A 12-day Catholic Pilgrimage Tour to Ireland & Scotland

Day 1 – Monday
USA / IRELAND
Tour members gather for our departing flight for Ireland. Meals are served onboard our transatlantic flight.

Day 2 – Tuesday
DUBLIN
This morning we arrive in Dublin where we meet our Pilgrimage Tours’ tour director and board our motor coach. We enjoy a motor coach tour of Ireland’s capital, including a drive by the Christ Church Cathedral, or Cathedral of 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. Next 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. Finally, we arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight in Dublin.

Day 3 – Wednesday
DUBLIN
Today we will visit and celebrate Mass at Saint 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 the Kilmainham Gaol (Jail), which housed many prisoners from the Irish Rebellion of 1916. Our day of sightseeing in Dublin concludes with 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. The remainder of our day is free to explore Dublin on our own. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.

Day 4 – Thursday
DUBLIN / GLENDALOUGH / KILKENNY
This morning we will visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, which was founded in 1190. We explore this famed cathedral’s majestic interior rich with ancient relics. Following our visit we bid Dublin farewell and 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. Next we drive to the town of Kilkenny for a visit to the Kilkenny Castle prior to arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight in Kilkenny.

Day 5 – Friday
KILKENNY / CASHEL / COBH / BLARNEY / KILLARNEY
This morning 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. Next we arrive in 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.

Day 6 – Saturday
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. Next 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.

Day 7 – Sunday
KILLARNEY / CLIFFS OF MOHER / GALWAY / KNOCK
This morning, we will again visit Killarney’s Cathedral for our celebration of Mass. Following Mass we 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 for a walking tour of this seaside city and a visit to the beautifully stained-glass Galway Cathedral. We continue on to Knock for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Monday
KNOCK / BELFAST
This morning we awake in Knock, where we visit the Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, the single most important Marian Shrine in all of Ireland. We visit and celebrate Mass in the Apparition Chapel where the apparition of Our Lady, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist occurred and was witnessed by some 15 people in 1879. Following Mass, we enjoy some free time to explore the Sanctuary’s grounds, including a visit to the shrine’s museum. Finally we depart for Belfast, the capital of the Republic of Northern Ireland, where we will drive by the Harland & Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was built. After some time to take pictures, we arrive at our hotel in Belfast for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 – Tuesday
BELFAST / GLASGOW / EDINBURGH
This morning we depart Belfast for its port to board our ferry for Scotland, arriving at the Scottish port of Cairnryan. In Glasgow we enjoy an orientation tour including a visit and celebration of Mass at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. Next we depart for Edinburgh, capital of Scotland, where upon our arrival in Edinburgh, known as “the Athens of the North”, we embark on an orientation tour of Edinburgh’s most notable landmarks, including its famous “Royal Mile”. We arrive at our hotel in Edinburgh for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – Wednesday
EDINBURGH / STIRLING
Following Mass this morning at Sacred Heart Church, we enjoy a day-trip to one of Scotland’s most famous towns; Stirling, where we visit its impressive Stirling Castle that sits atop a 250 foot high rock. This castle once served as a royal residence for Mary Queen of Scots. Following free time to explore the local merchants, we return to Edinburgh for a Scottish Whisky Tour, including a tour of a distillery culminating with a tasting of their latest libation. Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 11 – Thursday
EDINBURGH
Today we enjoy a full day in Edinburgh. First we visit and celebrate Mass at Saint Patrick’s Church, where we will visit the Shrine to the Venerable Margaret Sinclair (Sister Mary Francis of the Five Wounds) as well as a Shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Next we enjoy free time for lunch and shopping the many interesting shops in Old Town. In the afternoon, we visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Queen when she is visiting Scotland. Finally we visit Edinburgh Castle for a grand tour of this popular tourist destination. Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 12 – Friday
EDINBURGH / USA
This morning we depart for the airport and board our connecting flight home. Though our tour of Ireland & Scotland draws to a close, its blessings and memories will remain with us for a lifetime.