Spiritual Tour of Ireland 9/23 – 10/03
Western tour of thin places
Follow the West Coast of Ireland from Mayo to Kerry with a focus on mystical sites and the Divine Feminine
Ireland – The Hag’s Journey – West
September 23 – October 3, 2025
10 days and nights $3249 + Air
This spiritual tour of the west of Ireland focuses on the divine feminine, tracing a path of the Cailleach or “hag” – the older, wiser, and sometimes more dangerous dimension of the ancient triple goddess. The region traveled includes Counties Clare, Galway, Mayo, Limerick, and Kerry, with stops in West Cork and the Beara Peninsula. Overnights will be in the areas of Dublin, Galway, Westport, Limerick, Killarney, and Kilkenny
Download the Registration Form
The Hag’s Journey – West explores feminine energies, stories, and mythology on the western edge of Ireland dating from the Neolithic times to the present day. Visit The Hag of Beara on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Hag’s Head at the Cliff’s of Moher, and the Hill of Uisneach guarded by the goddess Eru. You’ll be able to dip your hands into the holy wells of St. Gobnait and St. Brigid – spend a day on Achill Island and walk into the Castle of Granuaille, the noted Pirate Queen who consorted with Queen Elizabeth I. You’ll also visit the Island community of Inis Oír – one of the three Aran Islands where you’ll visit the holy well of St. Enda and the Church of the Seven Sisters. Experience the sweeping vistas of the Connemara region. Visit the Knock Shrine and learn about the apparitions of the Virgin Mary there – and the thousands of pilgrims that make the journey to Knock each year. Enjoy staying in vibrant towns such as Galway City, Killarney, Westport, and Kilkenny.
Private Irish Guides will recall ancient stories of the Irish goddesses, fairy lore, and pre-Christian history. Guests will travel within the context of these stories Brigid – both saint and goddess, followed by Aíne (the sun goddess), St. Gobnait finding her places of resurrection, Dierdre of the sorrows, the Cailleach – Hag – of Beara, Our Lady of Knock who appeared to a small community in Mayo, and Lady Augusta Gregory, a modern heroine who understood and interpreted the mystical landscape of Ireland.
Guests will also seek out a half dozen Sheela na Gigs along the way and ponder their meaning.
This spiritual tour of thin places along the west coast of Ireland allows guests to connect with Ireland’s mystical landscape within the context of the “story of the hag.” Guests will visit some of Ireland’s last totally wild places and places associated with a goddess or feminine energy and legends. Sites include stunning cliffs, expansive beaches, and rugged mountains. The pace is leisurely and guests will interact with local experts who will share information on Ireland’s archaeology, history, and mystical connections.
The Focus is thin places
The focus of all our tours is “thin places” or places where the veil between this world and the eternal world is thin… where both worlds are woven together. And as on all of our tours, you’ll see the unspoiled hidden places few visitors ever see on other commercial tours. You’ll be traveling within the context of a story while peeping into the ancient past of mystical hills, stone circles, passage tombs, holy wells, monastic ruins, castle ruins, and archeological wonders. There will be quiet time as well as fun group excursions. This is a spiritual tour you will never forget.
A spiritual tour that connects guests with the feminine elements of the land
The Earth is our mother and is associated with the divine feminine. This tour, with its selection of sites, goes deep into the Western Irish landscape and connects with the understanding of the earth as our mother. Themes of rebirth and accessing ancient wisdom surface all along this tour. This tour is ideal for healers, artists, and those interested in earth energy and nature – especially the wild places uninterrupted by development. If you feel especially connected to the land and the spirit of the plants and trees, this tour will be exhilarating.
This tour is limited to 15 to 25 people to be flexible and intimate.
Airfare is not included. Guests must arrange their airfare to and from Dublin International Airport
TOUR START and END
The tour starts and ends at a hotel near Dublin Airport, located on the Eastern border. There are a few sites on the Eastern side of the country due to having to travel to and from the East to reach the Western side. Guest will travel on their own private coach for the duration of the ten days. All transportation is included. A free day in Killarney is also part of the schedule (no bus on that day).
COST – $3249 + AIR
Cost of $3249 (based on double occupancy) is for the land only. It includes lodging, all breakfasts, five dinners, land transportation, admission costs, and private guides. Posts about some of the sites will appear periodically on the Thin Places blog. In addition to the cost of the tour, guests would be responsible for airfare, lunches, and dinners that are not included, plus any incidental expenses unrelated to the group tours and accommodations.
Single room supplement is $750 and is due with the registration deposit of $1000. There are a limited number of Single rooms available.
Booking the Tour
Deposit of $1000 (plus $750 single supplement if applicable) per person must be submitted with an online form to hold the spot. Deposit is refundable for 30 days and also locks in the price. Due to the unpredictability of the US dollar and Euro, the cost of the tour may rise before the tour date. But a deposit locks in the price of the tour.
Tour balance is due 60 days before the tour start.
Download Registration Form
Travel Insurance –We suggest that guests purchase travel insurance on their own. Thin Places Mystical Tours does not sell Travel Insurance or represent any travel insurance vendor, though we can make recommendations based on what other guests have used.
Tour is limited to 25 guests.
DISCOUNT FOR THIN PLACES ALUMNI
$50 discount for every Thin Places tour previously traveled. (max $300)
ITINERARY – The Hag’s Journey (west)
Day 1, September 23 – Walking tour of Dublin
Guests will be able to check into their Dublin hotel by 3 pm. We will meet the group in the hotel lobby at 2pm and take a short walking tour of Dublin followed by a cocktail hour with a briefing on tour details. Dinner is on your own. Then off bed for a good night’s sleep.
Overnight in a Dublin hotel – to be announced
Day 2, September 24 – Hill of Uisneach and Knock Shrine
Guests will leave early in the morning for a trek to County West Meath and a guided tour of the Hill of Uisneach – the spiritual center of Ireland where all four provinces come together under the giant “Catstone.” A historical ritual site where the Irish annual Fire Festival is celebrated every Beltaine (May 1st) with pilgrims from around the world. A highly spiritual site of feminine energy.
Overnight in Westport.
Day 3, September 25 – Achill Island – one big giant amethyst sitting in the Atlantic
Guests will head to Achill Island – the largest of Ireland’s off-shore islands – stopping at Rockfleet Castle, one of the strongholds of Grainne (Grace) O’Malley, the red-headed pirate queen. On the Island, guests will explore the famine graveyard and holy well of St. Dymphna at Kildavnet cemetery. Then head for Slievemore Deserted Village and the White Cliffs of Ashleam with some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Ireland. Achill is known for its massive amethyst deposits that can be seen in scattered veins on the cliffside. Amazing energy.
Overnight and dinner in Westport.
Day 4, September 26 – Connemara
Guests will stop at Croagh Patrick, the holy mountain for Christians as well as the pagans before them. Next will be a stop at the Stone of Boheh with ancient carvings that may represent celestial movements. Then guests will take the scenic drive south through Connemara and stop at Kylemore Abbey, where Benedictine nuns established a school in 1920 and later developed the site into a place of pilgrimage with a walled garden, massive ancient trees, and an immense walled garden.
Overnight in Galway
Day 5, September 27 – Inis Oírr – smallest of the Aran Islands
Guests will board a boat to travel across Galway Bay to the smallest of the Aran Islands. There, they will board a wagon for a scenic tour of this historic island community. Visit the first church of St. Gobnait of Cork, who established a small community and later received a vision to find her Place of Resurrection. Walk into the sunken church dating back to the 12th century and visit the holy well of St. Enda. Before heading back to Galway, visit the amazing Cliffs of Moher and view the legendary “Hags Head” at the very tip.
Overnight in Galway
Day 6 September 28 – Coole Parke, Thoor Ballylee, Lough Gur
Guests will leave early in the morning for a trek to County Mayo stopping in County Galway at Coole Park (the estate of Lady Augusta Gregory) with its “Seven Woods” and autograph tree followed by a visit to the grounds of Thoor Ballylee, the tower house castle formerly owned by W.B. Yeats (a thin place). Then, stop at the Grange Stone Circle in County Limerick – the largest stone circle in Ireland. It is charged with mystical energy. Walk through a fairy wood and hear about the fairy hill and enchanted lake inhabited by the goddess Aíne.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 7 September 29 – The Beara Peninsula
This will be a mystical day as the Ring of Beara seems to sit in two worlds. Guests will explore several ancient stone circles, including Kealkill and Uragh. They will also see the final resting place of the Hag of Beara, Ireland’s goddess of winter. She is said to have been standing on the hills above Coolagh Bay waiting for her husband Manannan, the god of the sea, to return – but waited so long that she turned to stone. The stone is still there, and people pay homage to the Hag of Beara, leaving tokens and gifts at the stone. Guests will also visit Castletownbere with its famous “McCarthy’s Bar” and then on to Glengarrif before returning to their hotel in Killarney.
Day 8, September 30 –Free Day in Killarney
Killarney is one of Ireland’s most vibrant towns. Guests will have all day and evening to explore, shop, or book themselves on an optional day trip to Dingle.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 9, October 1st – Ballyvourney to Kilkenny
As the tour comes to a close, it will be time to head back East. Today, guests visit the shrine and holy well of St. Gobnait, patron of Beekeepers, Iron Workers, and Blacksmiths. (You will have visited her first church in Inis Oírr on Day 5). Gobnait founded a large spiritual community in this location – her Place of Resurrection – and the runs of an ancient church still stand (with a Sheela-na-gig on one wall.). But the big attraction at this site is St. Gobnait’s Holy Well and fairy tree beside it. A monumental spirit site not widely known by most visitors to Ireland.
Overnight in Kilkenny.
Day 10, October 2nd – Carmel Costello (fairy whisperer), St. Brigid’s Holy Well
Guests will have a chance to visit with Kilkenny Kinsiologist, Carmel Costello, who will talk about fairies and connecting with elementals. Followed by a visit to Kildare and St. Brigid’s Holy Well and a presentation by the Brigidines at Solas Bhride.
Overnight and Farewell Dublin Airport Hotel
Day 1, October 3rd – Guests Depart for home
The tour is ended. No activities for this day. Guests will head home or depart travel on their own.
The itinerary is subject to change considering weather and availability factors.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT BY CALLING US AT 301.648.2010 OR emailing contact@thinplaces.com