St. Patrick’s Ireland
| Resort: | St. Patrick's Ireland |
| Operator: | |
| Destination: | Europe, Ireland, UK & Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Price From: | £1259.00 |
OverviewJoin us on a faith-based journey that blends the history and culture of Ireland with some of its most revered pilgrimage sites. Spend time in worship and contemplation at the Marian Shrine of Knock. Visit the monastic site of Clonmacnoise. Enjoy a whiskey tasting at one of Irelands oldest distilleries. Reflect at the Tobernalt Holy Well, a place of refuge for Irish Catholics during Penal times. Travel to “St. Patricks country” and visit Down Cathedral, the burial place of St. Patrick, and the St. Patricks Center. Visit Armagh, seat of the Archbishop of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Enjoy a Vigil Mass at Belfasts Cathedral. Tour the Fair City of Dublin and visit St. Patricks Cathedral. View the famed Book of Kells at Trinity College and enjoy dinner in one of Dublins oldest pubs. Explore Kylemore Abbey and its historic walled gardens. Every experience brings you closer to the soul of Ireland. ItineraryDay 1: Overnight FlightDiscover the most revered sites of the Emerald Isle. Visit Dublin, Westport, Galway and Belfast as you experience Ireland’s natural beauty, rich history and religious heritage. Day 2: Dublin, Ireland – Tour BeginsArrive in the Fair City of Dublin, Irelands historic capital city. Begin your tour with a visit to Irelands oldest pub The Brazen Head. Join your fellow travelers for a fun-filled welcome dinner and toast the start to an incredible journey. Day 3: DublinCelebrate Mass this morning. Then, join your local guide for a sightseeing tour of Dublin, featuring a tour of St. Patricks Cathedral, the spiritual heart of the city. See OConnell Street, Grafton Street and the city’s magnificent rows of stately Georgian town homes. Afterwards, enter the scholarly grounds of Trinity College to view the Book of Kells, one of medieval Irelands religious masterpieces. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure; relax or explore the cultural and spiritual offerings of delightful Dublin on your own. Day 4: Dublin – Kilbeggan – Clonmacnoise – WestportEmbark on a cross-country journey pausing along the way in Irish whiskey territory. The ancient towns of Tullamore and Kilbeggan have long been associated with the whiskey industry. Dive into the art of whiskey-making and enjoy a tasting of the final product during a visit to one of these historic distilleries. Continue to the stirring ruins of Clonmacnoise, once one of Irelands most prominent monastic settlements. Tour the abandoned monastery and learn about the great Celtic Christian tradition of the Irish. Finally, settle into your hotel to begin a relaxing 3-night stay in the charming coastal town of Westport. Day 5: Westport – Knock Shrine – Galway – WestportToday you have a chance to worship at the Marian Shrine of Knock. Here, on August 21, 1879, fifteen witnesses saw an apparition of the Blessed Virgin with Saint John and Saint Joseph. The revered site of this vision is visited by 1.5 million pilgrims each year. Pope Saint John Paul II worshipped at the Shrine in 1979 to mark the centenary of the vision. After this moving experience we travel to Galway, the City of Tribes. Following a brief tour, enjoy some time at leisure to peruse Galways historic streets and local shops. Day 6: Westport – Croagh Patrick – Kylemore Abbey – WestportSpend time this morning at Croagh Patrick, St. Patricks holy mountain. It is on this mountains iconic summit that St. Patrick fasted for forty days in the 5th century. Next, we set off for Kylemore Abbey, a stunning Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 by nuns fleeing Belgium during World War I. Explore the Abbey and its historic Victorian Walled Garden, restored by the Benedictine community. Return to Westport for an evening at leisure. Perhaps youll choose to enjoy live music at one of the many historic pubs in town. Day 7: Westport – Tobernalt – Belleek – BelfastLeave Westport behind for Tobernalt Holy Well, one of Irelands truly hidden gems. At this serene spot, enjoy time to pray and reflect. During Penal times, this was a place of refuge for Irelands Catholic community to celebrate Mass. Travel to Belleek Pottery, known internationally for its highly decorative Parian china. Tour the factory and learn how these original pieces are made using traditional methods passed down from generation to generation. Later, arrive in Belfast, Northern Irelands largest city. Day 8: BelfastStart your day with a guided tour of Belfast. Learn about the citys struggles as you pass through several distinctive neighborhoods. See Samson and Goliath, the massive cranes at the shipyard that built the legendary Titanic. This evening, celebrate a Vigil Mass at St. Peters Cathedral in Belfast. Day 9: Belfast – Downpatrick – Armagh – DublinDepart Belfast for Saint Patricks country. Your first stop is at the medieval Down Cathedral, the burial place of St. Patrick. A place of meditation and worship, this building has become a symbol of the Irish peoples deep connection to the past. Then, explore St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, detailing the life and history of Irelands patron saint. A privately guided tour of St. Patricks first church in Ireland at Saul reveals the story of his death on March 17th. Continue on to the county town of Armagh, seat of the Archbishop of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. This evening, gather with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner. Day 10: Dublin – Tour EndsHead home with many incredible memories. |
