May 15-22, 2027 | Optional Add-on
Go back in time.
Feel something ancient awaken in your soul, connecting you to the timeless and eternal magic of the Celtic mysteries.
Answer the Call!
Ireland is a place that activates. It awakens your inner wisdom and power. It is a place of magic and rejuvenation.
The sacred wells heal.
The stalwart stones share ancient secrets.
The wind whispers your name reminding you who you are.
And, this May you are invited to journey with Christy Abate and Elizabeth Bercovici to Lorna Byrne’s Sanctuary in the medieval city of Kilkenny Ireland for a 7 night, 8 day retreat where you will be held by the land, by the angels, by the goddesses, and by love.
Imagine waking up in a beautiful Georgian estate surrounded by lush faery forests, bubbling streams, and enchanted gardens.
In the morning, enjoy a nourishing breakfast, relax, meditate, do yoga, or go on a forest walk. Then, you will journey with your guides to spiritual sites that are thousands of years old! See the itinerary below and where you will call home for the week.
WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE
Arrive & Settle
We will meet at Sanctuary, Lorna Byrne’s Retreat Center in Kilkenny. There will be the option for airport pick-up.
Welcome Dinner and Opening Ceremony!
May 15
Saint Brigid & Kildare
Travel to Kildare, where we will visit the eternal flame of Saint Brigid, lit to honor her throughout the centuries. Many see Saint Brigid as an incarnation of Goddess Brigid, an ancient deity celebrated throughout the Celtic isles for thousands of years. Brigid is a goddess of fire, healing, creative inspiration and spiritual renewal. We will also visit Brigid’s Holy Well, the Cathedral in Kildare and a local church with a historic relic of Saint Brigid. Whether you are looking to connect with the Saint, the Goddess — or both! — there’s magic here for you!
May 16
Visit the medieval village of Kilkenny and step back in time hundreds of years! Enjoy the beauty of Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice’s Cathedral and the Black Abbey. Hear legends of knights, lords, princesses, witches and ghosts.
You are also welcome to spend a day at Sanctuary where you can walk in the forest or relax on the grounds. (possibility for massages on-site)
We will gather together this night for a special event.
May 17Medieval Kilkenny & Sanctuary
May 18Hill of Usineach & More
Today we will journey to the Hill of Usineach, the sacred center of Ireland. This is a place that is deeply moving for all who visit. For millennia, people have come here for fire ceremonies.
We will also travel to another of Brigid’s Holy Well and a Stone Circle to embrace the full power of the Celtic mysteries.
Lorna Byrne
Full day workshop with Lorna Byrne, world renown author and spiritual teacher, at Sanctuary. Includes special blessing.
May 19
Sliabh na Caillí
Visit Sliabh na Caillí, the Hill of the Witch, to connect with the Callieach and sit on her throne! This will activate you deeply in your power and help you connect in a very meaningful way with the land. Sliabh na Caillí is part of a larger complex we’ll be visiting called Loughcrew, a sacred place with over 5,000 years of history, including passage tombs and Neolithic ruins.
May 20
Optional trip to Glendalough, one of the most beautiful forests in all of Ireland, See the‘Monastic City’ which was founded by Saint Kevin, including a round tower, the ruins of medieval stone churches. Nominal additional cost for this day trip.
You are also welcome to spend the day at Sanctuary, enjoying one last day of rejuvenation before our Closing Ceremony.
Closing Ceremony and group dinner.
May 21Optional trip to Glendalough
May 22Depart
Head to the airport or join Elizabeth and Christy for an optional 2 night add-on!
See details below for Add-on trip.
Optional 2 Day Add-on May 22-24
Go with Elizabeth and Christy to the Hill of Tara, Knowth and Newgrange.
+$499 additional cost
The Hill of Tara is home to the Lia Fáil, the Stone of Destiny. It is a sacred place where the kings of Ireland were crowned in days of olde. Embrace your destiny, step into the full power of your soul and celebrate one the most important heritage sites in Ireland.
We will also go to Knowth & Newgrange which are sacred neolithic sites traditionally used for ceremony at the time of the Solstice. Newgrange is as old as the Pyramids of Giza and all who go there feel the energy of this mystical place.
Overnight accommodations and transportation from The Sanctuary, the sites, and hotel included. Meals and incidentals not included.
What’s included
(and what’s not)
This retreat will include:
*Accommodation for 7 nights at Lorna Byrne’s Sanctuary in Kilkenny
*Breakfast and Dinner daily; most lunches; tea and snacks
*Travel to sacred sites expect for the optional Day Trip to Glendalough
*Spiritual workshop with Lorna Byrne
*Celtic Storytelling
*Guided Journeys, Meditations, and Rituals
*Entrance fee to Sacred Sites (Brigid’s Well, etc)
*Optional Yoga with Christy
Optional 2 Day Add-on:
*Overnight accommodations
*Transport from The Sanctuary to the sites and hotel
What’s Not Included:
*Airfare
*Travel insurance _highly recommended
*Gratituties (for our Driver, a suggested amount will be recommended)
*The optional day trip to Glendalough
*Any extra things you want to do in Kilkenny
*Spa services
*Entrance fees to Kilkenny Castle or other attractions in Kilkenny
This retreat is for all age groups and fitness levels. There will be options for longer walks, but also plenty of time for spa services and relaxation.
WHERE WE ARE STAYING
SANCTUARY ~ KILKENNY, IRELAND
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a place of peace and love. A place to commune with nature and the angels. A sacred and safe place to connect or disconnect.
Located on the former Kilfane Demesne estate in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Sanctuary is comprised of four fully restored properties: the historic Kilfane House (circa 1705), Caretaker’s Cottage, the Glebe, and the Rose Cottage.
Accommodations: Sanctuary offers a variety of single, double, and shared rooms across its historic properties, including traditional-style rooms.
Meals: In-house chef serves 3 daily farm-to-table meals made from ingredients grown in Sanctuary gardens.
Gardens and Forest: The estate sits on 100 acres of untouched open space, ancient forest, rivers, and streams. Guests may freely explore the grounds during their stay and even volunteer to help in the gardens under the direction of a staff member.
Kilfane House
Surrounded by 100 acres of blessed land, Sanctuary’s Georgian-style main house offers a timeless sense of peace to all who visit. With its original fireplaces, staircases, and wooden floorboards dating back 300 years, Kilfane House transports you to a different time and place, hundreds of years into the past. Enjoy the elegant event room, charming pink dining area, period furnishings, and tranquil bedrooms with views of the Irish countryside. All daily meals are prepared by our in-house chef.
Caretaker’s Cottage
Quietly tucked in the courtyard directly beside Kilfane House, Caretaker’s Cottage offers a cozy getaway in the center of Sanctuary. Newly renovated and redesigned, this elegant cottage mixes modern comforts with old world charm, including a full kitchen for guests to utilize as they wish. Only a few steps from Wildflower Tearooms and Sanctuary’s gardens, Caretaker’s Cottage gives you a peaceful place to rest in the heart of Sanctuary.
Rooms and Pricing
Note: Rooms will fill first come, first serve
$750 deposit ~ $100 NON-REFUNDABLE/ADMIN FEE; after February 1 deposit non-refundable (THAT MEANS THE FULL DEPOSIT IS NOT REFUNDABLE)
PAYMENT SCHEDULE*:
$750 due to secure spot
½ balance due January 15, 2027
Balance due March 1, 2027
$100 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT IF BOOKED BY NOVEMBER 15
EXTRA $100 OFF IF PAID IN FULL AT TIME OF BOOKING
*payments plan available upon request
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King bed with private bath in the Kilfane House or Caretaker’s Cottage. Single rate $4100
Shared $3475/pp
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King bed with shared ensuite in Kilfane House
(Jack and Jill style bathroom shared with 1 double room)
$3350/pp single
$2950/pp shared (max 2 people)
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Double Room with private ensuite
Comfortable for 1; suitable for 2
4 rooms in Caretaker’s Cottage
$3895/single
$3475/pp double occupancy
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Double bed with shared ensuite in Kilfane House
(Jack and Jill style bathroom shared with 1 King room)
$2950/pp
-
Twin Room with private ensuite
Twin beds
Comfortably large room for 2 people - could easily accommodate 3
2 rooms in Kilfane House
$3350/pp
Your
Guides
Christy Abate
Spiritual Teacher & Priestess of the RoseChristy Abate is the owner of The Angel Cooperative and The Angel Wing, metaphysical stores and spiritual centers located in Connecticut. She brings years of experience as a retreat leader, hosting yearly retreats in Glastonbury, UK, and annual Goddess Retreats. She teaches gentle yoga and myriad angel, ascended masters and goddesses workshops where she weaves together storytelling, ritual, guided meditation, and sacred ceremony to create unique and sacred experiences.
Elizabeth Bercovici
Elizabeth Bercovici is a Storyteller and Guardian of the Celtic Mysteries who’s taken people on pilgrimages and Spiritual Retreats to Ireland for years. She is delighted to bring you into deep communion with goddesses, fairies, and the enchanted world. Join Elizabeth on this magical trip to connect with the Tuatha de Danann, the gods and goddesses of Ireland, through wisdom teachings, guided journeys and the eternal power of story.
The Magical Storytellerreserve your spot
Let these lands awaken wonder and wisdom. Join us this May to be enchanted and rejuvenated by the wild heart of Ireland and the Celtic Mysteries.