DAY 1 Monday, July 12: Depart for Ireland
Depart Philadelphia International Airport via Aer Lingus on our non-stop flight to Dublin, Ireland. Complimentary meals and beverages will be served on board. (D)
DAY 2 Tuesday, July 13: Arrive in Dublin | Highlight Tour of Dublin | Guinness and Jameson Tours
Arrive at Dublin Airport, proceed through Passport Control, claim our luggage, and meet a Peter’s Way tour manager/guide as we exit Customs. Board our private coach, and we will be on our way to Dublin for a panoramic tour. First, we will discover the north side of the river Liffey. This area offers great striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, the Custom House along the quays, and Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde’s house can still be found. Visit Grafton Street, with its colorful doors and quality shops. Not far from St. Stephen’s Green, on Kildare Street, we will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. Visit Trinity College to view the eighth-century illustrated manuscript, The Book of Kells, followed by a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Built in honor of Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition says St. Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. St. Patrick’s is Gothic in style and its splendid interior is adorned with funeral monuments, such as The Boyle Family Memorial and the grave of Dean Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels). Swift was dean here until his death in 1745. The chancel has ornate stained-glass windows and spectacular choir stalls, once used by the knights of St. Patrick, that adjoin the altar. The massive west towers house a large peal of bells whose ringing tones are so much part of the character of Dublin. Enjoy a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. Located in the heart of St. James’s Gate, the Guinness Storehouse was once the old fermentation plant of the brewery where today, you can experience the history, heart, and soul of Ireland’s most iconic beer. Discover what makes the brewing process so special, hear about the history of the brewery, and enjoy a pint of Guinness at the Gravity Bar. Continue to the Jameson Bow St. Distillery, where we will enjoy a tour learning about the history of Jameson whiskey and the distilling process. Sample different varieties of Jameson whiskey and learn about their unique flavors and aromas. Remainder of the afternoon free to enjoy Dublin on your own. Hotel check-in. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Dublin. (B,D)
DAY 3 Wednesday, July 14: Kilmainham Gaol | Concert Presentation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we will visit Kilmainham Gaol (subject to confirmation), a former prison now a museum run by the Office of Public Works. It played a significant role in Irish history, particularly in the struggle for Irish independence. Many leaders of Irish rebellions, including those of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867, and the 1916 Easter Rising, were imprisoned and, in some cases, executed within its walls. Kilmainham Gaol was closed in 1924 by the government of the new Irish Free State. It fell into disrepair but was later restored through the efforts of the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Society, and it opened as a museum in 1966, providing insights into Irish history, nationalism, and the lives of those imprisoned there. The tour includes the prison wings, the chapel where Joseph Plunkett married Grace Gifford hours before his execution, and the Stonebreakers' Yard. There is also a museum with exhibits relating to the gaol's history and Irish nationalism. We will continue to learn about Ireland's history, marked by numerous rebellions and uprisings. Visit the GPO (General Post Office) Museum, an immersive interactive and engaging experience telling the story of the 1916 Easter Rising and modern Irish history. Continue to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Concert presentation (30 minutes with piano accompaniment), presented by the Queen of the Universe Church Choir. Independent lunch. Free afternoon to enjoy Dublin on your own. Independent dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Dublin. (B)
DAY 4 Thursday, July 15: Clonmacnoise | Galway
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we’ll depart Dublin for Galway. En route we’ll visit Clonmacnoise, located at an ancient crossroads where the Esker Way and the River Shannon meet. Clonmacnoise was a monastery founded by St. Ciaran in the 6th century, a place of religious learning and pilgrimage, renowned for its literary and artistic achievements that enjoyed the patronage of Kings and Chieftains. It was home to three exceptional high crosses, a cathedral, seven churches, and two round towers. Independent lunch. We’ll continue to Galway, the capital of the west, affectionately known as “The City of the Tribes.” Check-in at our hotel in Galway. Free afternoon to explore Galway on your own. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Galway. (B,D)
DAY 5 Friday, July 16: Connemara National Park | Galway
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we’ll visit Connemara National Park. Located in County Galway on the west coast of Ireland, it is a stunning natural landscape encompassing approximately 4,900 acres of mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands, and woodlands. It was established in 1980 and is one of eight national parks in Ireland, managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Located near Letterfrack, the Visitor Center offers exhibitions about the park's landscape, flora, and fauna. There is also a multi-lingual audio-visual show, and during the summer, guided walks on a range of trails to suit various fitness levels. Enjoy a hike in the park! Continue through Connemara, the country of The Quiet Man, the famous film made in this region. Connemara is a land of lakes and rivers, bogs, and mountains. It is a land of small villages, where Gaelic is still the spoken language. Connemara is a vast peninsula bordered by the arid and rocky coastline of Galway Bay in the south. On its northern shore, the land has spectacular views of the ocean and the beautiful fjord of Killarney Harbor. Visit the village of Cong, where John Ford’s great movie, The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and Barry Fitzgerald, was primarily filmed. Return to Galway. Independent lunch. Free afternoon to enjoy Galway on your own. Independent dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Galway. (B)
DAY 6 Saturday, July 17: Ballintubber Abbey | Shrine of Knock
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, we’ll leave on our excursion to visit Ballintubber Abbey, where Mass has been celebrated without interruption for over 800 years. Ballintubber Abbey is associated with St. Patrick because it gets its name “Baile Tobair Phadraig” from a nearby holy well dedicated to Ireland’s national apostle. It was a beginning and ending point for pilgrims traveling the old pilgrimage road to Croagh Patrick. The abbey is dedicated to St. Patrick, the Virgin Mary, and St. John the Apostle. After our visit we’ll continue to the National Marian Shrine of Knock. Independent lunch upon arrival. We’ll visit Ireland’s National Marian Shrine in Knock. The story of Knock began on the evening of August 21, 1879, when the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist appeared at the south gable of the church at Knock. Beside them was an altar with a cross and the figure of a lamb, around which angels hovered. There were fifteen official witnesses to the apparition who watched and prayed for two hours in the pouring rain. The special message of Knock is the need for penance. Celebrate 3:00 p.m. scheduled Mass and blessing of the sick at the Basilica of Knock, sung by the Queen of the Universe Church Choir. Late afternoon, return to Galway. Dinner at a restaurant in Galway. Overnight at our hotel in Galway. (B,D)
DAY 7 Sunday, July 18: Burren Region | Cliffs of Moher | Killarney| Evening Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Killarney
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, ride through the most spectacular Burren Region. The area got its name from its polished limestone landscape (‘Boirean’ is the Irish word for rocky). The region was largely sculpted over the last two million years by glaciers, through the exposure and submergence of its landscape to ice, ocean, and the plate movements of the earth. The whole area, with its flora and fauna, is heaven for geologists and botanists. We will stop at the Cliffs of Moher, the most majestic cliffs in Ireland that rise over 700 feet from the Atlantic Ocean and extend for over four miles. From this height, admire the Aran Islands and the Connemara Mountains, and listen to the many sea birds that colonize this place from springtime on. Independent lunch. Continue to Killarney for hotel check-in. Celebrate Vigil Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, sung by the Queen of the Universe Church Choir. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Killarney. (B,D)
DAY 8 Monday, July 19: Dingle Peninsula | Killarney
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, head through the Dingle Peninsula, one of Ireland’s most popular coastal scenery drives. Dingle is the most northern of the Kerry peninsulas. This peninsula is famous for its Celtic, pre-Christian monuments and Christian churches. It is also a ‘Gaeltacht' (Irish-speaking) area, where the Irish language and traditional ways of life are preserved. Dingle town itself is a thriving fishing town and offers plenty of opportunity for shopping or simply savoring the atmosphere of a typical country Irish town with its plentiful pubs, narrow streets, and busy harbor. Continue on the road around the Dingle Peninsula and pass through a chain of mountains, called Slieve Mish. From Inch, a long beach bordered by dunes and made famous by David Lean’s movie Ryan’s Daughter, admire the Iveragh Peninsula and Rossbeigh Beach. Drive around the coast to Slea Head. Here, the blue of the marine landscape surrounds the Blasket Islands, deserted since 1953. In the distance are the two rocky Skellig islands, where the ruins of an early Christian Monastery can be found. The Dingle Peninsula will charm you with its villages painted in bright colors and bewitch you with the dramatic beauty of its landscapes. Independent lunch in Dingle. We will visit Gallarus Oratory, the most impressive early Christian monument on the Dingle peninsula. Built over 1200 years ago in the shape of an upturned boat, the oratory formed part of a larger monastic site and was used as a place of prayer and reflection. Return to Killarney with the afternoon free to explore on your own. Dinner at a restaurant in Killarney. Overnight at our hotel in Killarney. (B,D)
DAY 9 Tuesday, July 20: Molls Gap & Ladies View | Muckross House
Irish breakfast at our hotel. Today we’ll drive through the Molls Gap and Ladies View, with superb views of Mac Gillycuddy’s Reeks and the famous Lakes of Killarney. Continue on to visit Muckross House & Gardens. Muckross is a magnificent Victorian mansion built in 1843 and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. Built on the shores of Muckross Lake, it is beautifully situated amidst the spectacular scenery of Killarney National Park. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyle of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the house. The gardens of Muckross House are famed for their beauty worldwide. In particular they are noted for their collections of azaleas and rhododendrons. The extensive water garden, children’s sunken garden, and outstanding rock garden, hewn out of natural limestone, are just some of the features to be discovered. Independent lunch and free afternoon to enjoy Killarney on your own. Independent dinner. Overnight at our hotel in Killarney. (B)
DAY 10 Wednesday, July 21: Kilkenny Castle | Dublin | Merry Ploughboy Pub
Irish breakfast at our hotel. This morning, depart for Kilkenny, the Medieval capital of Ireland. The capital of County Kilkenny, the town of Kilkenny is often referred to as “the Marble City.” It is the most interesting and best preserved of the medieval Irish cities. It owes its immense charm to the various impressive historical monuments. It is small and compact enough to explore on foot, yet full of fascinating historical buildings and contemporary shops, design galleries, and restaurants. Visit Kilkenny Castle. One of the most instantly recognized buildings in Ireland, Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since it was built by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century. William the Earl Marshall built the first stone castle on this site in 1260, a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner. Three of these original four towers survive to this day. The Butler family bought the castle in 1391 and lived there continuously until 1935. The castle lay vacant and in ruin until 1967, when it was given to the nation. It has been restored to a Victorian period and its long gallery again houses portraits of the Butler family. The castle has an excellent guided tour during which visitors learn about life in the castle over the many centuries of its existence. Independent lunch and free afternoon to enjoy Kilkenny on your own. Continue to Dublin for hotel check-in. This evening, enjoy dinner and entertainment at the Merry Ploughboy Pub. Their lively how features contemporary Irish dancing and well-known guest artists. Fine food is a very important element. At the Merry Ploughboy Pub, youthful vibrancy has successfully combined with traditional craftsmanship to provide excellent evening entertainment. Overnight at our hotel in Dublin. (B,D)
DAY 11 Thursday, July 22: Return from Dublin
Irish breakfast at our hotel. After breakfast, we will be transferred by coach to Dublin Airport for our flight home.