Glenn Tyler and Ainsley Friedberg
The CWPN sponsors two-10 day sacred site tours of Ireland each year. One in March around St. Patrick's Day, and the other at Samhain. The cost is around $1,200.00/person and includes round trip airfare, B & B, airport transfers, meetings with Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone and tours of the sacred sites.
We usually stay in Mullingar, County West Meath, which is a lovely town that offers a wide range of shopping, terrific restaurants, picturesque loughs and various other places of interest. Oh, and pubs, lots and lots of great pubs with live music.
If you are interested in learning more about upcoming trips, please don't hesitate to contact Mark at msosnowski@earthlink.net or Liz at jasmine@sevensages.com or call Ainsley at 203-562-0095. I've included below information on some of the sacred sites along with photographs.
Ireland is probably the most beautiful country I've ever visited. It's rich in folklore, tales of magick, and stories of the ancient Gods and Goddesses. The people are warm and friendly and are well aware of their ancient Pagan roots. They continue to honor that by keeping these tales alive throughout the generations and their respect for each other and the land. A definite must visit country for any Pagan.
For background information about some of the sites we have visited checkout the following links:
| Your Tour Guides | |
Glenn after touring a bunch of Americans around. |
Glenn Tyler and Ainsley Friedberg |
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| The Grange at Lough Gur - (County Limerick) "Lios na Grainsi" or Stones of the Sun. Built around 2,100 BCE. The word Grange comes from the Irish word Grian which means sun. This is the largest standing stone circle in all of Ireland. It is aligned with the sun and the Summer Solstice. |
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The Hill of Tara - (County Meath) This is the ancient capital of Ireland
where the High King lived. Ireland was broken into 4 counties: Ulster
(Northern), Cannaught (Western), Leinster (Eastern), and Munster
(Southern). Each county had their own ruling King. 142 Kings are said to
have ruled at Tara. Tara, in its hay day, was the most powerful Pagan
site. The people before the Celts used it as well. Learning facilities
were based here, warriors were trained, and Druids resided here working
their magick. Especially at times of war by using satire. The Druids had 3
divisions within their order: Bards (Poets), Ovates (Philosophers), and
Druid Priests. On Samhain, all the Kings would congregate at Tara for a
big festival and celebration, which would last the whole month of
November.
St. Patrick went to Tara first to convert the Pagans in 433 CE. He confronted High King Laoghaire by using the shamrock and saying that the 3 leaves represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But for thousands of years prior, the Pagans had always believed in the Trinity. To them it was the Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother and Crone. Of course, the Celts eventually did convert to Christianity. King Laoghaire is believed to be buried at Tara standing up so that he can see his enemies coming. In Early 2000, a statue of St. Patrick was erected at Tara. It's interesting to note that the statue is located outside of the main area of Tara. |
| The Mound of the Hostages - (Dumha na n Geall) This is a burial mound at Tara which was believed to have been built around 2,500 BCE. It was named as such because the King kept hostages from the various places they would conquer. After excavation, it contained more than 200 remains. |  |
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The Lia Fail - Coronation Stone or Stone of Destiny. It was believed to have been brought to Tara by the Godly people (The De Dananns) as one of their sacred objects. It was said to roar when touched by the rightful King of Tara. It was originally in another location at Tara but was moved to its present location to mark the grave of 400 Irish rebels who died during the United Irishmen Revolution in 1798. The Kings of the other counties were crowned |
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Carrowkeel - (County Sligo) This is a Megalithic tomb or Cairn built
around 4,000 BCE (6,000 years ago). The word Cairn means a heap of stones
in Irish. 14 tombs are visible. Carrowkeel is about a 1 ½ mile hike up
the side of the mountain (great exercise, especially when you run up it).
It is aligned with Mid-Summer and the sun shines inside for six weeks
instead of only 17 minutes like at New Grange during the Winter Solstice
In Carrowmore - (Don't have photo) there are 32 tombs and this site is believed to have been built during the Mesolithic age, around 5,400 BCE (over 7,000 years ago). Debates currently go on regarding the actual date of construction of these various Cairns. |
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Creevykeel - (County Sligo) This is a court tomb. There are over 350 known in Ireland. These type of tomb may have pre-dated the passage tombs. |
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Poulnabrone Dolmen - (Located in the western part of Ireland in the Burrens). The word Dolmen means "stone table". Dolmens are graves built around 4,000 years ago. |
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Loughcrew - (County Meath - Carnbane East) Also called Sliabh na Cailliagh (The Hill of the Witch). This is a Megalithic tomb that was build around 4,000 BCE. This tomb was believed to be feminine and used by the women. The tomb faces East so that the rising sun of the Spring and Autumn Equinox's shine through. All Rites of Passage were believed to have been conducted in these Cairns. Birth, Initiation, Hand Fasting and Death. |
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Inside of Loughcrew |
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Hag's Chair - (Located at Lough Crew) If you sit on it, it brings on pregnancy. Many women will begin to menstruate when going here. Or if they already have their period, they may bleed heavier. |
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Carnbane West - Located across the street and down a ways from Sliabh na Cailliagh. This cairn is aligned with Samhain and Imbolc sunrise. |
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New Grange - (County Meath) Also called Brugh na Boinne.
This is older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids. But not as old as some of
the other Cairns. It was built around 3,000 BCE. It was first recorded as
having been discovered in 1699 and was left open to visitors and vandals
until it was excavated and restored in the 1960's and 1970's. There are 3
smaller passage graves around New Grange. New Grange was believed to be
where the great Kings were buried and is the largest Cairn in the world.
Not as many remains were found in New Grange so this is why it is believed
that it was meant for Kings or leaders of society. The smaller Cairns
found larger concentrations of people.
It was estimated that it took 40 years to build and took 80 men 4 days to drag a 4-ton stone 6 miles. There are 1,600 stones at New Grange. New Grange faces SouthEast. The rising sun on the morning of the Winter Solstice (December 21st), illuminates the chamber for about 17 minutes from 8:58 am to 9:15 am. During the following 3 days, some sunlight penetrates the chamber, but not as strong as on the morning of the 21st. One theory is that the dead were cremated and their remains were brought into the Cairns. Parts that didn't burn, such as bones, would have been ground up and then put in a container. When the sun shone through on the Solstice or Equinox, it was believed that the spirits were taken away. The Cairns were believed to have served as a Temple, a place of celebration and worshipping the sun and moon on the Pagan Feast Days. |
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| Stewart Farrar From CWPN's first tour, Samhain 1999 |
 Glenn and Mark |
 Glenn, Corri, and Liz |
