghmore Stone Circles, St. Moninna's Holy Well, Slieve Gallion, Inishkeel, The Rock of Doon, Caldragh Ancient Cemetery, Lisadell House, Drumcliffe (Yeats' grave), Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Knocknashee, Rathcroghan, Keshcorran Caves, the Hill of Uisneach, the Hill of Ward and finally - Knowth in the Boyne Valley.
Feminine deities explored include are Brigid (both goddess and saint); Macha of Eamhain Mhacha (Navan Fort - Armagh); Aíne, sun goddess; Queen Maeve of Connaught; Ériu, from whom Ireland (Eire) takes its name; and the Cailleach or the Hag of Beara- whose story stretches from the Beara Peninsula through Sligo and across to Sliabh na Cailleach - aka the Hill of the Hag - where this tour ends.
Guests on this tour will visit sites and ancient monuments that are off the typical tourist routes - sites that are deep in the northern Irish landscape.
MUSIC & STORYTELLING This tour also includes a private evening with a traditional Irish music group, an opportunity to visit with a legendary Irish Storyteller, a free day in Sligo town and a day with Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland who will privately guide the tour of Loughcrew and Knowth.
A spiritual tour that connects guests with the maternal elements of the land
The Earth is our mother and is associated with the divine feminine. This tour with its selection of sites goes deep into the northern Irish landscape and connects with the understanding of the earth as our mother. Themes of rebirth and accessing ancient wisdom surface all along this tour. This tour is ideal for healers, artists, and those interested in earth energy and nature - especially the wild places. If you feel especially connected to the land, the spirit of the plants and trees, then this tour will be exhilarating for you.
There will also be time for fun. Guests will stay in and visit vibrant cities such as Sligo, Donegal, and Derry, with an entire day free in Sligo. Guests will also be able to engage with local guides who will provide an authentic cultural experience in Ireland.
This tour is limited to 15 to 25 people - so as to be flexible and intimate.
The Focus is thin places
The focus of all our tours is “thin places” or places where the veil between this world and the eternal world is thin… where both worlds are woven together. And as on all of our tours, you’ll see the unspoiled hidden places few visitors ever see on other commercial tours. You’ll be traveling within the context of a story while peeping into the ancient past of mystical hills, stone circles, passage tombs, holy wells, monastic ruins, castle ruins, and archeological wonders. There will be quiet time as well as fun group excursions. This is a spiritual tour you will never forget.
THE HAG'S JOURNEY (NORTH) - ITINERARY & DETAILS
A full-time tour guide will be with the tour from start to finish as will a coach driver. The guide will be Mindie Burgoyne, tour operator and owner of Thin Places Mystical Tours. She has a long history of investigating thin places in Western Europe and an understanding of earth energies and the power of spiritual pilgrimage. Overnights will be in Dundalk, Letterkenny, Sligo and Dublin Airport.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
- Full-time tour guide / Private Coach - Mindie Burgoyne will be the full-time tour guide. A private motor will be secured for the entire duration of the tour.
- All Accommodations in 3 or 4-star hotels or high-end B&Bs
- All breakfasts
- Four dinners - Welcome and Farewell dinners on the first and last nights, plus one dinner in Donegal and Sligo.
- Lunch in Armagh
- All private tours/ guides & attraction admissions
- An Evening of Irish Music - local musicians will play traditional and folk music and discuss the musical craft and traditional instruments.
- 2 Private tours with Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland on the final day.
- Over 25 Group Excursions that include: Bective Abbey • Hill of Ward • St. Brigid's Shrine and Holy Well • Navan Fort • Slieve Gullion • St. Moninna's Holy Well • Beaghmore Stone Circles • Auglish Stone Circle • Slieve Gallion • Derry City • Grianan of Aileach • Lacknacoo - stone of loneliness • Assaranca waterfall • Caves of Maghera • Inishkeel • Glenties Scenic Drive • Creevykeel Court Tomb • Drumcliff - Yeats' Grave • Caldragh Graveyard • Lissadel House • Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery • Sligo Town • Rathcroghan • Keshcorran • Hill of Uisneach, Loughcrew and Knowth.