Pilgrimage to Ireland with Father William Heric to visit shrines in St. Brigid’s town (Kildare) and Our Lady of Knock.

10 days/8 nights – October 7 to 16th

Day 1: Oct. 7 (Wed) – Departure from Seattle 6:45 pm on Non-stop flight to Dublin, dinner on airplane.

Day 2: Oct. 8 (Thurs) – breakfast on plane. Arrive Dublin at 11:45 am. Motorcoach transfer to downtown Dublin with a stop for Mass. Then a tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral (1191 A.D.) which is National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Check-in at Trinity City Hotel. You will have Free time the remainder of the afternoon. If you aren’t too tired, you will have an opportunity to go to a museum or do the Guinness Storehouse, the Teeling Whiskey Distillery or Jameson Distillery tours (although in Dingle you will free time for a Distillery tour). Dinner at the hotel. Overnight Dublin (B, D)

Day 3: Oct. 9 (Fri) – We will sleep in a bit to help avoid jet lag. After breakfast, we will celebrate Mass, then tour the Dublin Castle (1204 A.D.) and Christ Church Cathedral which founded by Viking King Sitric Silkenbeard around 1030 A.D. It is one of Dublin’s most impressive landmarks and is the Church of Ireland’s Dublin Cathedral. Free time in the afternoon. We will give you ideas of places to see on your own. Late afternoon tour of The Book of Kells Experience at Trinity College, then we will walk 1/2 mile to an Irish music/dance dinner & show. Overnight Dublin (B,D)

**Dublin – O’Donoghue’s Bar with outdoor seating**

**Dublin – Trinity College Book of Kells page**

**Dublin – Trinity College Library w earth globe**

**Dublin – Trinity College Library stacks with old books**

**Dublin – River Liffey from bridge looking west**

Day 4: Oct. 10 (Sat) – Motorcoach to Kildare town, the town of St. Brigid, one of Ireland’s three patron saints. We will celebrate Mass at St. Brigid parish church and have time to pray at her relic (small piece of her skull), then walk 1/4 mile to tour the 13th century St. Brigid Cathedral (Church of Ireland) and for those who are able, you can climb the Cathedral’s 103 foot tall round tower for a great view (weather permitting). It is one of only two round towers in Ireland which can still be climbed to the top, the other is in Kilkenny. Possible visit to the Irish National Stud farm. We will visit the Brigidine Nuns center for a one hour talk on St. Brigid’s life and spirituality (catered lunch), followed by a 1/2 mile walk to St. Brigid’s Garden Well for some prayer. We then drive to Kilkenny to tour the 12th century Norman Castle. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight Kilkenny (B,L,D)

**Kildare – St. Brigid parish church interior**

**Kildare – St/ Brigid relic (portion of skull) – close up**

**Kildare – St. Brigid Cathedral 13th century, built on site of Celtic Christian abbey founded by St. Brigid in the 5th century.**

**Kildare – St. Brigid Cathedral Round Tower**

Kilkenny - 12th century Norman Castle — **Kilkenny – 12th century Norman Castle**

**Kilkenny Castle – Picture Gallery wing. Built in early 19th century constructed on earlier foundations**

Day 5: Oct. 11 (Sun) – After breakfast, celebrate Mass and visit St. Mary’s Cathedral (with relics of St. Victoria) and walk 0.2 mile to the Most Blessed Trinity church (Dominican-founded 1225). Drive to the Rock of Cashel for a tour (St. Patrick visited the Rock ~450 AD); Next on to Killarney for a tour of Muckross House (1843) and possibly the Muckross Franciscan Abbey (1284), then photo stop at the Ross Castle (15th century), and final stop in Killarney at St. Mary Cathedral, then drive ~1.25 hours to Dingle town to check-in at Dingle Skellig Hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight Dingle town (B,D)

Kilkenny - St. Mary Cathedral — **Kilkenny – St. Mary Cathedral. Construction started in April 1843, consecrated October 4, 1857. Built from local donations of 25,000 British Pounds even though the famine was from 1845 to 1852**

**Kilkenny – St. Mary Cathedral – St. Victoria’s relics (wax figure enclosing her entire relics) plus the Phial (Chalice)**

Kilkenny Black Abbey — **Kilkenny – Black Abbey (Dominican) founded in 1225 with Rosary window far right.**

**Kilkenny – Black Abbey – Rosary window**

**Ross Castle – built in 15th century by the local ruling clan O’Donoghues Mór (**Ross**)**

Day 6: Oct. 12 (Mon) – After breakfast, we will celebrate Mass, followed by a drive along the Dingle Peninsula’s scenic Slea Head Drive loop. You will see scenic coastlines, Dun Beag Fort (dating from 580 BC with changes made up to 800 AD); beehive huts, a sheepdog demonstration, Gallarus Oratory (7th-9th century stone church, the Old Irish term of Gallarus means “the house or shelter of foreigners,” suggesting it may have served as a sanctuary for pilgrims. It’s also believed to have been a final stop for travelers embarking on spiritual journeys, seeking blessings before departure); Kilmalkedar church named in honor of its founder St Maolcethair, who died in 636, the Romanesque church was built shortly after 1134 AD; and Conor Pass (1,496 ft) viewpoint (if good weather). Should return back to Dingle town between 2-3 pm for free time. You can take a 45 minute tour of the Dingle Crystal factory (last tour at 3 pm) and/or a 75 minute tour of the Dingle Distillery (last tour at 4 pm) or visit Oceanworld Aquarium, maybe golf (sun sets around 7pm), or just stroll the town. Dinner may be at the hotel or in the town. Overnight Dingle town (B,D)

**Dingle Peninsula – Dun Beag Fort (dating from 580 BC with changes to 800 AD) looking west**

**Dingle Peninsula – looking north to Dunmore Head**

**Dingle Peninsula – Gallarus Oratory dating back to the 7th-9th century, is a remarkable structure on the Wild Atlantic Way and one of the best-preserved early Christian sites in Ireland**

Day 7: Oct. 13 (Tues) – After breakfast, depart for Knock. We will stop for Mass along the way. Then to Ennis for a tour of the Franciscan Friary ruins (1240 A.D.), followed by time for lunch on your own. We will continue on to the Cliffs of Moher, at a maximum height of 702 feet overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Check-in at the Knock House Hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight Knock (B,D)

**Adare – Holy Trinity Abbey founded in 1230 AD**

**Adare – Castle from the early 13th century. Cromwellian forces destroyed it in 1657**

**Ennis – Franciscan Friary church completed in 1240**

**Ennis – Franciscan Friary – crucifixion stone carving**

Day 8: Oct. 14 (Wed) – Breakfast 8:30 am, walk 1/4 mile to the Apparition Chapel for 9:45 am Mass. After Mass we will have a walking tour of the Shrine grounds (Gable wall, St. John the Baptist church (old church), Basilica of Our Lady of Knock Queen of Ireland and the Knock Shrine Museum). The tour will take around 1.5 hours and we will walk ~0.4-0.5 miles. Then Free time for prayer. There are outdoor Stations of the Cross, the Blessed Sacrament chapel and the Chapel of Reconciliation. For lunch (on your own) there are a few small places to grab a bite along the main street near St. John the Baptist church or you can walk back to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight Knock (B,D)

**Knock Shrine – St. John the Baptist parish church**

**Knock Shrine – Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Ireland**

**Knock Shrine – Basilica statue and mosaic**

Day 9: Oct. 15 (Thurs) – After Breakfast, depart for Galway City. We will drive 40 minutes to Foxford for a tour of the Woollen Mills founded by Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard of the Sisters of Charity in 1892 (at the age of 50). As money became more plentiful in the town, she built a music school in 1923. Then drive 45 minutes to Ballintubber Abbey where they have had daily Mass for 800+years, even after the roof was burned down by the British and it was illegal to celebrate Mass. We will have a noon Mass followed by a tour, then time for lunch on your own. Then we drive ~1.5 hours to Kylemore Abbey (Benedictine) for a tour of the 19th century castle and visit the grounds (Walled Gardens and gothic church). Drive to Galway City, stopping at their Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven & St. Nicholas. Construction began in 1958 and it was consecrated August 15, 1965, making it “the last great stone cathedral to be built in Europe”. Then check-in at the Leonardo Hotel. Dinner may be in town or at the hotel depending upon feedback from those who will be on the pilgrimage. Overnight Galway City (B,D)

**Kylemore Abbey – Castle built in 1868**

**Kylemore Abbey – Castle sitting room**

**Galway City – Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St. Nicholas – construction began in 1958, consecrated August 15, 1965.**

**Galway City – Spanish Arch and sign pointing to sister cities (including Seattle)**

Oct. 16 (Fri) – After breakfast, depart for the Dublin airport 8:30-:40 am with a 30-45 minute stop at Clonmacnoise Monastic site (founded ~548 by St. Ciarán) for a tour. Then continue to the airport for a 3:20 pm non-stop flight to Seattle.

**Clonmacnoise – McCarthy Tower and memorial of JPII visit**

**Clonmacnoise – Cross of the Scriptures replica and Cathedral**

**Clonmacnoise – Cross of the Scriptures West Face**

**Itinerary may have slight changes to sites visited or the date of the visit (particularly in Dublin).

Father is limiting this pilgrimage to 40 people.

Airfare on Aer Lingus = $725 round trip Economy. Seattle to Dublin and Dublin to Seattle non-stop flights (includes checked bag up to 23 kg (50.6 lbs) and a carry-on bag up to 10 kg (22 lbs). Warning regarding carry-on bags, they may ask to weigh your carry-on when checking your checked bag.

Land Only pricing – $3,650 per person double occupancy based upon 25 people paying. If you use the group airfare total price = $4,375

Land Price lowers as more people sign up. (Single Supplement of $1,085 or Triple discount available)

This pilgrimage tour includes:

Land transportation – Motorcoach with professional driver from airport to downtown Dublin and from Oct 10-13 & 15-16 . Possibly some taxis in Dublin.

Hotels (all centrally located):

DUBLIN – Trinity City Hotel (4 star)

KILKENNY – Kilkenny Hotel (4 star)

DINGLE – Dingle Skellig Hotel (4 star)

KNOCK – Knock House Hotel (3 star)

GALWAY CITY – Leonardo Hotel (4 star)

Breakfasts and dinners, 1 lunch

Entrance fees of all sites mentioned with tour guides where tour mentioned, the cost of Father Heric, ALL tips (to tour guides, driver, restaurants, Mass donations). Paul will be your tour escort.

$300 deposit secures your spot. Deposit may be refundable (at Parietti Tours discretion) if you cancel by July 1.

Payments with credit card will incur a 3.7% fee.

Payment schedule – minimums due, you may pay more than minimum if you choose.

Deposit $300 / July 1 – $1,000 / August 3 – $1,000 / September 1 – $1,000 / September 21 – balance

Tour does not include

Lunches (except for the one mentioned in Kildare town),

Nothing during free time (transportation, entrance fees to other museums or sites not listed).

Travel Insurance.