Enjoy the “Emerald Isle’s” scenic vistas and fascinating history on this tour observing the legacy of St. Patrick. Begin in Dublin with a welcome dinner and orientation tour featuring visits to St. Patrick's Cathedral and Oscar Wilde's Trinity College. Travel through dairy-farm country in the heartland to Knock, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the townsfolk in 1879 and where pilgrims today come from around the world searching for healing, reconciliation, and peace. Visit Knock Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, Basilica, and Folk Museum—and maybe even attend Mass. On your way to Galway for a 2-night stay, stop to visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre in Murrisk and the massive Benedictine Kylemore Abbey, the oldest of the Irish Benedictine Abbeys. From Galway, enjoy an excursion to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, where many Catholics fled in the mid-17th century. Enjoy a visit to clifftop Dun Aengus, one of Europe’s most dramatic prehistoric stone forts. Travel across the limestone plateau known as The Burren on your way to the popular resort of Killarney for your 2-night stay. Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a spectacular, panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip and take a horse-drawn jaunting car ride through the national park. Pass into County Cork and stop in Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone, before arriving in Waterford for a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal. Next, stop at Avoca, Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill, and then at Glendalough, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Return to Dublin for an overnight and the end of your wonderful Irish vacation.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Dublin, Irish Republic. Welcome to Dublin! The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. At 6 pm, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)
Day #2 Dublin. An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and visits to ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL and Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Balance of the day is at leisure. (B)
Day #3 Dublin–Knock. Head for dairy farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle” before arriving in Knock, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the townsfolk in 1879. Today, the site attracts pilgrims from around the world. Visit KNOCK SHRINE, the CHURCH OF THE APPARITION, the BASILICA, and the FOLK MUSEUM. You will also have time to attend Mass. (B,D)
Day #4 Knock–Murrisk–Kylemore Abbey–Galway. This morning, visit the CROAGH PATRICK VISITOR CENTRE at the foot of St. Patrick’s Holy Mountain in Murrisk. Afterwards, visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, the massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. Arrive in the port city of Galway, where you will spend the next two nights. Tonight, you may wish to join one of our optional evening outings. (B)
Day #5 Galway. Aran Islands Excursion. At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Many Catholics fled to this island during Oliver Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland during the mid-17th century. In these harsh conditions, they developed a strong self-sufficiency in order to survive. Your fascinating day continues with a presentation on life on Inishmore by an island historian. After a lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy your driver/Local Guide’s commentary on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. Back in Kilronan, board your ferry for the trip back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway this evening. (B)
Day #6 Galway–Kilfenora–Bunratty–Adare–Killarney. Take the scenic route across the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren. At Kilfenora, visit THE BURREN CENTRE. The newly restored ancient cathedral and Celtic crosses in the churchyard form an important center of early Christianity. Continue to Bunratty, where there is a lot to see and do: visit the castle; stroll in the folk park, which depicts Irish life in the early 1900s; browse the complex of smart shops; or try a refreshment in famous Durty Nelly’s Irish pub. Skirt the metropolis of Limerick and continue south via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. (B,D)
Day #7 Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion. Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Have your camera ready to take photos of the spectacular scenery that includes both land and sea. In Killarney, enjoy a fun horse-drawn JAUNTING CAR RIDE through the national park with beautiful vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (B)
Day #8 Killarney–Blarney–Waterford. Cross the Kerry Mountains and drive into County Cork for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, and look forward to a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. Before dinner, why not join an optional pub tour? (B,D)
Day #9 Waterford–Avoca–Glendalough–Dublin. An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; the Wicklow Mountains; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual presentation Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your Local Guide show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. Back in Dublin, why not join your traveling companions for a fitting farewell to Ireland. (B)
Day #10 Dublin. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
DUBLIN Clarion IFSC (SF)
KNOCK Knock House Hotel (F)
GALWAY Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa (SF)
KILLARNEY Scotts (F)
WATERFORD Granville (F)