The start of a new year is an ideal time to dial in on your inner radar, narrow life down to the core essentials and place our trust in all that has carried you this far. We in Celtic Ways Ireland have been charting our course and anticipating how best to safely navigate the way ahead. We’ve come to realise that what matters most in an ever-changing world is staying true to yourself. Once you do, doors will open in ways you least expect. The breaks will come. You’ve got to believe!
Times when we’re tested most often nudge us closer to where we are meant to be. At the end of November last, we found out that our base for our St Declan’s Way experience, Mount Melleray Abbey Guesthouse, was closing. We did anticipate that this might happen one day – just not now! We had to re-calibrate fairly quickly as we had Mount Melleray Guesthouse reserved for 8 weeks next season and had already 2 weeks filled. We didn’t panic. We weighed up our options and anticipated our next move. We trusted that all would be well and so it proved. Glencairn Abbey near Lismore has now become our base for our pilgrim tours. One door closed and another opened.
Glencairn Abbey is a sister community of Mount Melleray Abbey just a few kilometres off St Declan’s Way near Lismore in County Waterford. The Abbey has 6 newly built en-suite rooms that allows for a more personal pilgrim experience. Glencairn Abbey is a special place, an ideal refuge for our pilgrim guests to return to each evening. Here, in the Irish countryside, each member of the 30 strong community work to their own spiritual rhythm. It’s the perfect fit for our Celtic Pilgrim Experience. It’s as though it was meant to be.
We’ve tried to view the disappointment of losing Mount Melleray Abbey more as an opportunity to see our entire St Declan’s Way Experience with new eyes. St Declan’s Way is more than a pilgrim path that dates back over 1,500 years. It is an experience that invites us deeper into the soul of Celtic Ireland. When we first led groups along this ancient pilgrim path, we walked all 115 kilometres from Cashel to Ardmore. Now, we’ve crafted a unique Celtic Pilgrim Experience that blends shorter walks along iconic stretches of St Declan’s Way with a little adventure and more time to soak in the story and the beauty of the places we pass along the way.
Our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St. Declan’s Way gives us space to breathe, to step back a little from the world for a while and connect to source again. We attune to a new frequency. We find perspective… even peace. Yet, you sense an energy in the calm, a resolute belief amidst the changing vagaries of an uncertain world. We lead a short Taizé Vigil for Peace in the side chapel on one of the evenings with some of the members of our Peace Choir. In times past, a monastery became a place of sanctuary for pilgrims on their journey. Some traditions should never be lost to modernity!
Our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan’s Way is all about balance. Yes, Glencairn Abbey is the perfect base to return to in the evenings but it’s also great to sample a little of the hospitality in adjoining towns over the week. On a recent pilgrim experience, we took an unexpected detour into Cappoquin to sample a pint of Guinness, or two. We ended up enjoying possibly the nicest fish and chips we ever had in Alice’s ‘Cornerstone Chipper’ close by. The whole evening took on a life of its own. Maybe not quite the rigors of pilgrimage in days of old but there was something about the fun we had and the stories we shared that felt so good. Our Gala Dinner in the ‘Moorings Bar & Restaurant’ in Dungarvan on the final evening is always a real highlight. The beautiful food, the few drinks, the chats, the presentation of Certificates… it’s just a great night against the stunning backdrop of the harbour in Dungarvan.
Over the past few months, we’ve added a unique ingredient to Our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan’s Way; a little adventure! Under the guidance of local kayaking expert Denis Murray, we give our feet a rest and enjoy a leisurely voyage down the River Blackwater from Lismore to Cappoquin. It’s amazing to think that it was here along this very river that pilgrims over the centuries made their way to Youghal Harbour before embarking on their voyage to Galicia to walk the Camino de Santiago. The rhythm of this day is very different to all that has gone before. Setting out from the stunning backdrop of Lismore Castle, we move to the river’s flow. There’s a peace here that is simply indescribable.
There is something uniquely enchanting about Lismore that has to be experienced to be believed. It’s great that we are now staying just a few kilometres outside the town. We have learned over the years not to rush our time here. Stay, soak in its story, its magic, its timeless beauty. After lunch, our local guide Alice takes us along a breathtaking riverbank walk that leads us back through the woods into the old monastic citadel of St Carthage. Her passion for the place she calls ‘home’ connects us to the creative energy of the people who have shaped this town through the ages. Monks, visionaries, saints, dukes and rebels all left their imprint in the land here. Their distant murmurings can still be heard by the water’s edge.
No time in Glencairn Abbey would be complete without a visit to the nearby Lismore Castle and Gardens. The Castle retains its mystique, its mesmeric charm; its lofty walls privy to stories that remain untold. The river flows serenely below as if knowingly bowing to the many who have walked its banks before. After our bespoke garden tour, the Butler of the Castle calls out to see us and regales us with stories from people who have stayed in the castle over the years. Denis is one of a kind, exuding an old world decency that lingers long after our visit is over. St Declan’s Way leaves you wanting more. Whether self-guided or with us, take that first step. You’ll be glad you did!
The start of a new year is the perfect time to re-set your bearings for the journey ahead, to learn from what has gone before and map out internally what really matters to you and step out into what lies ahead. The greatest resource we have lies within – the power to shape the course of our own lives and become architects of our own destiny. All that is meant for us is not predetermined. It will only happen if you dare to take that leap into the unknown. This takes courage. Be guided by your inner compass. Your first move – choosing a goal for the coming year and taking the clear, decisive steps needed to reach it – can change your life.
Dr. Phil Brennan and Elaine have recently re-modelled their Celtic Ways Ireland website to reflect their new tour offerings in South East Ireland that will be rolled out from Spring 2025. Spaces for our Celtic Pilgrim Experience along St Declan’s Way with Glencairn Abbey are filling up quickly so reach out to us early to avoid disappointment.
To find out more, check out our website at www.celticwaysireland.com or you can email Phil and Elaine directly at info@celticwaysireland.com