Celtic Ways Ireland

12/12/2024

Something timeless spilled out onto the battlefields 110 years ago that should never be forgotten. A simple carol made it all happen. Enjoy the read and feel free to share. 🙏⚽️🌀

Phil and Elaine.

In Flanders' field where soldiers sleep, A choir from Ireland, memories keep. Two headstones tell a tale untold, Of a truce in war, a story bold. Delaney and Murphy side by side, In that gap, a peace did abide. Christmas Eve to the 30th day, A pause in time, a truce's sway. Unknown soldiers, known.....

06/12/2024

We're delighted to announce that St Mary's Abbey Glencairn will be our new base for our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan's Way. ✨️

We carry great memories from our time in Mount Mellerary Abbey Guesthouse and we're sad to see it close. 🕊

Special thanks to the Sisters at Glencairn for the warmth of their welcome. One door closes and another opens. 🌅

Dates for 2025 - see www.celticwaysireland.com

02/12/2024

Dzogchen Beara Buddhist Meditation Centre in West Cork is a place where peace and beauty rhyme. Excited to bring our first visitors here in 2025. ✨️
'Don't rush anything. When the time is right it will happen.' (Buddha) 🌅

25/11/2024

"I will arise and go now,
for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping
With low sounds by the shore"
(Yeats, 1888) 🌠
We loved our few days in Sligo as we discovered for ourselves its unique mystical magic. We're excited to add Sligo to our Celtic Ways Ireland tour offerings from 2025. ✨️🌀
Visit Sligo Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo

22/11/2024

We are very sad to report that the great Cistercian Abbey at Mount Melleray, which flourished for almost 200 years, is to close from January 26th, 2025. A statement from the Cistercian Order today reads, "The decision had been taken regretfully and in accordance with the restrictions of present resources." Melleray will be vacated in late January with the remaining 7 monks and lay brothers moving to Mount St Joseph's Abbey, Roscrea.

We at Celtic Ways Ireland have had 25 groups stay in the Abbey's Guesthouse over the past 5 years and had plans for 8 more groups in 2025. Mount Mellerary was a sanctuary for so many, a place of prayer, a refuge for people in search of peace. The Guestmaster, Br Seamus, always extended a warm and grace-filled welcome to all who stayed. We are already putting plans in place for an alternative base for our St Declan's Way pilgrim groups, yet, for us, nowhere fully captures the unique ambience of Mount Melleray.

Whilst we appreciate that declining numbers sadly make the closure of such monasteries inevitable, we regret the speed with which this has been done and the lack of consultation with people like ourselves, St Declan's Way Committee, Pilgrim Paths Ireland, Knockmealdown Active, not to mention the many community groups in and around Cappoquin who have a vested interest in Mount Melleray Abbey and who, together in a collaborative process, could have considered a new vision for Mount Mellerary that is both economically viable yet respectful of the unique spiritual heritage of the Abbey.

Mount Melleray Abbey was carved out of the hands of faith communities almost 200 years ago and it is the ancestors of these same communities who will feel the pain of the closure of Mount Melleray Abbey. The statement issued by the Cistercians reminds us that "no final decisions have been taken at this stage regarding any of the properties which may be vacated in the near future." We would respectfully encourage the Cistercian Order to engage with community groups who have remained loyal to Mount Melleray Abbey through the years in their discernment as to how best the Abbey can best serve the people and perpetuate its spiritual heritage for generations to come.

Mount Melleray Abbey has been a beacon in a darkened world. Let's hope it can continue to radiate light in years to come.

Dr Phil and Elaine Brennan
(Celtic Ways Ireland)

21/11/2024

Exploring the Yeats Trail in beautiful Sligo along our new Celtic Ways 🌠

07/11/2024

Great to attend the Waterford Rural Tourism Network Event in Tramore and be part of a co-ordinated plan to promote tourism across rural Waterford 🌀

31/10/2024

Earlier this month, we welcomed American author Michael Pearson who joined us along with his wife Jo-Ellen and sister-in-law Christine on our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan's Way. It was memorable in every way on and off the trail. So much so, I had to read his latest book 'The Road to Dungannon'. Wanted to sum up in a short few words why this book is such a compelling read. Thank you Mike for sharing the path with us and for inspiring us on our way...

Michael Pearson’s ‘The Road to Dungannon’ offers a unique gateway into the story of Ireland and its people. A natural and gifted storyteller, Pearson's search for ‘the ghost’ of his late Grandfather leads the reader on an odyssey of sorts deep into the soul of our Irish identity. His personal journey becomes a springboard for a collective quest to make sense out of all that has shaped who we have become today.

Pearson’s magic lies in seamlessly weaving literary threads together into a panorama of colour and life to re-claim the oft’ tarnished landscape of a once persecuted people. ‘The Road to Dungannon’ leads the reader on a pathway of discovery where the muses of old and now nod us deeper into our shared story to a place where we can re-imagine who we really are. At once poignant and uplifting, this book lights up the shaded places so we too can find our way home.

Wherever you are, make the space to read this wee gem. It will linger long after the last page is turned and leave you more sure of your bearings for the journey ahead. (Dr Phil Brennan) 📖🧡

21/10/2024

We've passed a significant milestone this month having led our 25th group along St Declan's Way. Each group has brought their own energy and magic. They have guided us on our way. Enjoy the read and feel free to share. Phil and Elaine. 🙏🌀🫶

This October we reached a milestone of sorts… our 25th group arrived safely onto the beach in Ardmore after walking St Declan’s Way with us. We have very much taken the circuitous route to arrive at where we are now. When we first led groups along this ancient pilgrim path, we walked all 115 kil...

17/10/2024

Lovely to have sampled our new 'Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan's Way' in advance of rolling it out from March 2025 🌀 Check out our website www.celticwaysireland.com for more details 😎🌅

09/10/2024

Lismore was simply stunning today as we made our way down the River Blackwater - magical 🚣‍♂️🌀️🌠

09/10/2024

To the river's flow - Lismore 🚣‍♂️💛

07/10/2024

St Declan's Way on an autumn day 🍂🌄🍁

06/10/2024

Magical day arriving into Cashel to start our Celtic Experience along St Declan's Way 🌀🌠

03/10/2024

A little taster of our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan's Way 🇮🇪🌀

27/09/2024

The pathway home 🌄
🌊 🌀

26/09/2024

Where past meets now along St. Declan's Way ️🍂🌄

24/09/2024

Our visitors from Iowa lovin' St Declan's Way in its autumnal beauty 🍂 🌄