An 11-day Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Ireland

April 15, 2024 – Monday
NEW YORK / IRELAND
Today we gather at New York’s JFK International Airport for our overnight flight to Dublin. Meals are served on board our transatlantic flight.

April 16, 2024 – 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.

April 17, 2024 – 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.

April 18, 2024 – Thursday
KILLARNEY / RING OF KERRY
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. Upon our return to Killarney, we enjoy a jaunting car ride, entering Killarney National Park and pausing for some time for pictures at Ross Castle. The rest of our afternoon is free for personal exploration of this classic Irish town. Dinner and overnight in Killarney.

April 19, 2024 – Friday
KILLARNEY /ADARE /SHANNON / ENNIS / BUNRATTY
Our day begins with another visit to St. 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 stop outside of Adare Castle for picture-taking, we drive through Shannon to Ennis 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 Ennis.

April 20, 2024 – Saturday
ENNIS / 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 free time prior to arriving at our hotel for check-in.Dinner and overnight in Galway.

April 21, 2024 – Sunday
GALWAY / CROAGH PATRICK / WESTPORT / CASTLEBAR
This morning we visit and celebrate Mass at the beautifully stained-glass Galway Cathedral. Following Mass, 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”. In the afternoon we arrive in 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.Late afternoon we drive to Castlebar for dinner and overnight.

April 22, 2024 – Monday
CASTLEBAR / KNOCK/ CLONMACNOISE / DUBLIN
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, and high crosses, as well as a large collection of early Christian grave stones.We proceed to Dublin for dinner and overnight.

April 23, 2024 – Tuesday
DUBLIN
This morning we awake in Dublin. Our day begins 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 arrive at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, where we will celebrate Mass and see the Shrine of Our Lady of Dublin. In the afternoon we will visit 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. This evening we will visit the Merry Ploughboys to experience their famous “Irish Night & Banquet Show”, including traditional ballads, music & dance. Overnight in Dublin.

April 24, 2024 – Wednesday
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. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

April 25, 2024 – Thursday
DUBLIN / NEW YORK
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.