Spiritual Tour of Ireland 9/24 – 10/3, 2026
Ireland’s Southern Edges Mystical Tour
The Ragged Edge:
A Spiritual Journey to Ireland’s Ancient South
Ireland – Southern Edges
This tour is sold out
September 24 – October 3, 2026
9 days and nights $3999 + Air
This spiritual tour of Ireland will explore ancient sites dating back to the Bronze Age and the Viking era, along Ireland’s southern coast. Guests will trace that ragged, wild edge of the Atlantic Ocean that borders Counties Cork, Waterford, and Wexford.
Thresholds to the Otherworld
The journey focuses on the profound concept of the edge: not merely a border that divides, but a powerful liminal space that opens. In tracing this southern littoral, guests will navigate historical and geological fault lines, stepping from the colossal mysteries of the Bronze Age megaliths right into the foundational drama of the Viking era. We move beyond the typical tourist path to access Ireland’s most sacred and sequestered sites—portals to the otherworld where the veil is thin and the whispers of history are clear.
Wisdom, Healing, and Peace
This unique itinerary is crafted to be transformative. It is an invitation to deep introspection and renewal:
- +Deep Wisdom: Connect with the ancestral knowledge etched into the land and the stone circles, receiving the silent counsel of millennia.
- Profound Healing: Find solace and strength where the raw, untamed power of the sea meets the enduring resilience of the earth.
- Absolute Peace: Attune yourself to the timeless rhythm of the Atlantic, allowing the grandeur of the landscape to dissolve the noise of the modern world.
Prepare to step into the highest level of your existence, traversing a coastline steeped in legend and power, and departing with a spirit reawakened by the magic of Ireland’s ancient south.
The Southern Edges Route:
The tour begins in Dublin and moves to the Lough Gur complex in County Limerick, then down to the western part of County Cork, exploring several stone circles and the offshore island of Cape Clear. From there, guests will move through County Waterford visiting the 5th-century monastic site in Ardmore, where St. Declan founded his order. His holy well and remnants of the old cathedral are there. Guests will visit Kinsale, the gourmet capital of Ireland, and will explore other ancient sites in County Waterford that focus on the Viking culture and history. (They were a mystical people). There will be a full free day in Cork City, during which guests can visit the English Market, museums, or book a day trip to nearby sites. On the final day, guests will return to Dublin by way of County Carlow and the Brownshill Dolmen with a final stop at Solas Bhride Center in Kildare. This tour also visits Cape Clear, an island off the south coast that has a rare stone row associated with marriage and lovers.
Every person who opens themselves to the spiritual gifts that envelop them on a Thin Places tour leaves it with a deeper connection to wisdom, renewed hope, and a lightening of burdens carried in the mind, body, and spirit.
https://www.wetravel.com/users/thin-places-tours
The Iconic Irish Ancient Landscape
Did you know that Ireland – a small island country floating in the North Atlantic – is about the size of Indiana or Maine. Ireland has the remains of over 300 ancient stone circles, with one third of them being on Ireland’s southern edge – in County Cork alone.. These stone circles were sites of ritual, of gathering, of burial, and often acted as a calendar charting the seasons. For thousands of years, layer after layer of spiritual rituals were performed in these places. Through centuries of invasions, occupations, famine, oppression, and prosperous development, those old stones still stand in silent testimony that Ireland’s thin places still resonate, and the Irish people (and their invaders who eventually became Irish) leave them alone for the most part – recognizing their significance.
The stones aren’t the only ancient landmarks. There are over 100,000 passage tombs, royal sites, ancient trackways, stone alignments, castles, monastic settlements, sacred trees, hills, and lakes – each with its own story of Druids, saints, kings, and goddesses – all resting silently in the present world and an unseen world – another dimension.
The Southern Edges tour, led by writer and tour operator Mindie Burgoyne, will cover some of the most ancient landscapes. She will guide guests along those mystical edges – thresholds into the unseen world. Several private Irish local guides will also add to the depth and complexity of the tour by recalling ancient stories of Irish heroes, goddesses, fairies, and pre-Christian history. Guests will walk within the context of these stories, immersing themselves in the mystical landscape.
Several private Irish local guides will also add to the depth and complexity of the tour by recalling ancient stories of Irish heroes, goddesses, fairies, and pre-Christian history. Guests will walk within the context of these stories, immersing themselves in the mystical landscape.
The Focus is on 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.
TOUR SPECIFICS
This tour is limited to 15 to 20 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 in the Dublin City Centre. Guest will depart from our Dublin hotel and travel the entire tour on their private coach. All transportation to noted sites is included. A free day in Kinsale is also part of the schedule (no bus on that day).
COST – $3999 + AIR
Cost of $3999 (based on double occupancy) is for the land only. It includes lodging, all breakfasts, four dinners, land and sea 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 $350 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 $350 single supplement if applicable) per person must be submitted with an online form to hold the spot. The deposit is refundable for 30 days and also locks in the price. Due to the unpredictability of the US dollar and the 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. July 26, 2026.
GUIDES:
Mindie Burgoyne – full-time guide, tour designer, and tour operator.
Additional Guides to be determined and announced here
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 20 guests.
DISCOUNT FOR THIN PLACES ALUMNI
$50 discount for every Thin Places tour previously traveled. (max $300)
https://www.wetravel.com/users/thin-places-tours
ITINERARY – Southern Edges 2026
Day 1, September 24 – Guests Arrive in Dublin
Guests will likely arrive in the USA or Canada early and will have all day to tour Dublin on their own. We will provide some suggested activities ahead of time. Guests will be able to check into their Dublin hotel by 3 pm. We will meet the group in the hotel lobby at 4 pm and have a welcome cocktail (or mocktail) hour with a briefing on tour details, handouts, and supplies for the tour. Dinner is on your own, but we will make several dinner venue suggestions – or guests are welcome to dine at the hotel. Then off to bed for a good night’s sleep.
Overnight at the Arlington Hotel in Dublin
Day 2, September 25 – Lough Gur – Kilmallock Abbey
Guests will start the tour by traveling to County Limerick and visiting one of the largest Neolithic complexes in Ireland. Lough Gur has an enchanted lake, a fairy knowe, two castles, a Bronze Age wedge tomb, and two hills enshrouded with myth and legend. Journey through 6,000 years of human history set around the shimmering, horseshoe-shaped Lough Gur lake. Explore Ireland’s largest stone circle with 113 upright stones that are aligned with the summer solstice. Lough Gur is a place where history, stunning nature, and deep-seated folklore seamlessly blend. Then, if there’s time, guests will visit an ancient monastic site in Kilmallock.
Overnight and Welcome Dinner in Charleville Park Hotel, County Cork
Day 3, September 26 – West Cork Stone Circles
This will be a day to tour ancient megalithic complexes in West Cork… well known for the largest concentration of stone circles in Ireland. Sites will include stone circles, standing stones, and tombs. Then on to Cork City for an overnight at the iconic Metropole Hotel (4 nights)
Overnight at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City (4 nights)
Day 4, September 27 – Visit Kinsale
This day guests will have a little break from Thin Places and will be able to visit one of Ireland’s most scenic – – and historic – – Ireland’s seaside towns. It’s also the starting (or ending) point of the Wild Atlantic Way, the 1553-mile stretch of coastal road that traces the entire western edge of Ireland. Kinsale is not only Ireland’s Gourmet Capital, but also the site of the Battle of Kinsale, the ultimate turning point that ended the old Gaelic political order and completed England’s conquest of Ireland. Fought at the climax of the Nine Years’ War, it is widely considered the most important battle in modern Irish history. Kinsale is also an eclectic town with artists, musicians, storytellers, boutique shops, and the oldest continually operational ghost tour in Europe. After guests explore this historic, artsy town, they will visit the famous Kinsale Signal Tower, built in 1804 as part of a defense network for the Napoleonic Wars. There’s also a Museum there that interprets the wreck of the Lusitania.
Overnight at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City (4 nights)
Day 5, September 28 – Free Day in Cork City
This is a day of pure fun and relaxation. Guests will have the day to themselves to explore Ireland’s second-largest city. Explore the Victorian Quarter around your famous historic hotel, listen to traditional Irish music at the Sin È pub nearby. Shop at the English Market, or pull the ropes on the famous Bells of Shandon. For a special treat, visit the “Stone Corridor” at the University College Cork where they have the largest display of Ogham stones in the country, as well as other historical and archaeological artifacts. Or view the nine Harry Clarke windows at the Honan Chapel. St. Finbar’s Cathedral is also a favorite of visitors.
Overnight at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City (4 nights)
Day 6 September 29 – Cape Clear and Fastnet Lighthouse
Cape Clear is a remote and unspoiled destination, offering an authentic Irish experience right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. It is Ireland’s most southerly inhabited Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) island, renowned for its rugged landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and exceptional wildlife. It’s a small, hilly island, about 3 miles (4.8 km) long and 1 mile wide. Guests will catch the boat out of the Baltimore Harbor and join a guided tour on the island by minibus or take a self-guided walking tour on several marked trails for those who prefer solitude. A highlight of the visit to Cape Clear is the Marriage Stones, located in a serene pasture on the northeastern end of the island, a classic example of an ancient Irish alignment that includes a stone with a hole in the top center, said to be used for marriage rituals or for scrying into the Otherworld or next dimension. Guests will also be able to view the Fastnet Lighthouse, one of the most famous, isolated, and architecturally stunning lighthouses in the world, marking the most southerly point of Ireland. Overnight at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City (4 nights)
Day 7 September 30 – Choktaw Memorial and Ardmore Monastic Site
Guests will visit the Kindred Spirits memorial, in honor of the gift given by the Choctaw Nation to Ireland’s hungry masses during the Great Famine in 1847. It is one of Ireland’s most moving monuments. Created by Irish sculptor Alex Pentek, Kindred Spirits consists of nine enormous stainless-steel eagle feathers, each approximately 20 feet tall. The feathers curve inward to form the shape of an empty bowl. The Choctaw Nation was moved to help starving Irish families during the Great Famine, out of compassion that arose from their own exile and suffering during the Trail of Tears 16 years prior. From there, guests will visit the ruins of St. Declan’s monastery and round tower in Ardmore, County Waterford. It is one of the most historically and visually significant ecclesiastical sites in Ireland. It is famously associated with St. Declan, who is traditionally believed to have established a Christian settlement here in the 5th century, predating St. Patrick’s mission and making Ardmore arguably the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. The site, often referred to as St. Declan’s Monastery, sits high on a hill overlooking the picturesque village of Ardmore and the sea, creating a breathtaking setting for these ancient ruins. The 12th-century Round Tower stands 98 feet tall, one of the finest and best-preserved round towers in Ireland. It stands beside the 9th-12th-century ruined cathedral, which has Romanesque carving on the exterior west gable. Inside the cathedral are two Ogham stones dating to the 5th or 6th century, with ancient Irish writing still visible on the stones. Beyond the Monastic Site, St. Declan’s Well & Hermitage: Located along the spectacular Ardmore Cliff Walk, is a holy well believed to have been a baptistery used by the saint, with the ruins of a small church or hermitage nearby.
Overnight and Dinner at the Granville Hotel in Waterford (2 nights)
Day 8, October 1 –Vikings and Megaliths in Waterford
Guests will start the day by visiting the scenic ruins of Tintern Abbey in County Wexford, where they will tour the abbey and the walled gardens and have lunch at the cafe there. Then they will head to two of the rarest and most amazing megalithic monuments that date back 4000 years – the Gaulstown and Knockeen dolmens.
Overnight at the Granville Hotel in Waterford (2 nights)
Day 9, October 2 – St. Mullins Spiritual Sites, Brownshill Dolmen and Solas Bhride
As the tour comes to a close, the group visits St. Mullins in County Carlow – one of southeastern Ireland’s most spiritually significant early-Christian landscapes. Its sacred character comes from the relationship between St. Moling’s monastery, healing water, pilgrimage rituals and burial traditions. From there, the group will step back in time by about 3000 years and venture out to the Brownshill Dolmen, a massive Neolithic portal tomb dating to the period between 4000 and 3000 BC, making it over 5,000 years old. The enormous granite capstone resting on top is estimated to weigh between 100 and 150 metric tons (or tonnes). This immense weight makes it reputedly the heaviest capstone in all of Europe and a staggering example of the engineering capabilities of Stone Age people. Brownshill was a ritual site, a burial site, and likely used at one time for human sacrifice. This mystical energy at this site is palpable. Following that visit, the final stop will be Solas Bhride in Kildare, the Saint Brigid center, where guests will meet the Brigidine sisters who are committed to peace and justice and spreading the charism of Saint Brigid worldwide. A final blessing will be given at Saint Brigid’s Holy Well…. a site of miracles.
Overnight and Farewell Dinner at The Ashling Hotel in Dublin
Day 10, October 3- Guests Depart for home
The tour has ended. No activities for this day. Guests will head home or pursue additional travel on their own.
The itinerary is subject to change considering weather and availability factors.
https://www.wetravel.com/users/thin-places-tours
For additional information email contact@thinplaces.com
