Catholic Travel Centre Worldwide Tours and Pilgrimages ~ presents ~ Prayers, Potatoes & Pubs A Journey Into the Heart & Soul of 10-Day Sample Itinerary

DAY 1: DEPART THE USA: We depart the USA for DAY 4: WESTPORT / BURREN / CLIFFS OF MOHER / Dublin with complimentary meals and beverages served TRALEE: Today we leave Westport and head south, passing onboard our international flight. thru the mesmerizing landscapes of The Burren region. Its stone formations have lain unspoiled since the ice age. We DAY 2: FAILTE (WELCOME) TO IRELAND / stop at the town of Ballyvaughan for Mass this morning. CLONMACNOISE / WESTPORT: We arrive at We then drive to the Cliffs of Moher, sheer cliffs dropping Dublin airport and are met 600 feet to the water by our Catholic Travel Centre below, one of the most representative who accompanies impressive stretches us throughout our journey. We of shoreline on the board a motor coach and make west coast of Ireland. our way to the western side After some time for of the Emerald Isle. We stop lunch on our own, we at the monastic settlement of continue to our hotel Clonmacnoise, one of Ireland’s in Tralee for dinner most celebrated holy places, and the evening. (B, D) where we see the 12th century round tower and ancient High DAY 5: TRALEE: RING OF KERRY & CRUISE ON Crosses, as well as the many THE LAKE KILLARNEY: This morning we join the local churches and temples at this community in Killarney for Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. hollowed site. After our visit and Then we are off for a scenic ride around a portion of the lunch on our own, we continue famed Ring of Kerry. This afternoon we enjoy a relaxing to Westport for a panoramic tour of this charming town, cruise on Lough Leane, the most famous of Killarney lakes. designed to the plans of James Wyatt, a well-known We return to Tralee for the evening. Dinner tonight is on architect of the Georgian period of the city. We check in to our own to explore the local pub scene. (B) our hotel to rest from our journey. Dinner this evening is served at our hotel. (D) DAY 6: TRALEE / CASTLE / / KILKENNY: This morning, after breakfast, we travel first DAY 3: WESTPORT: EXCURSION TO KNOCK & to to visit Cahir Castle, one of the largest BALLINTUBBER: This morning we enjoy an excursion to castles in Ireland, sited on an island in the . Knock, visited each year by more than 1.5 million pilgrims. Construction of the castle began in 1142 AD by Conor Upon arriving here as a pilgrim in the autumn of 1979, Pope O’Brien, Prince of Thomond. After our visit and some time John Paul II declared: for lunch on our own, we continue on to the Rock of Cashel. “Now I am at the goal Possibly the most photographed site in Ireland, the Rock of of my pilgrimage to Cashel is one of Ireland’s leading tourist attractions. Here, Ireland!” Upon arrival in 450 AD, St. Patrick in Knock, we enjoy baptized King Aengus. a guided tour of the We tour the ruins Shrine’s grounds to here, including Cashel learn the story of Cathedral, still in the apparitions here. very good condition We celebrate Mass given its age. Granted then take some time to the church in the for lunch on our own. Driving to Claremorris, we visit 12th century, the Ballintubber Abbey where Mass has been celebrated daily Rock became the seat for over 800 years! St. Patrick baptized converts at a well, of the archbishop and this was the traditional starting point for the annual of Cashel. Today, impressive stone walls enclose a round pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain of Croagh Patrick. We tower, a cathedral, a 12th century Romanesque chapel, have the services of a local guide here. Dinner tonight is at and high crosses. Our final destination is the lovely town a local restaurant in Westport. (B, D) of Kilkenny. The town derives its name from St. Canice, who established a enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of the city. Our itinerary monastery here in the includes viewing Georgian Dublin and House 6th century. We visit (Parliament). We also drive by St. Patrick Cathedral (Church . There of Ireland), dating from 450 AD; Christchurch Cathedral has been a castle on this (founded by King Sitric of the Dublin Norsemen in 1038 site since 1172 when and rebuilt in 1169 by the Normans); and Kilmainham the Norman Knight, Goal, the infamous prison built in 1792. We visit the Trinity called Strongbow, College, where the built a wooden tower famous Book of on this rocky height Kells is kept. After overlooking the River the conclusion of Nore. The first stone castle was built here 20 years later our city tour, we by Strongbow’s son-in-law William Marshall, Earl of celebrate Mass at Pembroke. Three of this castle’s original four towers survive Whitefriar Street today. After our visit to the castle, we celebrate our Mass Church. Then we at St. Canice’s Catholic Parish. Tonight we enjoy dinner at take some time for Langton’s pub, which has won Ireland’s “Best Food” and lunch on our own. “Best Pub” awards so often that Eamon Langton was asked We enjoy a guided to stand down and give someone else a chance. (B, D) tour to the famous Guinness Storehouse, a spectacular attraction, designed to woo you with the wonders of the DAY 7: KILKENNY / KILDARE / THE IRISH NATIONAL “dark stuff.” The star attraction is undoubtedly the top-floor STUD FARM / DUBLIN: This morning, after breakfast, Gravity Bar with 360-degree floor-to-ceiling glass walls we board our motor coach for Kildare, where we celebrate that offer a nonpareil view out over the city while you sip Mass at St. Brigid’s Parish Church. In ancient Ireland, your free pint. Dinner this evening is at our hotel. (B, D) Christianity and paganism melded together into Celtic tradition. Sites of pagan worship also became associated DAY 9: DUBLIN: GLENDALOUGH & LEISURE: After with Christianity. Brigid’s feast day falls on February 1, the enjoying our full Irish breakfast, we depart for Glendalough date of Imbolg, the pagan festival of Spring. Brigid’s small – the Glen between the Two Lakes, one of Ireland’s most oratory at Cill-Dara (Kildare) became a center of religion beloved early Monastic sites. According to legend, St. Kevin and learning, and developed into this cathedral city. She retired to this spot to be alone, living as a hermit for years. founded two monastic institutions, one for men, and the When his followers became too numerous, he was compelled other for women, to found a monastic community to accommodate them, the and appointed Saint ruins of which we can Conlethas spiritual still see here today. In pastor of them. We time, this community visit a local center became a great center devoted to St. Brigid of learning known as and hear from some “Rome of the West.” local Sisters about Our visit includes the Brigid’s life. After some Interpretative Center time for lunch on our for Celtic Spirituality. own, we visit the Irish We celebrate Mass at National Stud Farm, the heart of Ireland’s thoroughbred St. Kevin’s Church. We industry. It houses a Stallion breeding farm as well as then return to Dublin for the balance of the day at leisure. elegant Japanese and Irish style gardens plus an equine This evening we enjoy dinner and entertainment at a local museum. We continue to our hotel in Dublin for dinner restaurant. (B, D) and the evening. (B, D) DAY 10: SLAN LEAT (GOOD BYE) TO IRELAND: We DAY 8: DUBLIN: VISIT OF THE CITY & LEISURE, transfer to the Dublin airport for our return flight to the VISIT OF GUINNESS STOREHOUSE: This morning we USA. (B)

Note: This itinerary can be customized to suit your group’s interests and budget.

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