Day 1: Tuesday, October 5, 2004, USA / DUBLIN

 

Evening departure on an overnight flight to the Emerald Isle aboard a wide-bodied jet.

 

Day 2: Wednesday, DUBLIN / CLONMACNOIS / GALWAY

 

After customs and immigration, we are met by our guide and transferred to our hotel in Galway. On the way, we stop at the medieval monastery Clonmacnois, founded by St. Ciaran in 545-548 in a remote spot on the River Shannon. We continue to Galway where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 3: Thursday, GALWAY / KNOCK / CROAGH PATRICK / KYLEMORE ABBEY / CONNEMARA / GALWAY

 

After breakfast we drive north to Knock, a humble village whose shrine attracts pilgrims from all over the world, including Pope John Paul II (1979) and Mother Teresa (1993). On August 21, 1879, the eve of the Octave of the Assumption, the parish church of Knock was the scene of a heavenly apparition. The Blessed Mother, St Joseph, St John the Evangelist, and an altar with a Lamb upon it were seen by 15 townspeople. The saints were silent; no message was given to the people, only an example of prayer and a rich symbolism in their appearances. We have Mass at Knock before continuing on. While in County Mayo, we also visit Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain. Here St. Patrick spent the forty days of Lent in the year 441 AD in prayer and fasting. We proceed to Kylemore Abbey for a visit to the gothic castle on the shores of Kylemore Lough. We continue on to Connemara, a western region of Galway characterized by peat bogs and rugged, mountainous terrain. The environment is very beautiful and hospitable to wildlife; the leading attraction of the area is the Connemara National Park. We return to Galway for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 4: Friday, GALWAY / CLIFFS OF MOHER / SLEA HEAD / GALLARUS ORATORY / DINGLE

 

This morning we cross the Burren, an extraordinary lunar-like area of petrified carboniferous limestone, and a complex system of lakes with underground connections. Many of these lakes, called turloughs, disappear overnight. We proceed to O’Briens Tower (weather permitting) to view the Cliffs of Moher - one of the great natural beauties of County Clare. We then travel to the beautiful Dingle Peninsula where we visit Slea Head which, on clear days, offers an excellent view of the Blasket Islands. We continue on to the Gallarus Oratory, an ancient dry stone construction whose longevity testifies to the skill of its builders. Held together completely by the weight of the stones (no mortar was used), the building has withstood wind and rain for over 10 centuries. We check into our hotel in the town of Dingle for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 5: Saturday, DINGLE / RING OF KERRY / KILLARNEY

 

This morning we travel the famed “Ring of Kerry” (the 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip). Poets, painters, writers and musicians have all tried to convey the beauty of these mountains and lakes. We make a stop at Killarney National Park to view the stunning lakes that have made Killarney famous. In Killarney, we visit St Mary’s Cathedral before checking into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 6: Sunday, KILLARNEY / GOUGANE BARRE PARK / BLARNEY CASTLE / CORK

 

After breakfast we depart Killarney and stop for a visit at the charming Gougane Barra Park on the shores of the River Lee. We continue to St Finbarr Chapel. Before founding the city of Cork, St. Finbarr had started a monastery in this West Cork region during the 7th century; this tiny chapel was built in his memory. We then proceed to the Blarney Castle. The Castle is host to numerous visitors each year, who come to kiss the renowned Blarney Stone in hopes of gaining eternal eloquence. We continue to Cork for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 7: Monday, CORK / KINSALE / ARDMORE / CORK

 

This morning we visit Charles Fort, built in 1670 by the English to protect the Kinsale Harbor. We continue to Ardmore Monastery, which is about 55 miles northeast of Kinsale. This has been a site of pilgrimage for many, many years. It is said that St Declan lived, worked, and was buried here. Some experts believe that this took place even before the arrival of Ireland’s patron, St Patrick. We visit the ruins of the Monastery, the cathedral and the spectacular round tower. We continue northward to the Cistercian monastery of Mount Melleray. This monastery was founded in 1832 by a group of monks from Nantes, France. We return to Cork for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 8: Tuesday, CORK / ROCK OF CASHEL / HOLY CROSS ABBEY / DUBLIN

This morning we travel to the Rock of Cashel, an impressive medieval complex called “The Acropolis of Ancient Ireland”. We continue on to Holy Cross Abbey for Mass. Built in 1169, Benedictines and Cistercians have occupied the Abbey during different periods of its history. Here we view a piece of the True Cross. We continue on to Dublin where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 9: Wednesday, DUBLIN / GLENDALOUGH / DUBLIN

 

This morning we depart Dublin for a day trip to Glendalough, home of the monastery established by St Kevin in the 6th century. St Kevin was born in 498, of royal blood, but rejected his life of privilege and instead chose to live as a hermit in a cave in Glendalough. He founded the monastery and also went on to create a center of learning devoted to the care of the sick and the copying and illumination of manuscripts. Our day is filled exploring the ruins. This evening we have dinner at Abbey Tavern, where we enjoy a lively banquet replete with Irish music, dance, and song. Overnight in Dublin.

 

Day 10: Thursday, DUBLIN

Our sightseeing this morning will include the statue-lined O’Connell Street, Georgian Squares, Phoenix Park, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College Library where we can admire the 1200 year old “Book of Kells”. We also take time to visit the tomb of Blessed Matt Talbot, a reformed alcoholic who lived a saintly life. Then around Dublin Bay to Malahide Castle, famous for its state rooms and Ireland’s only surviving medieval Great Hall. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free for shopping and personal sightseeing. Dinner is on your own.

 

Day 11: Friday, October 15, 2004, DUBLIN / USA

This morning we transfer to Dublin for our flight home. We take with us memories and inspiration to last a lifetime.