The theme of the Aistear emerged from the nature of the site, its central position in the village, the spectacular views of Lough Derg and Iniscealtra (Holy Island) and its potential as a place of rest and recreation for locals, visitors and tourists alike. It presented as a project which was in harmony with the environment, but it required the vital support and approval of the community at large to agree its inception. Although construction commenced in 1995, the story began long before that..... Read more.

Follow a pictorial journey of the construction of Aistear InisCealtra and view the architectural design and layout of the maze and overall Aistear plans. Start your journey here.

The concept of pilgrimage/journey is an extremely important part of our spiritual history. There are many famous international places of pilgrimage that are associated with different cultures and beliefs. The monastic site of Iniscealtra has been an important place of pilgrimage and is also the inspiration for the journey/pilgrimage through the Aistear maze.  The illustrated text for the seven spaces in the maze was developed for the project by Dr. Eoin Grogan. The illustrations and architectural design were subsequently used in the brochure ‘Aistear InisCealtra, Journey Through Time’ to promote the themes and concepts of the Aistear as Ireland’s most unique project.  Read more.

The labyrinth is a universal symbol not belonging to any one faith or tradition and is known in most cultures of the world. The labyrinth is unicursal, that is, it has a direct path to the centre and out again. The model of labyrinth used in the Aistear replicates the more complex, medieval or Christian form, which is found in Chartres Cathedral in France. The Chartres labyrinth dates from the mid-13th Century, around 1260, the date of completion of the church. It is a classical, eleven-circuit labyrinth with eleven concentric circles while the twelfth constitutes the centre. Read more.