Wild Edge of Hope Pilgrimage - 2024

 2024 Pilgrimage ITINERARY, COST, PAYMENT SCHEDULE, & CANCELLATION POLICY

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Pilgrims will meet at Dublin Airport by 10a.m. and travel first to the prehistoric passage tomb of Four Knocks where the group crosses the threshold between travel to pilgrimage and the beginning of our journey together.

http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageSites/FourKnocks/

We arrive in time for supper in Trim, our home base for the next four nights.

Stay: Trim Castle Hotel (D)

Monday, September 16, 2024

After breakfast and an orientation for the day, we spend a few hours at the 12th century ruins of Bective Abbey. This will be an extended time spent outdoors in individual prayer amidst the ancient stones standing as a testament to the devotion of those who dedicated their lives to serving Jesus.

Our coach bus carries us next to the Hill of Tara, the spiritual heart of ancient Ireland. Lunch will be on your own at the little cafe and shop a the bottom of the Hill. Be sure to check out The Old Bookshop next door to the cafe. Michael Slavin, author of The Book of Tara, runs the shop.

After a docent tour of the Hill of Tara we visit the Hill of Slane of St. Patrick fame.

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bective_Abbey

     http://hilloftara.org/history-and-information/

     http://www.megalithicireland.com/Hill%20of%20Slane.html

We arrive in time for supper back in Trim.

Stay: Trim Castle Hotel (B,D)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

We depart after breakfast for Newgrange and the World Heritage Center.

You will be on your own for lunch at the visitor center.

In the afternoon we travel to the famous High Crosses of Monasterboice

and the old Mellifont Abbey before returning to our lodging in Trim, arriving in time for supper.

     http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monasterboice

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mellifont_Abbey

Stay: Trim Castle Hotel (B,D)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

We head out to the furthest reaches of County Meath to visit the 5000 year old hilltop passage tomb of Loughcrew. Stone-age art covers the interior walls and ceilings of Carin T. The ancient symbols can also be seen on other stone slabs now exposed since the collapse of the earthen mounds. We spend this morning exploring both the site as well as our interior space. Rain or shine, we brown bag there for a picnic lunch.

After our morning prayer we venture down to the Loughcrew Gardens cafe for a bathroom break and if you would like a spot of tea.

We spend the afternoon at Fore Abbey, an ancient Benedictine ruin in West Meath, then back to Trim for dinner.

     http://loughcrew.com/wp/cairns/

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fore_Abbey

Stay: Trim Castle Hotel (B, L, D)

Thursday, September 19. 2024

We leave the Boyne Valley today and our home in Trim to travel to Glendalough, the ruins of an early medieval monastic city. On the way we stop in Kildare and visit sites associated with St. Brigid, the Patroness of Ireland. One of the Brigidine sisters will accompany us in a time of prayer and a pilgrimage walk, “Walking in the Footsteps of St. Brigid.”

After lunch on our own in Kildare, the coach works its way through the glorious Wicklow mountains and into the glacial valley of Glendalough, our home for the next four nights. Our pilgrim group dines together at the Glendalough Hotel.

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigit_of_Kildare

     http://www.glendalough.ie/

Stay: Glendalough Hotel (B,D)

Friday, September 20, 2024

After breakfast, we explore the monastic city with Kevin Kelly. He brings his passion for St. Kevin and Celtic Christianity and encourages us to follow in the ways of Jesus. We lunch on our own, then regather in the afternoon to walk to Trinity Church for an afternoon of reflection and prayer.

Stay: Glendalough Hotel (B, D)

Saturday: September 21, 2024

Breakfast together, then walk on the Green Way to St. Kevin’s Well, St. Saviour’s Church and if you care to walk further, to the woolen mill in Laraugh.

Enjoy lunch on your own and a free afternoon.

Regather for dinner at the Glendalough Hotel.

Stay: Glendalough Hotel (B, D)

Sunday: September 22, 2024

After breakfast the group will wander over to the ruins of St. Mary’s (The Woman’s Church) for Sunday worship.

Lunch on your own, then the group will take local transit to St. Kevin’s Desert at the Upper Lake. We visit St. Kevin’s bed, St. Kevin’s cell, and an ancient cross most likely used as a station for pilgrims on their way to St. Kevin’s cell.

Stay: Glendalough Hotel (B, D)

Monday, September 23, 2024

A desert day. A luxurious day of holy leisure and silence where we return to the places that have touched our hearts and call us back to spend more time there. After breakfast and morning prayer, we leave each other to ourselves, spending time alone in reflection and prayer. We gather in the late afternoon for a closing ritual and our last dinner together.

Stay: Glendalough Hotel (B, Afternoon Wine and Cheese, D)

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

We leave early morning for the Dublin airport. The Dublin airport suggests arriving three hours before your departure since we go through Customs in Ireland instead of the States. Please do not schedule your flight before 10:00. If you must, you need to arrange for a cab which will cost about 90 Euros.

(B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner)

 2024 Pilgrimage COST, PAYMENT SCHEDULE, & CANCELLATION POLICY

We usually visit no more than two ancient ruins each day, so we enjoy a  slow, luxurious practice of listening to the whispers, wisdom and  blessings waiting our arrival.

COST:   * see early-bird discount   *Limited scholarships available

$4,055.00   Full payment individual

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:

Add $785.00 US to the basic price

*SEE PAYMENT SCHEDULE BELOW

PILGRIMAGE PRICE INCLUDES

-Transportation to and from the airport.

*Many Pilgrimages do not include this any longer.

-Ensuite accommodations with exceptional dining:

The Burren: Maloney House B&B, area restaurants, Inis Mór:Aran Islands Hotel

-Comfortable Minibus

-All scheduled sites, entrance fees, ferries, guides, guest speakers, and materials.

-Meals: Sumptuous Breakfast and wonderful Dinners.

PILGRIMAGE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

-Your flights or transportation to and from Ireland.

-Travel insurance/medical insurance (supplement strongly recommended).

-Tips for items of a personal nature (such as room service, beverages, meals, telephone and valet charges, etc.) are not included in the tour cost and are left to your own discretion.

-Tip for bus drivers-Approx. 35 Euro per person. (suggested amount)

-Your transportation cost to meet the group if you arrive late on August 15, 2023, and miss the group departure from the airport.

-Fees for passports and visas, laundry, telephone calls, wine, liquor, mineral water, sightseeing and services other than those specifically mentioned for our group.

-Personal items.

-Excess baggage fees.

-Foreign airport taxes.

PAYMENTS Online or by check:

Online credit card: ADD 3% CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD.

By check: At checkout click "manual" option, then email for mailing address.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

$600 non-refundable deposit due with registration form. Send now to hold your place.

• November 1, 2023: $1400 due

• January 1, 2024: $1400 due

• June 1, 2024: $785 due

CANCELLATION FEES:

• The application fee and deposit of $600 is non-refundable.

• January 2 to April 1, 2023 - cancellation fee: $1,200.

• After April 1, 2023 - cancellation fee: $2,400.

• After May 1, 2023 - cancellation fee: $3,200.

• After June 1, 2023 - No refund except as contracts with suppliers allow for doctor-certified medical reasons.

Unused arrangements, services, or features of any tour are not refundable or exchangeable unless agreed upon prior to departure.

LATE BOOKINGS:

Subject to availability and conditions, you may book a pilgrimage up to 14 days prior to departure. However, overnight delivery charges will be assessed when necessary to provide documents for late reservations as well as a late booking fee of $150 per booking.