A 12-day Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Ireland

June 7, 2027 – Monday
BOISE / IRELAND
Today we gather at Boise Airport for our connecting flight to Ireland. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

June 8, 2027 – Tuesday
DUBLIN / GLENDALOUGH / KILKENNY
This morning we arrive in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, where we are greeted by our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director and board our motor coach for an orientation tour of Dublin followed by a scenic drive to peaceful Glendalough, where upon our arrival we will celebrate Mass at Saint Kevin’s Church. Following free time for lunch, we enjoy a guided tour of the ruins of Saint Kevin’s Monastery. From here we drive to the town of Kilkenny where we stop outside of Kilkenny Castle for picture-taking. We will next arrive at Smithwick’s Brewery and enjoy a guided tour of the brewery, including a tasting of their famous ale. Finally, we arrive at our hotel in Kilkenny for dinner and overnight.

June 9, 2027 – Wednesday
KILKENNY / CASHEL / COBH / BLARNEY / KILLARNEY
Today we depart for Killarney. En route we will see the famous Rock of Cashel before arriving in the harbor town of Cobh where we visit and celebrate Mass at Saint Colman’s Cathedral, followed by a visit to Cobh’s heritage center where we see an exhibit about the Old Queenstown Story, including its ties with the “unsinkable” Titanic. We continue onto picturesque Blarney and an opportunity to climb the staircase of the 15th century Blarney Castle, famous for the “Blarney Stone,” the legendary “Stone of Eloquence”. It is believed that after kissing the Blarney Stone, you will never again be lost for words. While here, we take time to shop at the famous Blarney Woolen Mill before departing for Killarney, where we will see the many quaint and colorful homes and businesses that are unique to Killarney. Dinner and overnight in Killarney.

June 10, 2027 – Thursday
KILLARNEY / RING OF KERRY / SKELLIG MICHAEL
This morning we visit and celebrate Mass at Killarney’s great neo-Gothic Saint Mary’s Cathedral built in the 19th century. Following Mass, we enjoy a drive through the most picturesque section of the Ring of Kerry where we see quaint, historic villages and high mountain terrain. The highlights of our tour include Molls Gap and Ladies View which provide the best views of the Lakes of Killarney. We arrive at the picturesque coastal village of Portmagee, where we will depart for Skellig Michael, “the Hilt of Saint Michael’s Sword”. You can either enjoy an “Eco Tour” around Skellig Michael or for the hardy and physically capable among us, board our boat for the “Island Tour” of Skellig Michael. During the Eco Tour, you will circle Skellig Michael and Little Skellig and learn its history while enjoying the natural beauty and observing the native wildlife, such as puffins, gannets, seals, dolphins and perhaps even a whale or two. For the Island Tour, you will embark on a very demanding climb up Skellig Michael, not for the faint of heart, to see a remarkable 6th-century monastic settlement and its ancient grounds while taking in breathtaking coastal views. Later in the afternoon, we return to Killarney, where we will enjoy a jaunting car ride, entering Killarney National Park and pausing for some time for pictures at Ross Castle. Dinner and overnight in Killarney.

June 11, 2027 – Friday
KILLARNEY / ADARE / SHANNON / BUNRATTY / LIMERICK
Our day begins with another visit to Saint Mary’s Cathedral, where we celebrate Mass. Following Mass, we drive to the quaint town of Adare where we see its characteristic thatched-roof houses and spend free time exploring its interesting shops. Following a drive through Shannon and a stop outside of Adare Castle for picture-taking, we drive to Limerick and arrive at our hotel for check-in and some time to rest and freshen up for this evening’s medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. Overnight in Limerick.

June 12, 2027 – Saturday
LIMERICK / CLIFFS OF MOHER / GALWAY
Today we depart on a scenic drive through Shannon en route to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher which span some five miles along the rugged coastline and reach heights of greater than 700 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. We continue north and drive through The Burren, a vast lunar-like landscape harboring some 2000 species of rare flowers and plants that live on top of unique rock formations. We continue onto Galway City, where upon our arrival, we enjoy a walking tour of this seaside town, followed by a visit and celebration of Mass at the beautifully stained-glass Galway Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Galway.

June 13, 2027 – Sunday
GALWAY / WESTPORT / CROAGH PATRICK / CLAREMORRIS
This morning we return to the cathedral for our celebration of Mass. Following Mass, we depart for the quaint, seaside town of Westport, where we enjoy free time exploring its many shops along its beautiful tree-lined boulevard, running parallel to the Carrowbeg River. In the afternoon, we drive to Croagh Patrick; Saint Patrick’s Holy Mountain, where tradition states that St. Patrick spent 40 days fasting during Lent in 441. The site has been a place of Christian worship and pilgrimage ever since. Those who wish may climb a short way to a small shrine which is part way up the mountain or “croagh”. Late afternoon we drive to Claremorris for dinner and overnight.

June 14, 2027 – Monday
CLAREMORRIS / KNOCK / CLONMACNOISE / LOUGH DERG
Today we will visit Knock, the single most important Marian Shrine in all of Ireland. Here we visit the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, “Queen of Ireland”. We will also visit and celebrate Mass in the Apparition Chapel where the apparition of Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist occurred and was witnessed by more than a dozen people in 1879. The remainder of our morning is free to explore the local merchants as well as the sanctuary’s grounds. Following free time for lunch, we drive to Clonmacnoise, a monastic site situated on the banks of the River Shannon. Here we see the ruins of a cathedral, two round towers, several churches, and high crosses, as well as a large collection of early Christian grave stones. We continue onto Lough Derg for dinner and overnight.

June 15, 2027– Tuesday
LOUGH DERG / DUBLIN
This morning, we enjoy a full day at Lough Derg, also known as “St. Patrick’s Purgatory”. The sanctuary site dates to the fifth century, when Christ revealed to St. Patrick a cave on Station Island that was an entrance to Purgatory. For more than 1,500 years, the island has welcomed countless pilgrims seeking a deeper encounter with Christ, making it one of the oldest continuously visited pilgrimage destinations in the world. Here we gather at St. Patrick’s Basilica, where we spend the morning in prayer and reflection. Following lunch, we celebrate Mass before departing for Dublin. Upon our arrival, we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

June 16, 2027 – Wednesday
DUBLIN
We begin the day with a motor coach tour of Ireland’s capital, including a drive by the Christ Church Cathedral, or Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, founded by the Danes in 1030. We will visit Dublin’s historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was founded in 1190, as well as visit Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and tour its historic library and view the world-famous Book of Kells. Following free time for lunch and shopping, we arrive at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, where we will celebrate Mass and see the Shrine of Our Lady of Dublin. Following our visit, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

June 17, 2027 – Thursday
DUBLIN
Our day begins with a visit and celebration of Mass at Saint Mary’s Pro Cathedral, followed by a visit to the Legion of Mary, a lay organization whose members volunteer their time in service of the Catholic Church. Here we will learn about the life’s work of Frank Duff, “Servant of God”, who founded the Legion of Mary in 1921. Following free time for lunch, we will visit the highly renowned Guinness Brewery and its “Storehouse”, including its Hop Store and Visitor’s Centre. Following a tour of the brewery, we arrive at their observation deck overlooking Dublin, where we will sample the brewery’s latest batch of their famous libation. This evening, we will visit the Merry Ploughboys to experience their famous “Irish Night & Banquet Show”, including traditional ballads, music & dance. Overnight in Dublin.

June 18, 2027 – Friday
DUBLIN / BOISE
Following breakfast this morning, we bid Ireland farewell and drive to Dublin Airport for our return flight home. Though our pilgrimage draws to a close, its blessings will last a lifetime and its graces are certain to draw us closer to the Lord.