An Tairseach 10 Week Sabbatical Programme – Applications Open!

An Tairseach has opened its doors again!

They are currently planning for their ten week Sabbatical Programme due to begin in September entitled: Exploring Spirituality in the context of an evolving universe, an endangered earth, in the Christian tradition.

Dates for the next Sabbatical course: 5th September to 12th November 2021

Applications are open for the Autumn 2021 Sabbatical Course. All participation is subject to government guidelines for both national and international travel at the time of the programme. Applications are welcome from anyone with an interest and commitment to the content of the programme.

The programme includes:

  • Becoming familiar with our evolution over 14 billion years as discovered by contemporary science.
  • Exploring its implications for understanding our place in the universe.
  • Exploring the theological implications of this new cosmology.
  • Listening to the wisdom of the mystics.
  • Reflecting on themes from the Celtic Tradition.
  • Examining our images of God.
  • Critiquing our present world order and exploring possibilities for a sustainable lifestyle.

The programme is delivered through:

  • Lectures and group sessions led by the An Tairseach team and guest lecturers.
  • Art, movement, ritual, prayer, nature walks, guided meditation, walking the labyrinth and time alone.
  • Visits to sacred places such as Glendalough.
  • Study using a specialised library of books, periodicals, DVD’s and internet resources.
  • Guest lecturers include: Diarmuid O’Murchu, Philip John Newell, Niamh Brennan, Deirdre Ni Chinnéide and many more.

An Tairseach’s Sabbatical Programme is a residential programme run in the Ecology Centre. The Centre is a peaceful and tranquil building surrounded by spacious grounds and the 70 acre organic farm which overlooks Wicklow Bay. The Centre has lecture rooms, a meditation room, an art room, the chapel, a library, a kitchen and dining room, a therapeutic treatment room, common rooms and administrative offices.  Guest accommodation is in single en-suite rooms with shared or self-contained self-catering facilities.

An Tairseach is only five minutes walk from Wicklow Town Centre which has food and clothes shops, as well as the possibility of long walks beside the Vartry river and the sea.  There is a swimming pool in Wicklow Town as well as other sports facilities.  It is a half an hour drive to Glendalough and the beautiful Wicklow mountains.

Visit for An Tairseach’s website for more information and to register.