Irene
Unregistered User
(2/16/04 8:02 pm)

Renewing vows in Ireland

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We've been talking about renewing our vows in Ireland. This trip will almost coincide with our 20th anniversary and we're thinnking it might be kind of neat.

We were married in the Catholic church.

We'd like to renew in a secular environment

don't ask

But we would consider any thoughts, even a pagan ceremony. We're thinking of something small. His brother and his wife will be joining us from Germany and we can always invite the family from the guesthouse we'll be staying at in Dingle

Is this a difficult thing to do in Ireland? We're just talking about the ceremony no party or facility rental.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2150
(2/17/04 2:08 am)

Renewing Vows

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Hi Irene,

I am really not familiar with renewing vows in Ireland. Perhaps the following site will be of help: www.catholicireland.net/pages/index.php You might also contact Tourism Ireland to see if they have any info or brochures for you 1-800-223-6470 (US & Canada).

Michele

edhodge
Unregistered User
(3/8/04 8:53 pm)

renewing your vows

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Irene, my DH and I celebrated our 25th anniversary by visiting Ireland. We renewed our vows in a very secular way. On the Dingle peninsula, there is an 12th century Irish Romanesque church called Kilmalkedar surrounded by a graveyard. It has an old Ogham stone in front. The stone (to quote Rick Steve) which had already stood here 900 years when the church was built, has a hole drilled through here centuries ago as a place where people would come to seal a deal- standing on the graves of heir ancestors and in frton of the house of God, they'd "swear to God" by touching fingers through the stone. You can still use this to renew your wedding vows which is exactly what we did. It was quite a magical place.

Diane

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2267
(3/9/04 2:16 am)

Re: renewing your vows

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Hi Diane,

Thank you. What a fabulous and romantic idea! It sounds just perfect for vow renewal.

Michele

Irene Lee
Registered User
Posts: 11
(3/9/04 9:18 pm)

Re: renewing your vows

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Hi Diane,

I had read about the Ogham stone in my research and then blanked it out I think. Your description of the location does sound very romantic. It also sounds like just the right place for us. We were looking for something that didn't involve a priest or the church (been there-done that), something that was simple and traditional. I guess an Ogham stone is as traditional as one can get in Ireland short of finding a Druid priestess

Is this place easy to find? For some reason my memory keeps saying it was over by the Ring of Kerry and not Dingle. I'll have to check the Lonely Planet guide again.
Do you remember how to get there Diane--Michele--anyone?

Also, did you just walk up to it and do this? Or did you have to plan it ahead of time?

Thanks for the great idea!

Irene

edhodge
Unregistered User
(3/10/04 10:57 am)

renewing vows

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It was very easy to find and we just walked up. There were a few people there when we first arrived but they left and we were alone. We found it because we used Rick Steve's guidebook and followed his Dingle peninsula Slea Head drive directions. I am at work (ssshhh, don't tell!) and did not bring the book. Just my opinion, but it is not worth buying his book just for that so I will post directions when I can.

There is also an ancient cross at this site. It is so old that the majority of the lower portion has sunk into the ground so it looks more like a plus sign than a cross. Lots of Celtic crosses in the graveyard. I have to tell you there was a mystic, awe inspiring feeling about this place that I loved.

Michele Erdvig
ezOP
Posts: 2277
(3/11/04 12:44 am)

Re: renewing vows

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Hi Irene,

Kilmalkedar Church is off the R559 near Gallarus Oratory. The locals can direct you there. Here are some photos:

www.paddi.net/images/kilmalkedar.htm
www.traveljournals.net/pi.../6128.html
www.thevisualrecord.com/d...oto_id=315
www.geocities.com/lewis_n...ING19.HTML
www.canyonlights.com/prin...dingle.htm
home.comcast.net/~hories/...120157.jpg
home.comcast.net/~hories/...120159.jpg

Michele

Irene Lee
Unregistered User
(3/11/04 11:18 pm)

renewing vows

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Thanks Michele.

Lovely pictures. What a beautiful place to be laid to rest.