The Land of Saints and Spirits A Pilgrimage to Ireland with Fr. Casey Jones

We depart Miami International airport on an overnight flight to Dublin. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy and Business Class seats are available upon request starting 120 days before departure. Due to group air restrictions, we cannot request specific seat assignments on flights. If this is an essential trip feature, please book land-only with us and arrange your own air travel.

Welcome to Ireland, where you will be greeted by the Select International Tours Irish tour manager, who will accompany the group throughout the entire trip. We board our comfortable motorcoach and depart for Belfast. En route, we stop for Mass at St. Peter’s Church in Drogheda, with its 40 spectacular stained glass windows. Here we see the Shrine of St. Olive Plunkett, credited with bringing the Jesuits to Ireland. He was hanged for treason in 1681, but was declared a saint in 1973, and his preserved head forms the centerpiece of the shrine. Upon arrival in Belfast, we have time for lunch and a panoramic city tour. Settle into your centrally located hotel and head over to the iconic Crown Liquor Saloon, also known as the Crown Bar, an outstanding example of a Victorian gin palace and one of Northern Ireland’s best-known pubs. The welcome dinner is at the hotel. Overnight in Belfast.

Our day starts with a hearty Irish breakfast, before we depart for the Titanic Quarter, where we visit the Titanic Museum. Located in the heart of Belfast, the Titanic Belfast recreates the story of the world’s most famous ship in an iconic, six-floor building beside the historic site of the original ship’s construction. Through the interactive displays, we envision the Titanic experience. We have a whiskey tasting at Titanic Distillers in the historic Titanic Pumphouse. You may want to stop to see the beautiful Titanic Hotel, built where the offices of the Titanic builders Harland and Wolff once stood, and where you can have a drink at the famous Harland Bar, which serves some of the same mixed cocktails served on the Titanic. As dinner is at leisure, we recommend visiting John Long’s for excellent fish and chips, which have been served by this establishment for over a hundred years (transportation not included). Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Belfast.

Today, we visit St. Patrick’s Center to learn about the life of St. Patrick. Nearby is the Church of Ireland Down Cathedral, where we see the burial sites of three saints: St. Patrick, St. Brigid, and St. Columba. Following Mass, we drive to County Mayo for an overnight. Tonight we have time to enjoy the lively music and pub scene in the quintessential Irish town of Westport. Be sure to visit Porter House or Matt Molloy’s of the Chieftains, the famous trad band. Overnight in County Mayo.

After breakfast, we travel to Knock, Ireland’s national Marian Shrine. On the 21st of August, 1879, Our Lady, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist appeared at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. Fifteen people, young and old, witnessed this apparition. From this miraculous occurrence, Knock has grown to 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. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in County Mayo.

Following breakfast, we depart through the rugged and hauntingly beautiful scenery of Connemara to Kylemore Abbey. We tour the grounds, visit the Abbey and the shops, and celebrate Mass at the Neo-Gothic Church. Be sure to stop by the Walled Victorian Garden and the tea house, where you can enjoy tea, coffee, and famous Irish scones. Our day continues in Galway, the City of Tribes, where we explore the city of music by participating in the local pub crawl culture. Overnight in the Galway area.

After breakfast, we embark on a full-day trip to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. We take a ferry from Rossaveal to Kilronan on Inis Mór for island exploration, including a visit to Dun Aonghasa Fort on the western edge of Europe. Many consider this to be one of the most romantic spots in Ireland. Following lunch at Joe Watty’s Pub, we have time to hike, pray, and further explore this beautiful landscape before we return to our hotel. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in the Galway area.

The magnificent landscape of the Burren awaits us today. A local legend, Oliver Connell, welcomes us to his home for home-baked treats, poetry, storytelling, and, most importantly, live music in his family kitchen. (TBC) Oliver’s home is in the very heart of the Burren at Rockforest Tubber. Continuing our day, we visit the incredible Cliffs of Moher. Then, we warm up from the wind blowing at the Cliffs with an Irish coffee-making demonstration at the famous Durty Nelly’s Pub, where an expert talks about the history of Irish coffee. Tonight we will participate in the Bunratty Medieval Dinner. (TBC) Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Limerick. (B.L. Special dinner plus Irish Coffee Making Experience)

After breakfast, we drive to see the magnificent Rock of Cashel, which was the seat of kings and bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. We continue to the lovely medieval town of Kilkenny, where we partake in the Smitwick’s Experience, which immerses us into the history of Ireland’s oldest ale. The city is famous for its imposing Castle, its ale, and Fr. Willie Purcell, who shares the history of his 200-plus relic collection with us. (TBC). If we are lucky, Fr. Purcell will lead us in song with his magnificent voice. Mass will be celebrated. Dinner and overnight in Kilkenny.

Our morning is dedicated to Glendalough, a monastic site founded by St. Kevin. Famed for its beautiful scenery and historical monuments, Glendalough has been a center for pilgrims and visitors since the founding of its monastery by St. Kevin in the 6th Century. St. Kevin is the subject of many legends, and he is often compared to St. Francis of Assisi. We learn about the history of the monastic community through an exhibition showing us the Golden Age of early Christian Ireland. Enjoy a guided tour of the site, which includes the Round Tower, the Cathedral’s ruins, and “St. Kevin’s Kitchen,” situated within an old cemetery. Mass will be celebrated. Continue our day with a drive to Dublin, where we have time to explore the city and its vibrant pub scene. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight in Dublin.

This morning, we drive to the Storehouse, initially built in 1904 to house the Guinness fermentation process. The core of the building is modeled on a giant pint glass. The tour takes us step by step through the brewing process, culminating at the Gravity Bar, where we can savor a pint of Guinness while enjoying panoramic views of Dublin City. We visit Trinity College to see the Book of Kells. The afternoon is free to explore the city on our own. We recommend visiting the EPIC Museum of Immigration or the National Gallery. Be sure to stop at Brazen Head Pub, the oldest in Dublin, for another great Irish experience. Our farewell dinner is accompanied by traditional Irish music and dancing. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Dublin. (B. Special dinner)

Following breakfast at the hotel, we are transferred to the airport for our flights back to the USA.