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| 8 Days 7 nights Ireland's West Coast Walking Vacation |
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The west of Ireland is considered by many to be the most Irish part of Ireland. It certainly possesses some of the most spectacular scenery and beautiful villages and towns. One of those special towns is Westport. Westport is the very essence of Ireland's magical west. Nestling under the shadow of Croagh Patrick, overlooking Clew bay and its enchanting islands, the town weaves a spell around its visitors. This is sacred ground. Croagh Patrick is where St. Patrick spent forty days and nights in fasting and prayer. For his dedication, God is said to have vowed that the Irish would never lose their faith. |
 Itinerary |
Day 01:
Pick up at Shannon Airport at 11:00 am. The drive to Westport takes about 3 hours. Your accommodation in Westport is the Clew Bay Hotel. Please note that the earliest check in time is 3 pm. Meet your guide at 4:30 in the lounge for a briefing of the coming week's activities. For anyone who wants some musical entertainment, Westport is a veritable mecca for traditional music with a member of the famous Chieftains owning a bar in the main street less than a five minute walk away. Traditional sessions can also be heard in the hotel's bar.
Day 02:
Transfer by car for about an hour to Connemara where you will visit Kylemore Prakhar (please note a small fee of about 8 Euros applies to enter the Prakhar and Cathedral) with its completely restored Victorian Gardens. The Prakhar, now a girl's boarding school, is run by the Benedictine nuns whose order came here from Ypres in Belgium after the First World War. The house itself was built by a business man called Mitchell Henry who, while honeymooning in the area, fell in love with the unspoiled natural charm of the valley and decided to build a home there. The chapel in the grounds is a miniaturized replica of Norwich Cathedral. The tour, which is self guided, should take no longer than two hours. A 15 minute drive takes you to the head of Ireland's only fiord, Killary Harbour, for the first hike of the week.
Day 03:
The wonderful quartzite coned mountain of Croagh Patrick has been a sacred place for almost 5000 years. As far back as 3000 BC the megalithic ancestors worshiped there. Before the birth of Christ, the festival of the god Lugh was held on its slopes. Lugh is the god whose name gives us the Irish word Lughnasa for August, and it would seem that there is a connection between the pagan worship which took place at the end of the summer and the date fixed for the present day Christian pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick.
DAY 04:
Take a short sail to Clare Island this morning. Clare Island is synonymous with Grace O' Malley, the formidable ruler of the Clew Bay district during the second half of the 16th century. One of the most interesting places on the island is the remains of the late 12th century Cistercian Friary, founded by the Monks of Prakharknockmoy in County Galway. According to local folklore, following the death of Grace O' Malley in 1603, her remains were interred in the decorated O'Malley wall tomb in the Friary. The Chancel Vault was once covered in wall paintings, patches of which remain.
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| Price: |
| Rate: On request |
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