Díseart, the Dingle-based Institute of Education and Celtic Culture, is offering a walking and art pilgrimage this summer as one of its courses. The Kerry Walking and Art Pilgrimage, in conjunction with the University of Southern Maine, in the US, will take place from May 19th to June 2nd.
Those taking part will enjoy an 11-day trek around the Dingle Peninsula, led by Díseart artist-in-residence Caoimhghín Ó Fraithile and Michael Shaughnessy, Associate Professor of Sculpture in the US university.
At various stages, the walk will be joined by lecturers who will give talks on the spirituality, folklore and ancient pilgrimage tradition of the peninsula. Participants will be encouraged to express their experience through writing, painting, drawing and sketching, and afterwards to partake of the local hospitality.
As part of its new spring prospectus, the institute is offering an introductory course in Celtic culture during May and June as well as September and November. Run over two weeks, the inter-disciplinary programme deals with archaeology, art, language, culture, spirituality, folklore, the literature of Ireland and the living traditions of the Dingle Peninsula.
During August, The Irish Spirituality Summer School will take place. The theme is "Hermits and Islandmen: Past and Present Spirituality on Ireland's Western Shores." The school will explore Irish Christianity from earliest times to the present day.
There will be field trips to the Great Blasket or the Skelligs. Díseart was founded in 1996 and is a private registered company and not-for-profit charity. The e-mail address is info@diseart.ie