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)