Day 1 ‐ May 14: Depart U.S.A.

Our tour begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to Ireland. Meals and drinks served aloft.

Day 2 ‐ May 15: Arrive Dublin

Upon arrival in Dublin we will be met by our local Irish guide and transfer to our hotel. Dublin is the vibrant capital of Ireland, with a romantic aura of Old World Europe. In the afternoon we will enjoy a half day tour including visits to Trinity College to see the famous Book of Kells, St. Stephen’s Green and the National Museum. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 3 ‐ May 16: Dublin

Following breakfast we will take a full day city tour of Dublin including visits to Christchurch Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Our Lady of Lourdes Church where we will see the Shrine of Matt Talbot, the Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street where we will see the Shrine of St. Valentine, the Old Town and the Guinness Brewery. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 4 ‐ May 17: Dublin / Kilkenny

This morning we will depart Dublin and drive south to Glendalough. Tucked away in the Wicklow Mountains, Glendalough was established by St. Kevin in the 6th century. This most romantic of monastic sites was one of Ireland’s greatest pilgrimage centers up to the middle of the 19th century. We will then continue our drive south to Kilkenny where we will enjoy a tour including visits to Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice’s Cathedral, St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Black Abbey. Overnight in Kilkenny.

Day 5 ‐ May 18: Kilkenny / Killarney

This morning we will depart Kilkenny and drive to the Rock of Cashel which is the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century. After Mass continue on to Killarney which is situated in a spectacular location amidst mountains, glens and lakes.

Day 6 ‐ May 19: Killarney

Travel the road that winds around the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, better known as “The Ring of Kerry.” It is undoubtedly one of the most magical places in all Ireland. Here bogs, mountains, valleys, lakes and sea blend into a landscape that is often breathtaking beyond words. Even the names of the towns seem to whisper their beauty: Cahirciveen, Glenbeigh, Killorglin and Sneem. Visit Muckross Gardens and Abbey before returning to your hotel in Killarney for the night.

Day 7 ‐ May 20: Killarney / Galway

This morning we will depart Killarney and drive north to the magnificent Cliffs of Moher where we will see a dramatic great sheer rock face rising 700 feet from the Atlantic Ocean. We will then continue to nearby Doolin where we will embark on a ferry to Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands located in Galway Bay. We will then return by ferry to the mainland and then drive on to Galway, "the City of the Tribes", and check into our hotel.

Day 8 ‐ May 21: Galway

This morning we will enjoy a tour of Galway including the Spanish Arch, the Quays, the Collegiate Church of St. Nicolas and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. We will then take an excursion to Clonmacnoise to visit the ruins of the monastic settlement which was founded in 544 by St. Ciarán. Return to Galway for overnight.

Day 9 ‐ May 22: Galway / Knock

This morning we will depart Galway and travel through Connemara, an area of outstanding scenic grandeur. There is a brooding sense of Ireland's ancient culture and traditions in this haunted and mystical area where Gaelic is still the everyday language. Continuing on, visit Kylemore Abbey, a castellated neo‐Gothic mansion, occupied today by the Irish Benedictine community of nuns who came from Ypres after World War I. Then proceed to the village of Murrisk located at the foot of the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick on whose summit Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD. After hearing the story of St. Patrick we will see the National Famine Memorial which commemorates the Great Famine of the 1840s. Then continue on to Knock, where 14 people saw a vision of Our Lady with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist in 1879.

Day 10 ‐ May 23: Knock / Armagh

This morning we celebrate Mass in Knock at the magnificent Basilica next to the original church where our Blessed Mother appeared in 1879 and where Pope John Paul II announced that the Church would be known as the Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland. In the afternoon depart Knock and drive to Armagh which is one of Ireland’s oldest cities and has been its spiritual capital for over 1,500 years. Once in Armagh we will visit the Cathedral of St. Patrick, his Primatial See, and then take a tour of the historic center of the city before proceeding to our hotel for check‐in.

Day 11 ‐ May 24: Armagh / Dublin

Depart Armagh this morning and travel to Downpatrick to visit Down Cathedral and the tombs of St. Patrick, St. Brigit and St. Columkille. Then drive south and stop to see the Celtic crosses in the historic ruins of Monasterboice and then continue on to the Hill of Slane where St. Patrick is said to have lit an Easter fire as a challenge to the pagan High King of Tara. Continue on to Dublin for overnight. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a local pub with traditional Irish music.

Day 12 ‐ May 25: Dublin / U.S.A.

Following breakfast transfer to the airport for our return flight home.

TOUR COST

$3,397.00 per person based upon double occupancy

For single occupancy please add $937.00.

This price includes:

• Roundtrip airfare from New York JFK on nonstop flights to/from Dublin on Delta Airline
•  Airline taxes/fuel surcharges as currently levied a AccommodationinFirstClass/4starhotels
• All hotel taxes and service charges
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Baggage handling at hotels
• Land travel by deluxe motorcoach
• Comprehensive sightseeing with a professional
• local guide
• All entrance fees as per itinerary a Daily Mass

Airfares from other departure cities throughout the United States are available upon request.

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