Mele Ireland Pilgrimage 10 days

Europe
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: 03.09.2016

Monday, May 29 - Day 1 - DEPART USA - We depart from Pittsburgh to connect with our overnight flight to the Emerald Isle. We enjoy in-flight movies, dinner and breakfast aloft. Tuesday, May 30 - Day 2 ??? DUBLIN/ ARMAGH ??? This morning, we arrive in Dublin where we are met by our Unitours driver/guide who will remain with us for the duration of our pilgrimage. We begin by celebrating a private Mass at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, followed by a real Irish breakfast. Then we journey to Armagh, the spiritual capital of Ireland for 1500 years, famous for its two St Patricks??? cathedrals, Anglican and Catholic. We enjoy a photo stop en route at the tranquil ruins of Inch Abbey, where the Cistercian Order once led a strict communal life of worship, study and communal labor. Nowadays, Inch Abbey is one of the filming locations of Game of Thrones. We also stop at Down Cathedral, a former Benedictine Monastery, where according to tradition; the remains of St Patrick, St Brigid and St Columba are buried in a common graveyard. We will visit St. Patrick???s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Armagh. The interior looks Byzantine; the walls and ceilings are covered in colored mosaics. After, we will enjoy a walking tour of the Anglican St. Patrick???s Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Armagh. Wednesday, May 31 - Day 3 ??? BELFAST ??? Today after breakfast we travel to Belfast. We enjoy a panoramic tour ending at the famous St. Malachy church where we celebrate Mass. Our tour will include a stop at Shankill and Falls roads-where we will learn about past strife and view the political murals plus a stop at the Europa Hotel- the most famous hotel in Belfast. We continue to the Titanic museum- a salute to Belfast???s maritime heritage. We will uncover the true legend of the Titanic, while exploring the shipyard where the ill-fated ship was built.  After some free time for lunch we depart for the Giants Causeway- one of the most spectacular natural spots in the world and a UNESCO world heritage site. Return to Armagh for dinner and overnight in the City on Seven Hills with two Cathedrals.   Thursday, June 1 - Day 4 ??? KNOCK/ GALWAY /BANQUET ??? This morning we visit the famous Knock Shrine, an internationally recognized Marian shrine and important pilgrimage center. Knock Shrine is renowned as a site of visions, apparitions and miraculous cures. In August 1879, fifteen people witnessed the apparition of the Blessed Mother, St Joseph and St John the Evangelist at the south gable of the Knock parish church. St Pope John Paul II visited Knock in 1979, during the centenary of the apparition. We celebrate Mass here and enjoy some free time for personal prayer. We continue to Galway, a city in Ireland???s west coast. We have a brief panoramic tour of its delightful narrow streets, old stone and wooden shop fronts, Spanish Arch, the 19th century Eyre Square, the Latin Quarter and Lynch???s Castle. Beside the castle is the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Galway???s finest medieval building and where Christopher Columbus is said to have prayed before setting sail for the Americas. Enjoy some free time to explore the city. Tonight we will partake in a banquet at Dunguaire Castle! Overnight in Galway. Friday, June 2 ??? Day 5 ??? CLIFFS OF MOHER/LIMERICK ??? Today we visit the Burren region and start our day at Rathbaun Farm for a tour and morning coffee and scones. We continue to the Cliffs of Moher celebrating Mass en route at St. John the Baptist church. The Cliffs of Moher, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, boast one of the most spectacular views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. We visit O??? Brien Tower, north of the Cliff???s highest point, then the Atlantic Edge, and its exciting new interpretive center. We pass the Burren National Park, a unique place with limestone pavements, myriads of wild flora, megalithic tombs and Celtic crosses as well as a ruined Cistercian Abbey dating back to the 12th century. We enjoy a stop at the Bunratty Folk Park and visit the magnificent Holy Well of St. Brigid where testimonies to lost loved ones fills your spirit with hope. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Limerick.  Saturday, June 3 - Day 6 ???CROOM/ BLARNEY ??? Today we visit the little village of Croom, en route to Barney Castle. We will visit Our Lady???s Well of Skagh- the water source for Croom for generations that during the many droughts refused to run dry. We continue to County Cork to visit the historic Barney Castle. Over the past several hundred years, millions of people have flocked to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone- making it a world landmark and one of Ireland???s greatest treasures.  The legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the tower, if kissed, legend says it delivers the gift of eloquence! We return to Limerick for Dinner and Overnight. Sunday - June 4 ??? Day 7 ??? ROCK OF CASHEL ??? Today we visit The Rock of Cashel, known more formally as St. Patrick???s Rock, hailed as the site of the conversion of Aenghus, the King of Munster; by St. Patrick in the 5th century. We celebrate a private Mass in the Cathedral of Assumption. We continue to Holycross Abbey and have an extensive tour of the Abbey. The church has many interesting features including a variety of fascinating windows, mural paintings and many fine carvings. We will return to Limerick for a free evening for personal adventure! There are many museums in Limerick and plenty of fish and chip shops! Overnight Limerick. Dinner on your own tonight Monday, June 5 - Day 8 ??? KILDARE/ DUBLIN ??? Today we depart for Kildare. We celebrate Mass upon arrival and visit the spiritual center Solas Bhride. We encounter the legends of St. Brigid and their relevance to current day. We proceed to Walk in the Footsteps of St. Brigid around Kildare. We proceed to St Kevin???s parish at the Glendalough Monastic site. It was here that St. Kevin, son of royalty and one of Ireland???s most popular Saints, founded a monastery in the 6th century which later became a famous center of learning throughout Europe. St Kevin???s has attracted pilgrims and those with vocations to religious life. We continue to Dublin where we enjoy dinner with entertainment at Merry Ploughboy???s Pub or similar. Overnight in Dublin.  Tuesday, June 6 - DAY 9- DUBLIN - Today we tour all the sites of Dublin with a local guide, including a visit to Trinity College, to view the Book of Kells. We stop at St. Patrick???s Cathedral, to celebrate Mass. The Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well, where Saint Patrick baptized many converts. We will also stop at the Whitefriar Carmelite Church to see the relics of St. Valentine. The remainder of the day is free to explore Dublin by yourself. You might enjoy a visit to the Guinness factory or one of the many museums! Enjoy some free time tonight in Dublin or enjoy an early night- ready for our flight home tomorrow. Dinner on your own, overnight Dublin. Wednesday, June 7 - Day 10 ??? RETURN USA ??? Today we enjoy our last hearty Irish breakfast and then head for the airport for our flight home. We will carry the stories of the Saints and the beauty of the Emerald Isle in our hearts forever- and, of course we will have the gift of eloquence!