Celtic Pilgrimage: Ireland Sunday, May 8 to Sunday, May 22, 2022 Facilitators: Canon Dr. Richard LeSueur Professional Local Irish Guides Itinerary Summary : Portmarnock Hotel 2 nights Salthill Hotel, Galway 3 nights Lake Hotel, Killarney 3 nights Glendalough, Co Wicklow 3 nights Mont Hotel, Dublin City 3 nights Total 14 nights for a 15 day trip. 38 Meals ________________________________ Day 1: Sunday, May 8 Arrival and Gathering Portmarnock Hotel D Arrival at Dublin International Airport and transfer to Portmarnock Hotel. (20 minute drive). At 5:15 gather for a Welcome Reception during which Richard will provide an introduction to the program. Dinner follows at 6:30 pm. Arrival 5:15 pm Welcome Reception and Group Orientation 6:30 Dinner, and early to bed Day 2: Monday, May 9 The Early Story Portmarnock Hotel BLD After a hearty breakfast, we board the coach to drive through the rich lands of Co. Meath to the bend of the Boyne River and the collection of Neolithic passage-tombs of Newgrange and Knowth (dated 3200 BCE. Knowth has one of the highest concentrations of megalithic art in Europe.) The passage and chamber are illuminated once a year on December 21 at the Winter solstice. After a buffet lunch at the Bru na Boinne Centre, we visit the Hill of Tara the renowned seat of the High Kings of Ireland, and an important site since the late Stone Age. The Lia Fail (stone of destiny), by which the ancient kings were inaugurated, still stands on the hill. Nearby we will consider the Hill of Slane (site of St Patrick’s legendary encounter with the Druids of Tara). Here St Patrick lit the Pascal Fire in 433 AD in defiance of the High King of Tara King Laoghaire. We continue our journey to the famous Celtic High Crosses at Monasterboice and return to the Portmarnock Hotel. 7:00 am Breakfast at leisure 8:30 am Departure Bru na Boinne Centre Newgrange: Neolithic Passage Tomb Lunch Monasterboice: High Crosses Hill of Tara (Hill of Slane) 7:00 pm Dinner Day 3: Tuesday, May 10 The Irish Famine Salthill Hotel, Galway BLD Depart for Strokestown and the National Famine Museum in the west of Ireland which tells the story of the Irish Great Hunger; the eviction, migration, and the assisted emigration scheme enacted by Major Denis Mahon of Strokestown Park. After lunch we continue on to Galway and the Salthill Hotel situated on the Salthill promenade with panoramic views of Galway Bay and the Clare Hills. The hotel is I km from Galway city centre. 7:00 am Breakfast at leisure 8:45 am Departure Stokestown National Famine Museum Galway City 7:00 pm Dinner Day 4: Wednesday, May 11 Connemara Salthill Hotel, Galway BD Today we tour the rugged landscape of the Connemara region on the west coast of Ireland. Arrive at Kylemore where you can explore its Gothic Church & Victorian and walled gardens. Continue on to the town of Clifden and enjoy lunch at leisure and some free time in this bustling town. Return to Galway and your hotel. 7:30 am Breakfast 8:30 am Departure Connemara Kylemore Abbey Clifden 7:00 pm Dinner Day 5: Thursday, May 12 Aran Islands Salthill Hotel, Galway BLD Depart for Inishmore, (Inis Mór) the largest of the Aran Islands, with its breathtaking scenery and monastic community remains from early Christian times. Dara Molloy will be our island guide. Visit to St. Enda’s at Killeany, Dun Aengus and St. Ciaran’s Church. Return to mainland. 7:00 am Breakfast 8:00 am Departure Ferry to Kilronan Harbour, Inishmore St. Enda’s at Killeany Lunch (prepared by hotel) Dun Aengus St. Ciaran’s Church 5:00 pm Ferry back to the ‘mainland’ 7:30 pm Dinner Day 6: Friday, May 13 A Rugged West Coast The Lake Hotel BLD Depart your hotel and drive the south-west coast via the Burren National Park. Free time in Ballyvaughan village. Visit Poulanbrone one of the most famous Irish portal dolmens dated to about 2500 BC. Visit Kilfenora Cathedral known as the ‘City of the Seven Crosses’ with one of the greatest concentrations of high crosses in Ireland, including the famed Doorty Cross. Lunch in the Kilfenora Visitor Centre. Visit to the cliffs of Moher. Cross the Shannon River on the Killimer ferry. Check into The Lake Hotel and dinner. 7:00 am Breakfast, 8:15 am Departure Burren National Park - Poulanbrone Ballyvaughan village Kilfenora and lunch Cliffs of Moher Killimer ferry Check into the Lake Hotel 7:00 pm Dinner Day 7: Saturday, May 14 Dingle Peninsula The Lake Hotel BLD Travel to the Dingle Peninsula and then along the coast road below the Sliabh Mish Mountains to Slea Head. “Walk in the footsteps of St. Brendan, the Navigator, and St. James.” Lunch and visit to the Blasket Centre, the Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkader. 7:00 am Breakfast 8:15 am Departure on the Dingle Peninsula circuit Slea Head - south-western end of the peninsula Blasket Centre and lunch Gallarus Oratory Kilmalkader Church 7:00 pm Dinner Day 8: Sunday, May 15 Rest and Recreation The Lake Hotel BLD After a leisure breakfast we take a five minute drive to the 19th century Muckross House, one of the finest stately homes in Ireland. Queen Victoria of England was a house guest in 1861. After your guided tour of the house there is time to explore the wonderful gardens. Enjoy lunch in a local pub. Afterwards board a horse drawn jaunting cart for a ride through the scenery of the Killarney National Park to the 15th century Ross Castle. The lake beckons and your tour includes a cruise of the lower and Muckross Lake. 8:00 am Breakfast 9:30 am Departure Muckross House tour (think of ‘Downton Abbey’) Lunch Horse-drawn cart-ride to Ross Castle Lakes of Killarney Boat Tour 6:30 pm Dinner 8:00 pm Departure for Celtic Steps Show, Killarney Day 9: Monday, May 16 The Rock of Cashel and Kells Glendalough Hotel BLD This morning we leave Killarney for a guided visit of The Rock of Cashel. Lunch is at the Bru Boru Centre. We continue eastwards to visit the 12th century Kells Priory and then through the Wicklow mountains to Glendalough. Check into the picturesque Glendalough Hotel. 7:00 am Breakfast 8:15 am Departure Rock of Cashel Lunch at Bru Boru Heritage Centre Kells Priory Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough 7:00 pm Dinner Day 10: Tuesday, May 17 The Valley of the Twin Lakes Glendalough Hotel BLD Depart for Pilgrimage Walk through St Kevin’s Monastic City. We will see St Kevin’s Church, Kevin’s Well, 10th Century Round Tower, St Kevin’s Cross and St Mary’s Church. Lunch is at the hotel. The rest of the day will be “free time.” One may wish to return to the Glendalough Visitor’s Center and museum. Breakfast from 7:30 am 9:00 Devotional walk through the Monastic City of St. Kevin Lunch at the Hotel Free afternoon 5:15 Late afternoon tea and briefing 7:00 pm Dinner Day 11: Wednesday, May 18 St. Kevin’s Pilgrim Walk Glendalough Hotel BLD We begin our day at the Visitor’s Centre for a video on “Ireland of the Monasteries” and then meet our specialist pilgrim guide Fr. Michael Rogers. We carry on a Pilgrim Walk to Diseart Chaoimhin (St Kevin’s Desert) beside the Upper Lake. Visit Reefert Church, St Kevin’s Cell (foundations of Kevin’s 6th Century Hermitage, Teampall Na Skellig (The Church of the Rock) and reflections with silence beside the Upper Lake. Lunch at the hotel and free afternoon. Breakfast from 8:00 am 9:45 am Group meets at Visitor’s Centre 10:00 am Fr. Michael Rogers: specialist pilgrim guide Upper Lake: St Kevin’s Desert Reefert Church, St Kevin’s Cell Teampall Na Skellig (The Church of the Rock) 1:00 pm Lunch: Hotel Free afternoon (optional trip to Powerscourt Gardens: Guests pay a fee for access to gardens) 5:15 Late afternoon briefing 6:30 pm Dinner ---------- tomorrow we leave for Dublin Day 12: Thursday, May 19 St. Brigid and High Crosses The Mont Hotel BLD After breakfast check out of your hotel and drive to the ancient ecclesiastical site of Moone (famous Celtic High Crosses). Afternoon visit to St Brigid’s Holy Well with a Brigidine sister who will also give us a walking tour of Kildare with explanation and visits to St. Brigid’s Cathedral (13th Century) and the site of Brigid’s ancient monastery. Continue to Dublin and the Mont Hotel splendidly located across from Trinity College in the heart of the city. Breakfast from 7.00 am at leisure 8:30 am Luggage outside the room. 9:00 am Departure Castledermot and Moone Lunch: Japanese Garden Café, National Stude A devotional pilgrimage to St. Bridget’s Well Kildare: St Brigid’s Cathedral and monastery (5th c.) Dublin to the Mont Hotel 7:00 pm Dinner Day 13: Friday, May 20 Dublin City The Mont Hotel B The day begins with a visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells Exhibition (famous 8th Century Illuminated Manuscript of the Four Gospels). The remainder of the day is a free day in Dublin for shopping or additional sightseeing. Dinner is on your own in Dublin. At 6:30 meet in the hotel lobby to board coach for the Gate Theatre and live performance. Breakfast from 7.00 am at leisure Book of Kells, Trinity College Rest of the day free to explore Dublin Lunch on your own Free time Options: “The Jeanie Johnston” Irish Emigration The National Gallery The Kilmainham Gaol The Guinness Exhibit or the Old Jameson Distillery Dinner on your own 6:30 pm Meet in the hotel lobby for transportation to the Gate Theatre.