Ireland Tour – Exploring the Heart and Soul of Celtic Spirituality

Sunday, May 3

Airline trip to Shannon, Ireland

Day 1, Monday, May 4 From the town of Shannon, visit the Cliffs of Moher, St. Brigid’s Well & Cemetery, and the Burren

Arrive at seaside town of Galway City. Walking tour of city.

Day 2, Tuesday, May 5 Visit Brigid’s Garden

Day 3, Wednesday, May 6 Free time in Galway City Visit Clonmacnoise, an ancient monastic site (6th century)

Day 4, 5, 6, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, May 7, 8, 9 Visit and stay on the island of Inis Mor.

Day 7, 8, Sunday, Monday, May 10, 11 Visit Glendalough – monastery founded in 618 CE.

Day 9, Tuesday, May 12 Visit Newgrange – ancient tribal burial chamber (5000 yrs old) Visit The Hill of Tara – ancient seat of power in Ireland Arrive in Dublin – evening of traditional Irish music, dance and food

Day 10, Wednesday, May 13 Tour Dublin

Day 11, Thursday, May 14 Tour group head back to USA. I will fly to Glasgow, spend 2 nights there, then head to the Island of Iona on Saturday, May 16. I will fly back to Tulsa on Saturday, May 23.

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Island of Iona, Scotland If you would like to learn more about Iona, especially its history and as a place of spiritual pilgrimage, please look at the following sites. The Youtube video is quite good. http://iona.org.uk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iona https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC9rqV6Hbho - visual tour of the island/buildings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gQoOYBRNj8 - “Iona: A Celtic Pilgrimage”

While at Iona, I will be taking a “summer course” offered by the University of the Highlands and the Islands, entitled, “A Window on Iona”.

A Window on Iona, 16-22 May

In May 2015, the Centre for Nordic Studies will for the first time be offering course weeks on the beautiful historic island of Iona, in conjunction with the Iona Community. The course week runs from the 16th to the 22nd May. You will be guided through the historical and spiritual landscape of this beautiful island by Prof Donna Heddle and Dr Victoria Whitworth (University of the Highlands and the Islands, Scotland). You’ll have the opportunity to stay in the abbey itself, to attend academic lectures on the history, culture and folklore of Iona, on St Columba and the early Church, on Celtic sculpture and early Celtic literature, with escorted field excursions, including a boat trip to Staffa and Fingal’s Cave, and take part in a series of evening social events ranging from a ceilidh (traditional Gaelic party with music and dancing) to a conversational Gaelic class for beginners! Guests will receive Summer School handbooks and ‘goody bags’ and enjoy the unique experience of the common life of the Abbey.

Here’s the daily schedule of the class.

Iona Community & UHI Summer School Week 16-22 May 2015

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

7.30am

Breakfast

8.15am Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast Breakfast MORNING WORSHIP

9.00am Task Teams Morning Worship Morning Worship Morning Worship Morning Worship DEPARTURES

9.30am Task Teams Task Teams Task Teams Task Teams

10.15am – 12.30pm

10.30am Morning Worship with

Communion (AC)

Session One (CH)

(11.15am - 11.30am

Tea & Coffee)

Session Two (11.15am - 11.30am Tea & Coffee) Lunch

*FIELD TRIP (MINI PILGRIMAGE)

Session Three

(11.15am - 11.30am Tea & Coffee)

Session Four

(11.15am - 11.30am

Tea & Coffee)

Abbreviations:

AC = Abbey Church

CH = Abbey

Chapter House

MCR = MacLeod Community Room

VH = Village Hall

Shop = Welcome

Centre

1pm Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

Afternoon

Guest Arrivals

Abbey @ 2.25pm @ 4.15pm @ 6.25pm

PUBLIC LECTURE (VH)

* FIELD TRIP

(HISTORIC SCOTLAND)

*FIELD TRIP (STAFFA ISLAND)

*FIELD TRIP (NATIONAL TRUST OF

SCOTLAND)

6pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner

Dinner Dinner

7.30pm WELCOME SESSION &

INTRODUCTIONS

*SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EVENT

*SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EVENT

*SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EVENT

*SOCIAL AND CULTURAL EVENT REFLECTION SESSION

9pm

SERVICE OF WELCOME

(AC) After service Teas

QUIET SERVICE (AC)

SERVICE OF PEACE, JUSTICE & INTEGRITY OF

CREATION (AC)

SERVICE OF PRAYER FOR HEALING (AC) After service Teas

SERVICE OF COMMITMENT (AC)

After service Teas

HOLY COMMUNION (AC)

After service Teas

*All events and field trips will be included in the price of the week.