Ireland Pilgrimage

From Celt to Catholicism

Scenic and lush best describes this Island of the Green. You will travel the southern route enjoying Cliffs, mountain ranges, and vistas of pasture and lakes along the way. The highlight will be a visit to Our Lady of Knock and Croagh Patrick.

Day 1 New York, NY
We depart on our overnight international flight. Enjoy dinner and breakfast served aboard flight.

Day 2 Galway
Upon arrival at Shannon Airport we are met by our escort and board our motor- coach for the scenic ride to Knock, renowned as a center of piety and learning. Knock is Ireland's National Marian Shrine located in County Mayo. We celebrate mass at the magnificent new Basilica of Knock, located next to the original church where Our Blessed Mother appeared in 1879, and where Pope John Paul II visited in 1979. In the afternoon visit Ballintubber Abbey, founded by the King of Connacht in the 5th century and dedicated to St. Patrick, where Mass has been said for the past 750 years. Return to Galway, this westernmost city in Europe with its beautiful location at the edge of Galway Bay and its pretty medieval streets, for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 3 Limerick
morning Mass, drive through the green, Irish landscape to Connemara. Visit the only home of the Benedictine nuns in Ireland at Kylemore Abbey. Then it's on to Moycullen, a small town seven miles northwest of Galway City, to view traditional Celtic crystal cutters plying their craft. Drive the scenic coastline along the Cliffs of Moher, to the old Viking city of Limerick with its famous Norman castles and monasteries, including King John's Castle, the Treaty Stone and St. Mary's Cathedral. Here we meet people with a rich heritage as custodians of an indigenous culture that manifests itself in music, song, dance, story and character. We visit the Ballycasey Craft Workshops and then arrive at Bunratty Castle, where we enjoy a medieval banquet. Overnight in Limerick. (B, D)

Day 4 Killarney
On to the "Ring of Kerry" the most scenic drive in Ireland and to the Lakes of Killarney. Wander leisurely through the quaint streets and on the banks of Lough Leane. We continue to Muckross Abbey. Here we see MacGuillicuddy's Reeks, Ireland's largest mountain range. Dinner and overnight in Killarney. (B, D)

Day 5 Waterford
After breakfast we depart for Blarney Castle. We have ample time in Blarney for kissing the famous "Blarney Stone" and shopping in the area. We travel past Cork into Waterford county with its three cultures: Gaelic, Norse and Norman. En route, see the variety of terrains from the Comeragh Mountains, lakes, rivers, harbors, rocky peninsulas and gorges to soft beaches. Continue to Waterford and visit the crystal factory. Check-in for dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B, D)

Day 6 Enniscorthy
Depart for Enniscorthy this morning. Situated in County Wexford, Enniscorthy boasts several museums, one housed in a castle where Edmund Spenser wrote "The Faerie Queene." Also, worthy of note is Saint Aidan's Cathedral, a masterpiece of Neogothicism. A visit to the famous Dunbrody Famine Ship is included in today's tour. Dinner and overnight in Enniscorthy. (B, D)

Day 7 Dublin
Depart for Dublin this morning. En route, stop at Glendalough to visit St. Kevin's, the 6th-century seat of learning with its Round Tower, Cathedral and Seven Churches. Continue to Dublin for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 8 Dublin
Today we tour Dublin, the capital and largest city in Ireland and its cultural and educational center. Our visit includes St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Old Town, the National Museum and Library, Trinity College, which houses the Book of Kells - an ornately illustrated manuscript produced by Celtic monks in 800 AD containing the four Gospels of the Bible in Latin, O'Connell Street and Phoenix Park. Dublin is a city renowned for its hospitality and friendliness. Dinner and overnight in Dublin. (B, D)

Day 9 New York, NY
Dublin Depart for the airport in the morning for our homebound flight arriving the same day. (B)