Continued from November 2024 Email Newsletter…

“If you throw a rock in Ireland, you’ll hit some kind of ruins.”

When I first heard this comment, I thought it was an exaggeration. Then, when I visited with a group in April this past year, I quickly discovered that there was certainly truth to this! The history of the Emerald Isle is so deep and rich that I not only wanted to learn more, but I wanted to share in this learning and exploration with you!

So in my continued research of this beautiful land, I found some fascinating additions to our itinerary as we discover the sites of Dublin and Galway. Including:

A visit to the island home of Gráinne Ní Mháille (Grace O’Malley). She was a pirate queen from the 1500s who controlled her own region and even went to the Queen of England to advocate for her own land to serve as a pension when she was older. Her story is one of courage and strength. To dive deeper into her story and the story of this land, we will stop in Westport and spend a day on Claire Island.

-and-

A visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Newgrange. Dating back to 3000 BC, this passage grave is one of the finest examples of this type of tomb in all of Western Europe and predates the pyramids of Egypt. The tomb itself is oriented so that the sun during the winter solstice illuminates the narrow passage and the carvings within.

So, join me in Ireland as we deepen our learnings and follow the adventures of our curiosity!