A Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Ireland

September 7, 2020 – Monday
NORFOLK / IRELAND
Today we gather at Norfolk International Airport for our connecting flight to Dublin. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

September 8, 2020 – 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 we will meet our local guide and visit the ruins of St. Kevin’s Monastery. Following Mass at St. Kevin’s Church, we drive to the town of Kilkenny and visit St. Kieran’s College & Seminary, where Patrick Kelly studied before being ordained a priest in Dublin in 1802. In 1820 Father Kelly was consecrated bishop in St. James Chapel in Dublin and then appointed to serve as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond. Dinner and overnight in Kilkenny.

September 9, 2020 – Wednesday
KILKENNY / CASHEL / COBH / BLARNEY / KILLARNEY
Today we depart for Killarney. En route we will drive by the famous Rock of Cashel before arriving in the harbor town of Cobh where we visit and celebrate Mass at St. 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. From Cobh we drive to 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. We arrive at our hotel in Killarney for dinner and overnight.

September 10, 2020 – Thursday
KILLARNEY / RING OF KERRY
This morning we visit and celebrate Mass at Killarney’s great neo-Gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral built in the 19th century. Following Mass, we enjoy a drive through the picturesque 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. Late afternoon 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.

September 11, 2020 – Friday
KILLARNEY / CLIFFS OF MOHER / GALWAY
Today we depart on a scenic drive 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 on to Galway City, where upon our arrival, we visit and celebrate Mass in the beautifully stained-glass Galway Cathedral before embarking on a walking tour of this seaside city. Dinner and overnight near Galway.

September 12, 2020 – Saturday
GALWAY / WESTPORT / KNOCK / CASTLEBAR
This morning we depart Galway for the quaint, seaside town of Westport, where we enjoy free time exploring its many shops along its beautiful tree-lined boulevard known as “The Mall”, running parallel to the Carrowbeg River. In the afternoon, we drive to Knock, the single most important Marian Shrine in all of Ireland. Upon our arrival in Knock, we will 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 time is free to explore the local merchants as well as the Sanctuary’s grounds, including the shrine’s folk museum and spending time in personal prayer, contemplation and walking its Stations of the Cross. Late afternoon we drive to the town of Castlebar, the home town of Fr. Philip P. Brennan, the founding pastor of Star of the Sea parish. Dinner and overnight in Castlebar.

September 13, 2020 – Sunday
CASTLEBAR / CLONMACNOISE / DUBLIN
This morning we drive through Ireland’s countryside to Dublin. En route we will visit 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, several high crosses as well as a large collection of early Christian grave stones. In the afternoon we arrive in Dublin for a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which was founded in 1190. We will also see the Christ Church Cathedral, founded by the Danes in 1030, en route for a visit and celebration of Mass at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, where we will see the Shrine of Our Lady of Dublin. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.

September 14, 2020 – Monday
DUBLIN
Following breakfast, we will visit and celebrate Mass at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral. Following Mass, we will visit 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. In the afternoon we will visit Trinity College, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, and tour its historic library and view the world-famous Book of Kells. Later in the afternoon, we pay a visit to the highly renowned Guinness Brewery and its “Storehouse”, including its Hop Store and Visitor’s Centre. Here we sample the brewery’s latest batch of their famous libation from high atop their observation deck overlooking Dublin. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.

September 15, 2020 – Tuesday
DUBLIN
Today we enjoy a free day on our own in Dublin. Late afternoon we will gather for this evening’s festive farewell dinner with live entertainment at The Church Bar. Overnight in Dublin.

September 16, 2020 – Wednesday
DUBLIN / NORFOLK
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.