0826AA4 - Catholic Ireland Pilgrimage 11 days from Kansas City

We depart from Kansas City to connect with our overnight flight to the Emerald Isle. We enjoy beverages, in-flight movies, dinner, and breakfast aloft.

After customs and immigration formalities at Dublin Airport, your driver and guide will welcome you to Ireland and take you to your motorcoach. Get a first taste of the Irish countryside with a scenic drive through the Wicklow Mountains. Here we take a guided tour of the sixth century monastic settlement to see the round tower and remains of several churches. The Visitor Center explains the history of this early Christian site which was an important center of learning and well-known throughout Europe. Continue to Waterford, a riverfront city of Viking origins, famous for its hand cut crystal. We visit the House of Waterford Crystal including the world’s largest collection of Waterford Crystal and a tour of the factory to see the fascinating process of glass blowing and cutting. There is an opportunity to browse the opulent new store selling crystal. We conclude our day with our first pilgrims Mass at a local church before our “welcome” dinner and overnight in Waterford.

This morning, we celebrate morning Mass before leaving Ireland’s Ancient East and travel cross country to County Kerry in the Southwest. En-route stop in Blarney where we may climb to the battlements of fabled 15th century Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence". We spend time in the Blarney Woolen Mills where there is an excellent selection of Irish goods. Dinner and overnight in Tralee.

Today, travel around the Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland's most popular drives. With its spectacular scenery, unusually mild climate and rapid changes in light and weather, this is a bewitching place of intense beauty. Ireland's highest mountains, the Magillycuddy's Reeks, raise a jagged edge to the sky while at their feet rest three still lakes, studded with little islands, set among forests and lush glens. We drive through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Derrynane to Sneem, a village of colorful houses grouped around two squares. We continue through Moll's Gap, with its views over the three lakes, and stop at Ladies' View for another spectacular view. We celebrate Mass at a local church before checking in to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Tralee.

This morning, following Mass at a local church, we enjoy a drive along the Dingle Peninsula. The peninsula juts out into the Atlantic to claim Ireland's most westerly point. Here, majestic hills soar green and purple over vast unspoiled valleys, glittering mountain streams tumble down to lakes, hedgerows blaze with fuchsias, and soft, golden beaches stretch for miles. The peninsula is Gaeltacht, an area where the Irish language is preserved. It also has some two thousand sites of prehistoric and early Christian remains. We stop in the thriving, colorful fishing port town of Dingle before leaving County Kerry on the way to the Limerick area. One final photo stop for the day is in the picturesque village of Adare where thatched houses line the street. This evening, we join in the fun and feasting at Bunratty or Knappogue Castle. Your medieval-style banquet is served in the Great Hall of the 15th century castle during which the lords and ladies of the castle transport you in spirit to the Middle Ages with their songs and stories. Overnight in Limerick/South County Clare.

Today, following morning Mass, we journey up the spectacular Wild Atlantic Way and through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren country. Along the way visit the Cliffs of Moher. This impressive wall of rock rises to heights of almost seven hundred feet above the Atlantic and stretches for five miles along the coast. We continue to Galway City and enjoy a walking tour of this bohemian city. We pass by the Spanish Arch in the Claddagh area, formerly a fishing village but now a suburb of the city, and Lynch's Castle, one of the finest town houses remaining in Ireland. Lastly, we visit to the majestic marble catholic Galway Cathedral. In the afternoon spend some time around Eyre Square, the hub of the city, where most of the shops are within easy reach. You may choose to stop by one of the many quaint pubs where traditional Irish music is played, as this evening’s dinner is on your own. Overnight at our hotel.

This morning, we travel through the Connemara region renowned for its gentle mountains, the Twelve Pins and open landscape with constantly changing skies and subtle colors. We continue the drive past the stark and soaring pinnacle of Croagh Patrick, where tradition tells us that St. Patrick fasted for forty days and won the mountain for Christianity. Pass by Westport, an attractive estate town situated on Clew Bay and on to Knock. We visit Knock Shrine, a center of pilgrimage, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared to fifteen people from the village on August 21, 1879. We celebrate Mass here before concluding our day at our hotel for dinner and overnight in County Mayo.

Today, we journey further into the wild northwest and enjoy a tour of the countryside of the untouched County Donegal. It is a region famous for its scenery and varying colors of the hills. We drive along the heavily indented coast, which is open to the Atlantic Ocean, and pass through some fishing villages including Killybegs. We continue through windswept mountains and open countryside where few people can survive but where sheep graze freely. With so many sheep, Donegal is famous for its tweed and wool production, often dyed in soft hues, which reflect the colors of the countryside. We conclude our day with Mass at a local church before enjoying dinner and overnight in Donegal.

This morning, we travel from west to east toward the capital city of Ireland. En route we stop in the town of Boyle to visit the ruins of Boyle Abbey, which dates from the 12th century. We also visit Strokestown Park House, which dates from the 17th century. This fine mansion shows the lifestyle of the affluent owners and the conditions of the servants and farmers of the area during the past centuries. The Famine Museum contains displays and description of the Famine of the 1840’s when many Irish emigrated to the United States. We conclude our day with Mass before arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight in Dublin.

Today, following Mass, a city sightseeing tour will introduce you to this capital city with its many historic buildings, delightful gardens, and lively shopping streets. Visit St. Patrick's Cathedral where author Jonathan Swift was once Dean and then Trinity College where the Book of Kells, an early Christian manuscript of the four gospels, resides. The afternoon is at leisure so that you can browse shops and sightsee independently. If you enjoy shopping, there are a considerable number of department stores and boutiques. On the north side of the city try O'Connell Street with its tree-lined walk of massive statues, or the pedestrianized Henry Street which leads to the Moore Street Market where modern day "Molly Malones" sell cockles, mussels, fruit, and vegetables. The other main shopping hub is around Powerscourt Center, Nassau Street and Grafton Street, Dublin's most fashionable walkway with its gaudy shop signs, department stores, restaurants, and cafes. - In the evening you are free to choose from the many restaurants, theaters, and pubs that Dublin has to offer as dinner is on your own. Overnight in Dublin.

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always.