Ireland Catholic Pilgrimage 10 days
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Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegowina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faroer
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malta
Moldavia
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Created: 04.06.2013
Day 1 - DEPART USA - We depart our home cities to connect with our overnight flight to the Emerald Isle. We enjoy beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Day 2 - CLIFFS OF MOHER & GALWAY - After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon Airport, your driver/guide will welcomes you to Ireland and takes you to your motorcoach. Drive to the coast of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher. This impressive wall of rock rises to heights of almost 700 feet above the Atlantic and stretches for five miles along the coast. After your visit, continue through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren country and along the shores of Galway Bay to Galway City, the capital of the west. In the afternoon enjoy some free time to browse around the city center and do some sightseeing independently. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Day 3 - CONNEMARA & KNOCK SHRINE - Travel through the Connemara region renowned for its gentle mountains, the Twelve Pins and open landscape with constantly changing skies and subtle colors. Continue your drive past the stark and soaring pinnacle of Croagh Patrick, where it is said that St. Patrick fasted for forty days and won the mountain for Christianity. Pass through Westport, an attractive estate town situated on Clew Bay and on to Knock. Visit Knock Shrine, a center of pilgrimage, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people from the village on August 21, 1879. After your visit continue through the town of Gort and back to Galway for the night. Dinner and overnight in Galway. Day 4 - CLONMACNOISE & DUBLIN - The itinerary today takes you across Ireland from west coast to east coast. Leaving Galway drive to the midlands into west County Offaly, rich in prehistoric treasures. Stop to visit one of the largest and greatest ecclesiastical centers ever founded in Ireland, Clonmacnoise. Set on the banks of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 AD and contains a round tower and the remains of nine churches. After your visit continue east through the towns of Tullamore and Edenderry and the outskirts of the metropolitan region into Dublin, Ireland's capital city for dinner and overnight. Day 5 - DUBLIN CITY TOUR - This morning 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, is housed. The afternoon is at leisure so that you can browse, shop and sightsee independently. If you enjoy shopping, there are a great 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. Day 6 - GLENDALOUGH & WATERFORD - This morning drive south from Dublin through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough. Here take a guided tour of the 6th 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 will 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 will be an opportunity to browse the opulent new store selling the crystal. Dinner and overnight in Waterford. Day 7 - WATERFORD CRYSTAL & BLARNEY CASTLE & KILLARNEY - This morning we will leave Waterford and drive along the beautiful south coast. We make a stop in the delightful picturesque villages of Dungarvan and Yougha, pronounced ?Yawl?. We continue on towards Cork to visit Blarney Castle. We climb to the battlements of the 15th century castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence". Shop at the Blarney Woolen Mills which offers a wide range of quality Irish merchandise before driving into the beautiful lake and mountain region of the famous Killarney National Park in County Kerry. We arrive in Killarney, nestled at the foot of the Macgillicuddy's Reeks, Ireland's highest mountains. Dinner and overnight in Killarney. Day 8 - RING OF KERRY TOUR & KILLARNEY - 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. Drive through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Derrynane to Sneem, a village of colorful houses grouped around two squares. Continue through Moll's Gap, with its views over the three lakes; stop at Ladies' View for another spectacular view before returning to Killarney. Dinner and overnight in Killarney. Day 9 - DINGLE PENINSULA TOUR & SHANNONSIDE (MEDIEVAL BANQUET) - Depart Killarney this morning and drive through the busy market town of Killorglin and out 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 in Gaeltacht, an area where the Irish language is preserved. It also has some 2000 sites of prehistoric and early Christian remains. Stop in the thriving, colorful fishing port town of Dingle before driving north to the picturesque village of Adare, with a broad main street lined with thatched houses, crumbling ruins and Gothic style mansions, all set in a bend of the River Maigue. Continue through the city of Limerick, a Georgian city of charm and elegance, set on the banks of the River Shannon. Travel just a few miles north, arrive in the Shannonside region for the night. This evening 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 Shannonside. Day 10 ? RETURN TO THE USA - We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always.
Day 1 - DEPART USA - We depart our home cities to connect with our overnight flight to the Emerald Isle. We enjoy beverages, in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Day 2 - CLIFFS OF MOHER & GALWAY - After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon Airport, your driver/guide will welcomes you to Ireland and takes you to your motorcoach. Drive to the coast of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher. This impressive wall of rock rises to heights of almost 700 feet above the Atlantic and stretches for five miles along the coast. After your visit, continue through the rounded limestone hills of the Burren country and along the shores of Galway Bay to Galway City, the capital of the west. In the afternoon enjoy some free time to browse around the city center and do some sightseeing independently. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. Day 3 - CONNEMARA & KNOCK SHRINE - Travel through the Connemara region renowned for its gentle mountains, the Twelve Pins and open landscape with constantly changing skies and subtle colors. Continue your drive past the stark and soaring pinnacle of Croagh Patrick, where it is said that St. Patrick fasted for forty days and won the mountain for Christianity. Pass through Westport, an attractive estate town situated on Clew Bay and on to Knock. Visit Knock Shrine, a center of pilgrimage, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people from the village on August 21, 1879. After your visit continue through the town of Gort and back to Galway for the night. Dinner and overnight in Galway. Day 4 - CLONMACNOISE & DUBLIN - The itinerary today takes you across Ireland from west coast to east coast. Leaving Galway drive to the midlands into west County Offaly, rich in prehistoric treasures. Stop to visit one of the largest and greatest ecclesiastical centers ever founded in Ireland, Clonmacnoise. Set on the banks of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise was founded in 545 AD and contains a round tower and the remains of nine churches. After your visit continue east through the towns of Tullamore and Edenderry and the outskirts of the metropolitan region into Dublin, Ireland's capital city for dinner and overnight. Day 5 - DUBLIN CITY TOUR - This morning 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, is housed. The afternoon is at leisure so that you can browse, shop and sightsee independently. If you enjoy shopping, there are a great 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. Day 6 - GLENDALOUGH & WATERFORD - This morning drive south from Dublin through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough. Here take a guided tour of the 6th 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 will 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 will be an opportunity to browse the opulent new store selling the crystal. Dinner and overnight in Waterford. Day 7 - WATERFORD CRYSTAL & BLARNEY CASTLE & KILLARNEY - This morning we will leave Waterford and drive along the beautiful south coast. We make a stop in the delightful picturesque villages of Dungarvan and Yougha, pronounced ?Yawl?. We continue on towards Cork to visit Blarney Castle. We climb to the battlements of the 15th century castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence". Shop at the Blarney Woolen Mills which offers a wide range of quality Irish merchandise before driving into the beautiful lake and mountain region of the famous Killarney National Park in County Kerry. We arrive in Killarney, nestled at the foot of the Macgillicuddy's Reeks, Ireland's highest mountains. Dinner and overnight in Killarney. Day 8 - RING OF KERRY TOUR & KILLARNEY - 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. Drive through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Derrynane to Sneem, a village of colorful houses grouped around two squares. Continue through Moll's Gap, with its views over the three lakes; stop at Ladies' View for another spectacular view before returning to Killarney. Dinner and overnight in Killarney. Day 9 - DINGLE PENINSULA TOUR & SHANNONSIDE (MEDIEVAL BANQUET) - Depart Killarney this morning and drive through the busy market town of Killorglin and out 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 in Gaeltacht, an area where the Irish language is preserved. It also has some 2000 sites of prehistoric and early Christian remains. Stop in the thriving, colorful fishing port town of Dingle before driving north to the picturesque village of Adare, with a broad main street lined with thatched houses, crumbling ruins and Gothic style mansions, all set in a bend of the River Maigue. Continue through the city of Limerick, a Georgian city of charm and elegance, set on the banks of the River Shannon. Travel just a few miles north, arrive in the Shannonside region for the night. This evening 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 Shannonside. Day 10 ? RETURN TO THE USA - We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always.
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