Birney Ireland Catholic Pilgrimage 10 days

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Created: 19.05.2014

Monday, August 24 - Day 1 - Depart Metro Detroit airport for our flight across the ocean to the Shannon, Ireland. Tuesday, August 25 - Day 2 - Arrive Shannon - Upon our arrival at the Emerald Isle, we will take a scenic drive to view the breath-taking Cliffs of Moher. We continue travelling northwest to Galway, the once popular medieval trading town, and presently a university town and center for Irish-speaking regions in the West.  Dinner and overnight in the hotel. Wednesday, August 26 - Day 3 - Galway - After breakfast in the hotel, we make our way to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas for Mass. Afterwards, we???ll have the whole day to leisurely explore this lively university town. You???ll have the opportunity to explore Eyre Square, the Browne Doorway, the Latin Quarter and the many shops and restaurants along the famous Quay Street.  This evening dinner is on our own. Thursday, August 27 - Day 4 ??? Galway/Clonmacnoise/ Dublin - After our leisurely day in Galway, we are back on the road for a day- long trek across the Island to the bustling city of Dublin. Along the way, we will pay a visit to the town of Athlone for Mass at St. Peter & Paul church which casts a long shadow over the 13th century Athlone castle. We???ll then travel by boat along the River Shannon to what remains of the medieval monastery of Clonmacnoise. This monastery was founded by St. Ciaran in 545 A.D. and lays at the crossroads of medieval routes, linking all parts of ancient Ireland. One more stop at the pleasant village of Kilbeggan for lunch and a tour of Locke???s Distillery, founded in 1757, and holds claim to being the oldest still distillery in the world. Final destination will be Dublin. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Friday, August 28 - Day 5 - Dublin - After a long day of travel by bus, we have the day to explore the capital of Ireland and its wealth of attractions. We???ll begin the day with Mass at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity. This Neo-Gothic Church was completed in 1814 and is connected to Dublin Castle, which we???ll tour following Mass. Afterwards; we???ll have a driving tour of bustling city of Dublin, seeing many of the sights (Georgian Terraces, Trinity College, O???Connell Street, and St. Patrick Cathedral). We???ll be dropped off for time to explore the famous Temple Bar area for a late lunch or early dinner on our own.  Back to the hotel for overnight. Saturday, August 29 - Day 6 ??? Dublin/Glendalough/ Kilkenny - Today we depart the busy town of Dublin for the more peaceful setting of Kilkenny. Along the way, we???ll visit another famous monastery set within the steep wooded slopes of Glendalough, ???the valley of two lakes???. Established by St. Kevin in the 6th Century, and sacked many times by the Vikings, it continued to flourish for 600 years. After Mass here and a tour, we???ll make our way to one of Ireland???s loveliest inland destinations- Kilkenny. Here we???ll tour the striking Kilkenny Castle and take in the town.  Dinner and overnight in our hotel.  Sunday, August 30 - Day 7 ??? Kilkenny/Waterford - After celebrating Mass at the Black Abbey, founded in 1255, we???ll have some time to explore Kilkenny before we make our way to Waterford, founded in 853 A.D, for a tour of the famous Crystal Factory...and maybe a few purchases?  Dinner is on our own and overnight in the hotel.  Monday, August 31 - Day 8 ??? Waterford/Killarney - This morning we???ll celebrate Mass at Holy Trinity Cathedral, a Neo-Classical Church, and then make our way towards Killarney. Along the way, we???ll make a stop at Blarney Castle for a visit to the infamous Blarney Stone and Blarney Woolen Mills. Both will give you plenty to do for a few hours. When we???ve finished, we???ll continue heading west to the town of Killarney, home of the infectious Kerry spirit and horse-drawn jaunting cars.  Dinner on our own this evening. Tuesday, September 1 - Day 9 ??? Killarney/Dingle/ Shannon - After Mass this morning, we???ll end our last full day with one of the most scenic views in all of Ireland, the Dingle Peninsula. Our drive will take us along the ocean of this Gaelic speaking area, past antiquities ranging from the Iron Age to early Christian oratories and beehive huts. After these spectacular views, we???ll head back to Shannon for a final night of Irish entertainment at Bunratty Castle. You???ll have time to explore this folk park of Old Ireland, before our dinner-show at the Castle.  Wednesday, September 2 - Day 10 - Depart Shannon for Detroit - Transfer to Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores.  Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.