Duration: 09 Days
Dates: October 17 - October 25, 2024
Departure City: Newark, NJ (EWR)

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – thursday, October 17, 2024 - Departure to Ireland. 
Depart on your flight from Newark to Dublin, Ireland 

Day 2 – friday, October 18, 2024 - Dublin Arrival 
Arrive at Dublin Airport where you will be welcomed by our tour escort and bus driver. After our hotel check-in and Mass, we’ll gather for our welcome dinner and show (Irish Night) at the Merry Ploughboy Pub or similar (D) 

Day 3 – saturday October 19, 2024 – Dublin 
Begin the morning with Mass before joining your local guide for a tour of Dublin, featuring O’Connell and Grafton streets. Feel the magnitude of the 11th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral – the spiritual heart of the city – when a local expert details the rich history of this iconic building. Your journey continues on the grounds of Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells. As one of the most famous religious masterpieces of the medieval world, stand in awe before this ornate Latin gospel. The afternoon will be spent at the Teelings Whiskey Distillery, the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years. This is the only operational distillery in the city. We’ll spend time here for a tour and sampling. Afternoon and evening at leisure. Dinner on your own (B) 

Day 4 – sunday, October 20, 2024 – Dublin – Downpatrick - Belfast  
Depart Dublin for “Saint Patrick’s country.” Feel the past come to life at the St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick. On a privately guided tour, gain a glimpse into the history of Ireland’s patron Saint. Learn the story of his death as you explore St. Patrick’s first Irish church at Saul. Celebrate Mass this afternoon at a local church. The legend continues with a visit to the medieval Down Cathedral, the burial place of St. Patrick. A site of meditation and worship, this cathedral has become a symbol of the Irish people’s deep connection to their religious past and Celtic roots. Make your way to Belfast, Northern Ireland’s largest city. Continue to the hotel for overnight. Dinner on your own (B)

Day 5 – monday, October 21, 2024 – Belfast – Armagh - Westport  
Your journey takes you to the town of Armagh, seat of the Archbishop of both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. Discover the Armagh Cathedral, destroyed and rebuilt over ten times since its initial founding in the 5th century by St. Patrick. Celebrate Mass this afternoon, then wind your way through a patchwork of green to the charming coastal town of Westport. Dinner on your own (B)

Day 6 – tuesday, October 22, 2024 – Westport – Marian Shrine of Knock – Westport 
What a beautiful opportunity to worship at the Marian Shrine of Knock! We will celebrate Mass here today. On this site in 1879, fifteen witnesses saw an apparition of the Blessed Virgin with St. John and St. Joseph. This revered spot is visited by 1.5 million pilgrims each year, including Pope St. John Paul II in 1979 on the 100th anniversary and Mother Teresa in 1993 to pray. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in Westport to explore the town’s quaint shops, historic pubs, and award-winning restaurants. Dinner on your own (B)

Day 7 – wednesday, October 23, 2024 – Westport – Croagh Patrick – Kylemore Abbey - Galway 
Start the day at Croagh Patrick, St. Patrick’s holy mountain. In the 5th century, St. Patrick fasted for forty days on this mountain’s iconic summit. Set off for Kylemore Abbey, a stunning Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 by nuns fleeing Belgium during World War I. Explore the Abbey and its historic Victorian Walled Garden, restored by the Benedictine community. Celebrate Mass in a local church, then your day comes to a close in Galway, Ireland’s historic “City of Tribes.” Dinner on your own (B)

Day 8 – thursday, October 24, 2024 – Galway - Cliffs of Moher 
After morning Mass, get to know the city of Galway on a guided tour. Explore the city’s winding lanes and historic Eyre Square, taking in the energy and excitement of colorful shops and historic pubs that Galway is known for. Leave the city behind and journey along stunning vistas and rolling hills on the Wild Atlantic Way. Board a ferry and take in unrivaled views as you sail beneath the iconic Cliffs of Moher. This evening return to Galway and join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner to celebrate your spiritual journey through the Emerald Isle. (B, D) 

Day 9 – friday, October 25, 2024 - Ireland departure 
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Transfer to Dublin Airport to take departure flight back home (B)