Depart from your hometown for your overnight flight(s) to Ireland. Meals will be served on board.

Cead Mile Failte – Welcome to Ireland! Upon arrival at Shannon Airport, collect your luggage, pass through passport and customs control, then walk to the Arrivals Hall where you will meet your tour guide or driver. You will begin the pilgrimage with the Mass and enjoy a panoramic city tour of Galway.

Galway City is a delight with its narrow streets, old stone and wooden shop fronts, good restaurants, and busy pubs. The city has attracted a bohemian crowd of musicians and artists, which adds so much to the character of the city. We will visit Galway’s modern Cathedral, which was built in 1965. Then, we will cross the Salmon Weir Bridge and along the trout stream to the Collegiate of St Nicholas of Myra, which was built in 1320, and is the largest medieval parish church in Ireland that is still in continuous use today. The Collegiate is close to Nora Barnacle’s house (Mrs. James Joyce). You will continue along Shop Street to the Kings Head. It is worth a visit to this pub in order to get the true version as to how the pub got its name. Along Shop Street, there is evidence of the splendour of the rich merchants’ houses during the time that they controlled the commercial life of the city. The tour concludes in Eyre Square, the heart of Galway City. On the western side of the square is Browne’s doorway, which is all that remains of a mid-17th-century merchant’s house. After the tour, transfer to your hotel and check in. Enjoy a welcome dinner and overnight.

This morning, we will direct our pilgrimage to one of the world’s leading Marian shrines, situated in the plains of East Mayo. On August 21, 1879, fifteen men, women, and children witnessed an apparition of Mary. The silent apparition lasted two hours, including more than only Our Lady of Knock. The vision was of a lamb and a cross above an altar, with St. John the Apostle, Mary, and Joseph to the left. The apparition is rich in symbolism and is venerated internationally. The original parish church on the site still stands, but we will celebrate Mass in the bigger church that was built to house the shrine’s many pilgrims. This church was named a basilica by Saint John Paul II when he visited in 1979. Following Mass, you will have time for private meditation on the mystery of the apparition’s message. Next, you will have free time for lunch and shopping on your own. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will explore the Connemara Region. Connemara is a land of lakes and rivers, bogs, and mountains. A land of small villages where Gaelic is still the spoken language and where little has changed since the beginning of time. It is without a doubt the wildest and most romantic part of Ireland. Connemara is a vast peninsula bordered by the arid and rocky coastline of Galway Bay in the south ~ a land characterized by its stone walls and thatched cottages. On its northern shore, the land is harsher and more secretive, with spectacular views of the Ocean and the beautiful fjord of Killary Harbor, as well as the steep mountains overlooking numerous lakes and large bog areas. Connemara is a real paradise for Nature lovers and those in search of strong emotions. In 1951, John Ford’s great movie “The Quiet Man” starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and Barry Fitzgerald, was made, and filming was centered in the village of Cong on the Mayo-Galway border.

Afterwards, head to Kylemore Abbey. Kylemore Abbey is stunningly located in the Kylemore Pass in Connemara. Mitchell Henry built the House in 1868, after having spent his honeymoon in the area. The architecture is best described as neo-Gothic, and the house still displays all the characteristics of that period. One of Kylemore Abbey’s most famous features is its miniature cathedral, built in 1870 and known locally as the Gothic church. Today, the abbey is home to the Irish order of Benedictine nuns. They established a private school for young girls, which was the renowned Kylemore Abbey International School. The school eventually closed in 2010. Facilities at Kylemore include a visitor center, an exhibition housed in the main reception rooms of the house, and a video that takes the visitor through the history of the house and its occupants. Return to Galway for the dinner and overnight.

This morning, after the Mass, take part in the Walking City Tour of Galway. The city center of Galway is mainly pedestrian, so a walking tour is the best way to enjoy its atmosphere and discover some of its most important monuments. The tour starts in Eyre Square and finishes at the Claddagh. During the tour, you will see Lynch Castle, home to the mayors of Galway, Saint Nicholas Church, founded in the 13th century, and the famous Spanish Arch. You can walk along the Corrib River to the Claddagh village or to the majestic Cathedral. Next, we will enjoy a cruise on Corrib Lake, which is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland! It is also the best way to appreciate Galway and its surroundings. We will also visit Clonmacnoise Abbey, which is Ireland’s most important monastic site, overlooking the River Shannon. This site was founded by St. Ciaran in the 6th century and consists of a grass field containing numerous early churches, high crosses, round towers, and graves. We will complete our day with dinner and an overnight stay in Galway.

After a good Irish breakfast, we will travel to County Clare, where we will encounter the mystical Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs of Moher rise to 390 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and allure their many visitors with their beauty. We will move on to Galway, a city that has kept its medieval charm with its colorful streets and authentic pubs. The coastal road from the Cliffs of Moher travels along the blue Galway Bay, with a natural rocky landscape on the other side. We will enjoy dinner and spend the night in Cork.

This morning, we will enjoy a visit to the Blarney Castle. Attracting visitors from all over the world, Blarney Castle is situated in Blarney village, 5 miles from Cork city. An ancient stronghold of the McCarthy’s, Lords of Muskerry, it is one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic castles, and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster. Built in 1446, Blarney Castle is famous for its Blarney Stone, the Stone of Eloquence, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who kiss it. Following the visit, head to the Blarney Woollen Mills. With five locations across Ireland, including the successful Blarney location just outside Cork City, Blarney Woollen Mills offers an essential Irish shopping experience. Originally established in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills now houses a large selection of Irish products. Arrive at Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney, and take in everything the Woollen Mills and the surrounding area have to offer. Visit “The largest Irish store in the world” where you will find a wide selection of sweaters, woollens, crystal, china, gifts, and souvenirs.

After, you will enjoy the panoramic Cork city tour. Get to know the second-largest Irish city on a panoramic city tour. The city of Cork owes its charm to its favorable location, nestled in a landscape surrounded by hills. Attractions that you see on the way include the St. Finbarr Cathedral, Butter Museum, City Hall, and Cork City Gaol. You will also pass the famous English Market. The origin of this food market goes back to the year 1610, and the present building, where this covered market takes place, dates back to 1786. The market hall was destroyed by fire in 1980 and later rebuilt by an architect from Cork (T.F. MacNamara). Traditionally, this was a meat and fish market, so today you can still watch many butchers sell their goods. Dinner and overnight in Cork.

This morning, we will visit the Center at Solas Bhride, which was established in Kildare town by the Brigidine sisters for the purpose of exploring, promoting, and developing the heritage and legacy of St. Brigid of Kildare. Brigid’s flame, tended in Solas Bhride since it was relit in Kildare in 1993, is a beacon of hope, justice, and peace. After, you will enjoy the panoramic tour of Dublin City.

Here you will discover the north and south sides of the River Liffey. This area offers great striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city’s main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, or the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde’s House can still be found (today owned by an American College), its colorful doors, along with Grafton Street and its quality shops. Not so far from St. Stephen’s Green, in Kildare St., you will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.

After breakfast, you will enjoy your visit to Glendalough, an ancient monastic city, established in the 6th century by St. Kevin, which is in the heart of “the valley of the two lakes.” It was a very important center of learning, as well as a pilgrimage destination. There are many legends regarding St. Kevin, and he is often compared to St. Francis of Assisi. You will be taken on a guided tour, in which you will see an Irish round tower, the ruins of St. Peter and St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the quaint St. Kevin’s Church, which is surrounded by an old cemetery. Next, lead to the Powerscourt Estate, which was originally built as a castle in 1300 and has been home to the Wingfield family since 1603 for 350 years. Powerscourt House was much altered in the 18th century, when the famous German-born architect Richard Castle remodeled the castle and grounds. It involved the creation of a magnificent mansion in the Palladian style around the shell of the earlier castle. The house was gutted by fire in 1974 but has recently been reborn as an exceptional tourist destination. A small exhibition brings to life the rich history of the estate, while the double-height Georgian ballroom has been restored and hosts weddings and corporate events. Dinner and overnight.

After a delicious breakfast, enjoy your walking City Tour of Dublin. Dublin is a city with a soul, a place that has not lost sight of the fact that people are more fun than museums and that genuine human interaction is not the preserve of small villages. Founded in 841 by the Vikings, it is a city with an interesting past, with many monuments that tell of its history. Today, Dublin is the Cosmopolitan capital of the Irish Republic and a city of over one million people. Despite the many changes the city has witnessed during the last decade, it remains a city ready to welcome all who wish to visit.

Later, proceed forward the Mercy Centre. Welcome to Catherine’s House, the first house of Sisters of Mercy built by Catherine McAuley in response to the needs of the poor of Dublin. Catherine’s House is a Centre of Hospitality, Heritage, Pilgrimage and Renewal. It is a Wellspring of inspiration for those who come to continue Catherine’s mission with new life. ‘May the blessing of this house – A house imagined in unlikeliness, dreamt with daring, built with love, Founded on Mercy – Speak to your spirit in whatever room in the world you are reading, in whatever place you are called to Mercy.’ (Mary Wickham RSM). Dinner and overnight.

Today, we will visit Trinity College & the Book of Kells. Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth 1st on grounds confiscated from an Augustinian Priory and is the oldest university in Ireland. The Campanile, erected in 1852, was built on what is believed to be the center of the monastery. Built to further the education of the ruling Anglo-Irish families, restrictions were imposed to prevent Catholics from attending courses. These restrictions were not fully lifted until the 1970s. Trinity College, however, admitted women in 1902, earlier than most British universities. Most of the main buildings off the main square were built during the Georgian period, some of which replaced older buildings. Within its walls, visitors will be able to admire Parliament Square and its 18th-century edifices. Trinity College has had many famous students, such as Jonathan Swift and Samuel Beckett, who later became a lecturer in French at the university. Next, we will visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, built in honor of Ireland’s patron saint. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition has it that Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. The parish church of Saint Patrick on this site was granted collegiate status in 1191 and raised to cathedral status in 1224. The present building dates from 1220. The Cathedral is today the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (a church of the Anglican communion). St Patrick’s is Gothic in style, and its splendid interior is adorned with funeral monuments, such as The Boyle Family Memorial and the grave of Dean Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels). Swift was dean here until he died in 1745. The Chancel has ornate stained-glass windows and spectacular choir stalls, once used by the knights of St Patrick, which adjoin the Altar. The massive west towers house a large peal of bells whose ringing tones are so much part of the character of Dublin. After, visit the Guinness Storehouse. The Guinness Brewery in Dublin is Europe’s largest stout-producing brewery and home to the Guinness Storehouse. Opened in 1904, the Storehouse was an operational plant for fermenting and storing Guinness. Today, it houses a very fine exhibition dedicated to the Guinness story. Visitors will discover what goes into making a pint of Guinness – the ingredients, the brewing process, the time, the craft, and the passion. The exhibition shows how the brew has been marketed and how it is sold today in over 150 countries. Once the tour has finished, the guest is invited to the Gravity Bar to enjoy their pint of Guinness. Regular demonstrations on the art of pulling a pint of Guinness also take place in the Storehouse. Launched on the fifth floor in 2011, “Five” at Guinness Storehouse includes a small replica authentic Irish Bar, an 18th-century-inspired Brewers Dining Hall, and a restaurant named Gilroy’s, where guests enjoy a Guinness gastronomical experience driven entirely by the Irish tradition of wholesome local produce. Menus include local foods such as Ardsallagh goat’s cheese, Irish mussels from Carlingford, and the Waterford Blaas bread supplied by MD Bakery in Waterford. Dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, we will board our bus that will bring us to Dublin Airport for our return flights home. We will bid farewell to our new friends and to a pilgrimage which will be in our memories and hearts for a long time to come.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.