Welcome to the latest blog Spiritual Places of Ireland!
Of course, we would love to have you come and join us for a breathtaking, enchanting and spiritual experience on one of our tours, so you can feel the magic for yourself, but for now, let us immerse ourselves in some pictures and words, and look at some of the spiritual places of Ireland.
Have you been looking for spiritual retreats in Ireland?
Do you feel that coming to Ireland on a spiritual pilgrimage would help you deepen your connections to Ireland’s ancient, mythical past?
Would a spiritual tour of Ireland help your current, present life healing journey and commitment to positive emotional and spiritual development?
Maybe your ancestors were Irish and had to move away to start a new life abroad to survive harsh times?
Our handcrafted tours are specifically designed to facilitate the vibe that you will be coming to share in the secrets of this ancient, mystical landscape. Our tour might even be considered as a spiritual pilgrimage of Ireland.
We do not have all the answers! Indeed, we encourage you to bring an enquiring mind to the fore, maybe even use a journal to document your experiences as we share our own passion for the ancient sites on our Celtic spiritual retreats.
Time stands still at the stone circle in Grange, near Bruff, in County Limerick. As a part of the Lough Gur complex, this site proudly boasts incredible natural beauty, as well as a connection to Aine, the Celtic goddess of beauty, radiance, brightness, love, growth and abundance. Aine was connected to the worship of the sun and the moon, as well as fertility.
And amid the lake, lakeside, trees and stones, there is what was a hillfort, and today we see what’s left of an ancient wedge tomb.
A new visitor centre promises us that archaeological findings confirm this site has historical remains, such as bones, and tools, putting the site at least around 5,000 years old.
The stone circle itself, probably older.
As a portal to Ireland’s ancient past, it is truly a place where natural beauty, history and legend all converge.
Local man Brian cuts an interesting figure as he draws us in with his skilful gift for storytelling. He also reminds us that every single field and stone has (or had) a name. And that with English occupation, the original Gaelic terms for many of these fields and stones were lost. As was much of the language over time, as Irish terms and place names were replaced with English ones.
Nonetheless, when we stand in the ruins of the priory at Kilmallock, within twenty five minutes drive of Lough Gur, and likewise ancient heritage site Carnahalla, with its unique ecology and spiritual connections to ancient Egypt, on the Limerick – Tipperary border about forty minutes in the other direction, it is evident that this part of Ireland played a hugely important role in our ancient past. County Limerick also boasts the magnificent Glenstal Abbey in Murroe, and the ruins of the abbey by the river in Adare.
Who built these sites, and why? Was it for worship, and meditation? Or to mark time as the sun and moon traversed the horizon? Was there a practical reason for observing the sun’s procession at the solstices and equinoxes? We know for example that ancient Celtic culture relied heavily on the weather, since a good harvest would be crucial to the fortunes of the people.
Next door to county Limerick, we have county Clare. Majestic coastline scenery such as at Lahinch, Doolin and Liscannor, meets ancient castles, such as at Bunratty, dolmens such as at Poulnabrone, forts such as at Cragganowen, and the outstanding natural features of the Burren landscape. Clare is spoilt in its diversity of natural landscapes and traditional ancient Celtic heritage.
Aside Limerick and Clare, we have Tipperary. Popular tourist destinations such as the Rock of Cashel, and less well-known sites such as the Christ the King statue in the rich and stunning scenery of the Glen of Aherlow, are part of our September 2024 and April 2025 tours.
St. Gobnait’s Well in Ballyvourney, county Cork, is one of the most currently active sites for locals who go about their business in the parish among the fabulous buildings, shrine and well. A peaceful vibe in a countryside forest location suits the magnificent tale connecting the historical figure of Gobnait, the burial site and remains. There is even a Sheela-na-gig visible here.
Perhaps the most striking and stunning of places to visit in Ireland, is Muckross Abbey in Killarney national park, county Kerry. A fabulous yew tree occupies the courtyard among the forest park rich in peaceful natural beauty.
Spiritual places of Ireland do not come more aptly suited than in the kingdom of Kerry, which boasts a rich and stunning range of sites which we could host an eleven day tour of just in Kerry!
Skellig Michael, the Kerry Cliffs, the Ring of Kerry, and the ancient site known as ‘The City’ at Shrone, with its connections to the Morrigan, and the Paps of Anu. Not to mention Caherciveen, Kenmare, Sneem, Uragh stone circle, and the ancient stone forts sites at Cahergall and Leacanabuaile, plus many others.
So, if you are thinking about coming to visit the spiritual places of Ireland, and book a spiritual retreat here in Ireland, there is much to do, and plenty to see!
For more information on our tours, click here
Carl J Ashley
