Exploring Irelands Nature, Celtic Culture & Archaeology.

With Maeve Kelly, Director of Walking Boots Tours,Ireland.

(B.A. Archaeology & Celtic Studies).

&

Marcie Hagge. Educator, Cedar Falls, Iowa, U.S.A.

Sponored by Viterbo.

Date: July 29th to August 7th 2010.

Location: Sligo & South Donegal, Westport-Co Mayo and Ballvaughan- The Burren.

Tour Outline: Short presentations, visiting ancient archaeological sites, hiking the landscape,sharing the stories, the legends, exploring places off the beaten track, seeing a different Ireland.

 
NB>The first 5 days of the tour the emphasis will be more on learning, seeing, doing, experiencing Irelands culture, nature,  and ancient past. The early part of the trip will be short hikes.  Later in the week we will have longer hikes, Day 6 onwards.

Tour Cost:  1,650 euro per person sharing.

Included: 9 nights B&B, lunches, 5 meals, ferries, entrances, all transport, local guides,                                        services Maeve Kelly & Marcie Hagge.
Not Included: 4 meals, airfare, and gratuities to principal guide.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival to Shannon and collection by Maeve, your guide for the duration of the tour. We will drive to our first guesthouse in the beautiful North West of Ireland, at Sligo town and stay here for the next 5 nights.
We will take some rest stops on our route north to walk and have lunch.
After dinner Maeve will brief us on the tour ahead, time for questions.
Overnight & evening meal included in Sligo.

Day 2:  This morning after breakfast Maeve will give us a presentation, 'Introduction to Irish Archaeology'- A Snapshot'. In the afternoon we will visit two famous sites near Sligo, Carrowmore, passage tombs and Queen Maeve’s tomb on top of Knocknarea Mountain. We will have stunning views all across Sligo to Leitrim and beyond.

Evening presentation by Maeve on Early Medieval Ireland & The beginnings of Christianity.
Overnight in Sligo ,evening meal not included .

Morning presentation on educational tour.

Day 3:Weather permitting today we will take a spectacular boat trip to visit Inishmurray Island off the Sligo Coast. This is an ancient monastic site associated to Saint Molaise. Due to recent archaeological excavations it is suggested that this island was the earliest site in Ireland for pilgrimage.
A fascinating walk into the cultural habits of the Irish in the past, their superstitions, their beliefs.                   Today the Irish still have a strong faith.
Later in the day we will visit Creevykeel court tomb in Cliffoney village, a different type of burial tomb to yesterday's visit.
Overnight & in Sligo, evening meal not included.

Day 4: Leaving Sligo this morning we will drive inland to visit two beautiful island sites on Lough Erne. We will continue the pilgrimage theme today and meet the islands links to Inishmurray.
Close to the town of Enniskillen we will visit Devinish Island to see its round tower, church site, and other features of interest. Ferry from Trory point.                                                                                                                                  Then we take a different boat to another part of the lake to a very special place called White Island. We will examine very interesting stone figures and the beautiful Romanesque architecture of the island church.

Evening presentation by Maeve, Introduction to Irish Celtic Legends, its meaning, its importance, its richness.
Overnight & Evening meal in Sligo.

Day 5: We will pack up and leave Sligo town today to continue or exploration of Ireland’s Celtic past. We will visit a very important Royal Assembly site at Rathcroaghan, in County Roscommon. This site is associated to Queen Maeve and the O’ Neill tribes. According to legend the entrance to the otherworld. The place that some say the fairies live, others say it is the land of plenty. We will visit several sites with a local guide in the area.
We will then drive to the west coast for our next two nights in the bustling town of Westport on the shores of Clew Bay and at the foot of Croagh Patrick, St. Patricks Mountain, still a place of pilgrimage today.
Overnight in Westport, evening meal included.

The spectacular cliffs on Clare Island.

Day 6: Clare Island was once home to the famed Irish pirate Queen Grainuaile or Grace O’ Malley whose castle overlooks the harbour. We will begin today with stories of her exploits on the sea and then will walk to the islands lighthouse with a detour to visit a quaint harbour. Once we reach the lighthouse, Option to return to the harbour for some Or continue to follow the magnificent cliffs to the low slopes of Knockmore the highest mountain on the island. This is a truly breathtaking walk with views across the bay to Keem Bay and Achill. Just as the slopes rise to Knockmore we will take a lovely green track way back to the harbour under the smaller hill of Knocknaveen. Return ferry to mainland.
Hike:  7.5 miles.
Ascent: 220m.
Terrain: quiet lanes, roads, track, grassy slopes some short steep ascents along the cliffs, track to return.Overnight in Westport evening meal not included.

What will the guide teach us this year!! Clare Island...

Day 7: After breakfast we will leave this picturesque town behind and travel through one of Irelands most rugged mountain ranges, Connemara.
Close to the village of Maam we will hike an ancient pilgrimage route associated to St Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland, called Mauméan (pass of the birds). We will hear of ancient rituals, mass in secret, and troubled times.
Hike: approx 2-3 hours. Terrain: wet, uneven, cross-country.
Elevation: 240metres. Distance: 3-4 miles.                                                                                                                           Overnight in Ballyvaughan, in The Burren, evening meal included.

Day 8: Today’s hike will take us into the northern part of this stunning limestone region. This area is unique in Ireland and very special.
We will hike to the top of Turlough Hill to see one of the largest hilltop forts and follow the ridge into Oughtmama valley also known as the valley of the seven churches. As we descend into the valley we will visit the ruins of a most beautiful, early Christian monastic site and the holy well of St. Colman.
Later we will visit the 12th century Corcomroe Abbey.
Hike: 4-5 hours. Terrain: Uneven limestone rock.
Elevation: 300metres.Distance: 6-7 miles.
Overnight in Ballyvaughan evening meal in Doolin included.

Day 9: This morning we will hike along an ancient green road one of many in the Burren from Fanore to Black Head. Leaving the trail we will hike to Gleninagh moutain. Getting off trail is the best way to really experience the wildness of this magical landscape. With stunning views across Galway bay to the Aran islands and Connemara we can only imagine the life of ancient times, of the people that lived here.                                            Hike: 4-5 hours. Terrain: trails, cross country on limestone pavement,quiet country roads.                       Elevation: 350m. Distance: 7 miles.

Overnight in Ballvaughan, evening meal included.

Day 10: Today we say farewell to Ballyvaughan and Clare. Return to Shannon and drop off at 10am. 1 hour drive to Shannon from Ballyvaughan.

See you soon in Ireland...