Above all else my friend, stay true to you!

Sep 16, 2024

Above all else my friend, stay true to you!

Sep 16, 2024

Whatever your fate is, whatever the hell happens, you say, ‘this is what I need’.

It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge.

If you bring love to that moment, not discouragement, you will find the strength is there.

Any disaster you can survive is an improvement of your character, your stature and your life.

What a privilege!

This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow…

We drift downstream in timeless homage to those who have passed this way before. Once you move out beyond the sanctuary of the harbour, you feel the thrill of the adventure. The familiar world we leave behind slowly dissolves into the shimmering night. A crimson glow appears invitingly on the horizon. All is calm. Out of nowhere, surging waters roar in elemental fury. These very moments, when we’re tested most, drive us deeper into ourselves. A spark flickers to light the way when all else seems lost. You see, my friend, you are the beacon you search for. Trust your deepest instincts. The power you seek lies within.

As our 8th season with Celtic Ways Ireland draws to a close, we look back with gratitude on all that has led us to where we are now. Unscripted moments we could never have imagined have given us the impetus we needed to sail through uncharted waters; impromptu chats with people we’ve met by chance, fortuitous breaks, kind encounters… rainbow moments that nudged us out beyond the obscuring mist. Yes, we plan meticulously and with purpose, we visualise the steps we need to take to create momentum, we listen, we learn, we make mistakes and learn all over again, yet we’re always guided by the life force that makes all this possible. Never lose faith in you my friend especially in those moment when events conspire against you. Microscopic as we are in the universal scheme of things, your life has a worth that no one can take from you. Your stardust is of a precious and timeless kind!

Small, baby steps were needed to help us navigate our way in the early days; we welcomed Active Retirement Groups from around Ireland, hosted receptions in the 13th Century Choristers’ Hall in Waterford Treasures, meandered our way through Crough Woods up to the Mahon Falls, cycled the Waterford Greenway, explored the Copper Coast en route to the mystical surrounds of the Lafcadio Hearn Gardens in Tramore, and lapped up the stunning beauty of the cliff walk in Dunmore East before taking a trip out into the bay with Brendan on board his ‘Keltoi Warrior’. Here, on the outer frontier of Ireland’s Ancient East, rivers descend from unknown places and merge with timeless ease into the awaiting arms of Celtic Seas. The river’s flow always seeks out new frontiers!

It pays to listen when the universe speaks. Sometimes, you’ve just got to hoist those sails and go for it. Once you do, know you’re no longer close to the safe sanctuary of the harbour. The fluctuating vagaries of life can toss and buffet you into oblivion. Your inner radar is your greatest compass. This capacity to adjust course is key to your happiness. Invest your energies wisely. Reach out towards your higher purpose my friend. Do not settle for less. To change is not to compromise. No storm can shake what floats on an even keel.

I guess we’ve taken the circuitous route to arrive at where we are now. It’s only when you look back and survey the distance you have covered that you come to appreciate the journey you’ve made. It is not the monumental feats that matter in life. Small ‘triumphs’ matter most and nothing beats the satisfaction of knowing that a tour has gone well. This May we welcomed 23 visitors from LA to Ireland to join us in Mount Melleray Abbey for our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan’s Way. It was magic from the moment we set out at the Rock of Cashel to the moment 5 days later when we arrived on the soft, soothing sands of the beach in Ardmore. Something happened in between, something intangible yet very real. We all felt it. So much so that they’re coming back in May 2025 to experience more of Ireland and Wales with us. If visitors have come this far to join us, we go that extra mile to make their time with us all the more memorable. Our shared Celtic lands and the stories they hold never disappoint!

What propels us onwards is our belief in our vision for Celtic Ways Ireland. No matter what the world has thrown at us, we’ve tried to remain true to who we are. This we will never compromise! Our passion for what we do drives us on. More and more visitors want something different from their holiday in Ireland, a connection with the soul of the place and its people. St Declan’s Way with Mount Melleray Abbey as our base does just that! So too the way of St David in Wales. These ancient trails echo to the beat of our ancestors. We pass this way but once. Our pilgrim steps leave footprints on the land for those who are yet to follow.

We’re very excited about our Celtic Adventure Tour in South East Ireland that we’re rolling out from Spring 2025. It includes iconic trails in Glendalough, St Mullins and the Raven’s Loop in Curracloe, kayaking off Baginbun Beach in South Wexford, enjoying a farm Olympics and barbeque along with some Bailey’s tasting on a Wicklow farm, topped off with our Peace Choir Vigil singing in the enchanting surrounds of St Eden’s Cathedral in Ferns. You know you’re right on track when the pieces fall into place. It’s all about balance; getting the blend of adventure, fun, music and a little mindful reflection into a holiday in Ireland that leaves you wanting more.

We co-write the script of our destiny. The difficult times we fear might ruin us can ignite a spark that lingers long into the night. The beacon we seek lies within. Keep believing in you my friend, especially when you’re tested most, and you will reach what you are destined for. Honour your true impulse and make a difference. You get one chance at this odyssey we call life. It pays to be brave and dare to dance the tide.

… Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now.

You’ll see that this is really true. Nothing can happen to you that is not positive.

Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not.

The crisis throws you back, and when you are required to exhibit strength, it comes.

Joseph Campbell ‘The Art of Living’

Dr. Phil Brennan and his wife Elaine have recently re-modelled their Celtic Ways Ireland website to reflect their new tour offerings in South East Ireland and Wales that will be rolled out from Spring 2025.

To find out more, check out www.celticwaysireland.com or email Phil and Elaine directly on info@celticwaysireland.com