St PATRICK IN IRELAND

PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY NORTH

DUBLIN / TARA / KNOCK / MOHER / GALWAY

Itinerary

DAY 1 BEIRUT / DUBLIN                                                                                                     

On the start of the journey, you will depart from Beirut to DUBLIN, transit and arrival.

Meet and greet of our representative. Mass in the Pro Cathedral – celebrated by visiting priest where time permits. Visit to the National Museum of Ireland in Kildare Street – this fascinating museum charts the story of Ireland through the ages and will serve as the perfect start to this Irish adventure. Check-in the hotel.  City tour of Dublin, an exciting European capital which boasts some of the finest Georgian architecture as seen in Merrion Square, Mountjoy Square, Fitzwilliam Square as well as medieval in the areas around Christchurch and St Patrick’s Cathedral. We would include a visit to Trinity College , the impressive university founded by Queen Elizabeth 1 of England in 1 592 to educate the children of the British in Ireland. It is located in the very centre of the city but standing in Front square, here you will be  transported back 400 years.   Visit the priceless Book of Kells, an illuminated  manuscript which dates from the 8^th century and the beautiful Long Room.

Visit also St Patricks Cathedral, an excellent example of Norman architecture and where Jonathan Swift was Dean when he wrote the famous ‘Gullivers Travels’. Welcome dinner at the hotel and Overnight.

DAY 2 DUBLIN / WICKLOW / DUBLIN

Full Irish breakfast, Mass to be celebrated at St Teresa’s Church in Clarendon Street, Morning drive across the Wicklow Mountains and down into County Wicklow – the garden of Ireland.  This is a county of wild mountains covered in heather and gorse, waterfalls tumbling into pretty valleys filled with sheep.   In this wild remote country, St Kevin, a learned hermit, lived and prayed in Glendalough.  He was born in the 5^th century, lived through the 6^th century and died in the 7^th century aged 120! He was so learned that scholars from all over Europe came to this remote beautiful spot and established a university with over 1000 students. Ruins remaining are a Round Tower, St Kevin’s Kitchen, and ruins of the cathedral, monolithic Celtic cross and lovely walks around the lake. Lunch at leisure, Return to Dublin in the afternoon , with stops perhaps at some lovely gardens or a country house with craft shops and tea rooms. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.

DAY 3 DUBLIN / Hill Of TARA / ARMAGH

Irish breakfast at the hotel, Departure from Dublin with luggage. First stop today will be at the Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara, known as Temair in gaeilge, was once the ancient seat of power in Ireland – 142 kings are said to have reigned there in prehistoric and historic times. In ancient Irish religion and mythology Temair was the sacred place of dwelling for the gods, and was the entrance to the other world. Saint Patrick is said to have come to Tara to confront the ancient religion of the pagans at its most powerful site.

Visit to Monasterboice , The historic ruins of Monasterboice (Irish: Mainistir Bhuithe) are of an early Christian settlement in County Louth in Ireland, north of Drogheda. It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe who died around 521 and was an important centre of religious learning until the founding of nearby Mellifont Abbey in 1142. Next stop will be in Drogheda to see the shrine of St Oliver Plunkett in St Peter’s Church. Lunch at leisure.  Afternoon drive into Northern Ireland to Downpatrick .   Stop at the charming small cathedral (Church of Ireland) where St Patrick is said to be buried. Visit also to the St Patrick’s Centre in the town which tells the story of the Saints life in Ireland. Dinner and overnight in Armagh or Monaghan

DAY 4 ARMAGH / HOLY WELL / KNOCK

Celebrate Mass in St Patricks Cathedral, Armagh – one of the twin cathedrals in this town, the see of the Primate of all Ireland. Visit to Navan Fort to the west of Armagh . Lunch at leisure., Afternoon drive east through Enniskillen to Tobernault Holy Well and Mass rock where mass was celebrated in secret in penal times.  Marks on the Rock are said to have been made by St Patrick.

Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetary contains 45 tombs, standing stones and stone circles. This is the largest concentration of such tombs in Europe and possibly the oldest.   Analysis suggests a date as early as 5400BC. Dinner and overnight in Knock.

DAY 5 KNOCK/ CROAGH PATRICK / BALLINTUBBER ABBEY / KNOCK

Irish breakfast at the hotel. Celebrate Mass in the Basilica in Knock On the 21st of August, 1879, Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist appeared at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. This Apparition was witnessed by fifteen people, young and old. From this miraculous occurrence Knock has grown to the status of an internationally recognized Marian Shrine. The personal pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II in 1979, commemorating the centenary of the Apparition, inspired an even greater devotion to the Shrine and endorsed the indelible seal of Vatican approval. Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited the Shrine in June of 1993. One and a half million pilgrims visit the Shrine annually. Some time to explore the town this morning.

Lunch at leisure, Afternoon drive to Croagh Patrick,a site of pilgrimage, especially at the summer solstice, since before the arrival of Celtic Christianity.   Saint Patrick reputedly fasted on the summit of Croagh Patrick for forty days in the fifth century and built a church there. Popular legend says that at the end of Patrick's 40-day fast, he threw a silver bell down the side of the mountain, knocking the she-demon Corra from the sky and banishing all the snakes from Ireland. Visit to Ballintubber Abbey where Mass has been celebrated for over 800 years uninterruptedly.

Dinner and overnight in Knock.

DAY 6 KNOCK / CONNEMARA / GALWAY

Irish breakfast at the hotel , Departure for Knock heading to Cong Abbey and then into the beautiful area  known as Connemara where the rugged purple mountains, deep blue lakes, wonderful seascapes and beaches combine to make an area of remote calm far from the normal world.  Stop at Kylemore Abbey to see this lovely house, now a boarding school, in its idyllic setting.  The Abbey was built by Mitchel Henry MP and is a building of unsurpassed beauty, of massive walls and gracious windows.  It is beautifully situated in the heart of Connemara, amidst rivers, lakes and a wonderland of silent hills.

Lunch at leisure, late afternoon arrival in Galway, the city of the Tribes!  Walking tour of Galway including a Visit to St Nicholas’ Church which dates to 1320 and was the last spot where Christopher Columbus prayed before sailing to discover America!

Dinner and overnight in Galway or Burren region

DAY 6 GALWAY / MOHER / DUBLIN

Irish breakfast at the hotel, Explore The Burren, an area of karst vegetation where the porous limestone has allowed the rain to flow through creating a network of underground rivers, lakes and waterfalls whilst the surface looks like the moon.  There is an abundance of alpine and arctic flora living happily side by side, wonderful birds and many prehistoric burial chambers, tombs and Dolmens. Visit to Corcomroe Abbey , an early 13^th century Cistercian monastery

Stop at the famous Cliffs of Moher where the Atlantic crashes against the first landmass of Europe.

Afternoon drive back to Dublin for overnight.

DAY 7 DUBLIN / BEIRUT

Irish breakfast at the hotel, Transfer to Dublin airport for homeward flight, arrival to Beirut Airport on the same day.  The tour ends.

End of services.