Post~Conference Journey
Post-Conference
Post- Conference Journey
A POST-CONFERENCE ATLANTIC JOURNEY TO CLARE ISLAND, SLIGO AND DONEGAL:
From the Pirate Queen to W.B. Yeats to St. Columba
August 5 – 11, 2026
Our Post-Conference Journey offers us an immersion into the soul of Western Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. We begin with a ferry ride to beautiful Clare Island, home of a medieval monastery and the castle of the 16th century Pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille), beneath the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. While on Clare Island there will be ample time for contemplative walking and attunement to its towering cliffs and white sand beaches.
We then go on to W.B. Yeats country in Sligo, where we will stop by the Lake Isle of Innisfree and imbibe the vision of Ireland’s greatest poet of the 20th century. We’ll enjoy a walking tour of Sligo, spend time at The Yeats Society for an evening listening to the great poet’s work. We’ll also visit Carrowmore, the largest and oldest collection of Neolithic passage tombs in Ireland, a site that pre-dates the pyramids at Giza.
We’ll continue north to Donegal and the oceanside village of Glencolumbkille, long associated with St. Columba, the founder of Celtic Christianity. This is the northwest corner of Ireland at its most rugged and evocative, one of rocky coastline, pristine beaches and crystal-clear ocean waters. It is our last opportunity for sustained communion with the expansive and dramatic seascapes of the Atlantic coast. We’ll also be treated to some time with scholar and author Réamonn Ó Ciaráin, who will offer an illuminating talk on the renowned Irish poet, artist and mystic, AE George Russell.
Finally we travel east to Belfast, with its own unique culture, intriguing history and warm people. Here, fans will have the chance to walk the two mile Van Morrison trail, following places of significance in his life and music. Others may wish to independently explore the city before joining the rest of our group for a closing dinner together.
*Please note: Many nationals, including U.S. citizens, now require a visa to enter the UK. A two-year visa (£16) can be applied for online at gov.uk/eta/apply and must be done prior to entry.
Price:
$2795 per person in double accommodations; $3450 in single accommodations
$2875 per person in upgraded double accommodations; $3655 in upgraded single accommodations
Includes six nights’ accommodations (basic or upgraded), all meals from dinner on the 5th through breakfast on the 11th, all guided tours, activities, programmed entrance fees and group transport through the end of day on the 10th of August. Participants will make their own way to Belfast International Airport on the 11th of August.