Join the O'Donohue family and John's close friends for an intimate journey of the landscapes and people that formed him, later to deeply influence the world through his writings. We will return to the mythic lands of the Burren and venture to the pilgrim paths of the Aran Islands, tracing John’s steps and weaving his words throughout our days. From the sacred thresholds of ancient ruined chapels and holy wells to meandering the pastoral green roads, our pilgrimage together will be spent at the ‘Hearth of the Soul’ immersed in the ethereal landscape of County Clare, the ancestral home of the O'Donohue family.
Ireland is an ancient island where many worlds intermingle. For anyone awakening to the spiritual world, a visit to Ireland can be a life-transforming event. It is a land of spirit glimpsing the invisible world. The Irish spiritual tradition trusted the invisible world to harvest the wisdom to guide, shelter and nourish. The eye of the invisible world sees more deeply and clearly than we can. In these frightened and empty times of stress, anxiety, and confusion, we need to turn aside from our crowded lives and become still. We need to learn how to anchor the frenetic self in the tranquility of the invisible world. Then we will begin to discover fresh wells, new landscapes and exciting invitations of transformation of spirit. Forsaken spaces will gradually transform into new pastures. We will find new courage of hope and rekindle that which has grown cold within us. This sacred journey will long linger in the memory of the heart.
"My earliest memories are of the landscape of the Burren in the West of Ireland. The Burren is an ancient kingdom of limestone sculptures carved slowly by rain, wind and time. It is an ancient conversation between the land and the sea."
Our days will be a balanced blend of engaging the mind and body, spirit and soul, looking through the lens John came to know well as a trusted interior companion excavating the themes of Awakening, Transfiguration and Homecoming. Come join us at the edge where there is an ancient conversation between the land and the sea…we look forward to welcoming you!
Accommodations
We will stay in a cluster of lovely yet simple traditional thatched-roof cottages on the shores of Galway Bay in North County Clare. Each cottage holds 3-5 people with a spacious living room and peat fire, including a full kitchen and laundry facilities. You will have your own private bedroom with shared bathrooms. A limited number of en suite rooms (private bedroom/bathroom) are available for an additional cost.*
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The charming village of Ballyvaughan is ideally suited for an Irish pilgrimage, surrounded by the stunning Burren landscape. Opportunities abound to explore hiking paths, the local tea house and legendary pubs from the doorstep of your cottage.
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Registration
In order to gather a balanced group of approximately 30 people on the tour, we will be accepting applications in early 2023.
Please contact Ann Cahill with any questions: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Upon acceptance, additional registration materials and the first payment will be due immediately.
Our warm greetings with appreciation for your interest in John O'Donohue's work and the public events we are hosting.
We have just announced our week-long Irish tour in September 2020.
We were thrilled to welcome 400 international guests to our 2018 O'Donohue Symposium in Ireland! Shortly, we will be announcing our next symposium, April 24-26, 2020, in John's beloved County Clare.
And finally, deeply grateful for the warm reception for John's latest book, Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for a Modern World - more information here.
Abundant blessings on behalf of the O'Donohue family,
Ann Cahill
Director, John O'Donohue Literary Estate