Irish Faith and History. Included Features DUBLIN: Welcome drink; orientation drive; visit Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity.

Irish Faith and History

Included FeaturesDUBLIN: Welcome drink; orientation drive; visit Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College

KNOCK: Visit the Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, the Basilica, and the Folk Museum

MURRISK (CROAGH PATRICK): Visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre

KYLEMORE: Visit the Benedictine abbey

ARAN ISLANDS: Ferry to and from Inishmore; visit the Heritage Centre; take a minibus tour; visit Don Aengus and its visitor centre

KILFENORA: Visit The Burren Centre

RING OF KERRY: Scenic peninsula drive

KILLARNEY: Horse-drawn car ride

WATERFORD: Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory

ENNISCORTHY: Morning stop

AVOCA: Guided tour of the handweaving mill

GLENDALOUGH: Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity

Day 1Board your overnight flight

Day 2Arrival in Dublin, Ireland

• Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel

• Balance of day at leisure until you meet your tour director and companions for a welcome dinner

Day 3Dublin

• Experience Dublin with a sightseeing tour of Our Lady of Lourdes Church to see the tomb of Venerable Matt Talbot

Day 3Dublin

• Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral

• Walk around Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College, famous for the 1,200-yr-old Book of Kells

Trinity College

Day 3Dublin.

• Balance of day at leisure

Day 4Dublin- Knock

• Journey to Knock, where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1879 to townsfolk. Today it attracts pilgrims from around the world.

Day 4Dublin- Knock

• Visit Knock Shrine, Church of the Apparition, the Basilica and Folk Museum

• This evening, join the rosary processions

Day 5Knock-Murrisk-Galway

• This morning in Murrisk, visit the famous pilgrimage site of Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre, or St. Patrick’s Holy Mountain

Day 5Knock-Murrisk-Galway

• Visit Kylemore Abbey, run by the Benedictine nuns

Day 5Knock-Murrisk-Galway

• On to the port of Galway.

Day 6Galway. Aran Islands Excursion

• Board a modern ferry to Kilronan on Inishmore, largest of the Aran Islands.

Day 6Galway. Aran Islands Excursion.

• Continue on to the Aran Heritage Centre, cliff top Dun Aengus and Visitor Centre,

Dun Aengus

Day 7Galway-Kilfenora-Bunratty-Adare- Killarney

• Enjoy the scenic route across The Burren

• At Kilfenora, visit the Burren Centre where the ancient cathedral and Celtic crosses form an important center of early Christianity

Day 7 Galway-Kilfenora-Bunratty-Adare- Killarney

• In Bunratty, visit the castle, stroll in the folk park, browse the smart shops or just enjoy time on your own!

Day 7Galway-Kilfenora-Bunratty-Adare- Killarney

• Continue on through Limerick via Adare, with its thatched cottages before arriving in Killarney.

Day 8Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion.

• Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for its 100-mile drive.

Ring of Kerry

Day 8Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion.

• In Killarney, enjoy a horse-drawn car ride through the National Park with vistas, lakes and ancient Ross Castle.

Day 9Killarney-Blarney-Waterford

• Cross the Kerry Mountains into the Cork County to visit Blarney, and its Kissing Stone.

• Take time to walk up to the castle

Day 9Killarney-Blarney-Waterford

• Proceed through Cork, Youghal and Dungarven to Waterford, to admire the crystal factory.

Day 10Waterford- Avoca-Glendalough- Dublin

• Visit Enniscorthy, site of the final great battle of the Great Rebellion in 1798.

• In Avoca, visit Ireland’s oldest hand weaving mill

Day 10Waterford- Avoca-Glendalough- Dublin

• In the Wicklow Mountains, make your way to the Glendalough Visitor Centre to learn about “Ireland of the Monasteries”.

Day 11Your homebound flight arrives the same day

Meals

• Full Irish breakfast daily

• 4 three-course dinners

Quality Hotels

• DUBLIN Quality

• KNOCK Knock House Hotel

• GALWAY Radisson SAS

• KILLARNEY Scotts

• WATERFORD Fitzwilton

subject to change

DublinQuality

• Located on the south bank of the River Liffey, a stroll from the city centre

• 213 guestrooms, all with TV, tea and coffee makers, ironing station, hairdryer, telephone

• 1 full restaurant, 2 bars

DublinQuality

KnockKnock House Hotel

• In tranquil village of Knock, minutes from the Marian Shrine

• 68 guestrooms, all with telephone, TV, radio, coffee and tea makers

• 1 full restaurant

Galway Radisson SAS

• On the waterfront of Lough Atalia and overlooking Galway Bay. 5 minute walk from city centre.

• 282 guestrooms, all with TV, coffee and tea maker, safe, ironing board and trouser press

Galway Radisson SAS

KillarneyScotts

• Right in the heart of Killarney

• Guestrooms all complete with flat screen TV, tea and coffee makers, hairdryer, ironing board

• 1 full restaurant, 3 bars

Waterford Fitzwilton

• Located in the centre of Waterford City

• 91 guestrooms, all with telephones, hospitality tray, TV, hairdryer

• 1 full restaurant, 1 bar

Waterford Fitzwilton

To Know About Your Destination

• Sometimes there is a small charge for public toilets• Stores may close earlier than back home and are usually not open on

Sundays• Ice machines are not available in all hotels, nor are washcloths (you

might like to pack a couple)• Please remember that it is not customary in Europe to drink iced water

with meals. Ice is not normally added to drinks unless specifically requested

• Many restaurants only serve bottled mineral water (for a fee).• Europeans generally dine slightly later than might be your custom• Coffee and tea are usually only served after meals and cost extra (ask

the hotel staff).

To Know About Your Destination

• If you intend to visit a specific museum or other public venues, ask your tour director for the days and dates they are open.

• Request and keep receipts for all your personal spending (meals, souvenirs etc.) Sales tax or VAT (value added tax) is already included on price tags; VAT refunds, if applicable, will take about three months to process. Obtain the relevant tax form plus invoice from the store and hand it to the appropriate office when leaving your tour.

Money

• 1 U.S. Dollar = 0.649 Euro• We recommend use of a money belt while traveling. • Please note that it is not very easy to change travelers checks. • Even banks and exchange offices do not always offer this service and

if it is offered, then charges are extremely high. • We therefore recommend that you take a credit card with you plus a

small amount of cash (preferably in US dollars).

Additional Information

• We recommend layered, easy care clothing, a pair of comfortable, tried-and-tested walking shoes, a heavy cardigan or jacket, and a small umbrella for the occasional shower.

• We suggest ladies pack at least one long skirt, as shorts or trousers may be inappropriate when visiting religious sites.

• Evening dress: smart casual. Shorts and bare shoulders are considered inappropriate at some religious sites, so carry trousers and a pullover in your hand luggage, or ask your tour director.

• Having laundry done can be very expensive, so you may wish to bring some travel soap.

Additional Information

• Remember a good quality, electric current converter (check that it is sufficiently powerful for your appliance) and international plug adapter for using electrical equipment abroad.

• To reduce charges on calls home, we recommend you use a calling card (this service may not be available from every telephone).

• Items to pack in your hand luggage: a good supply of any medication you are taking as it may not be available, extra film and spare batteries for your camera, a pen, light rainwear, a sweater, a road map if you enjoy "plotting your progress," and maybe a small travel pillow.

• Label your camera and rolls of film with your name and tour code; should you lose them, there's a better chance of their being returned.

• Remember to check that you have not left your camera or film on the motorcoach at the end of your tour.

Baggage Allowance

• We will provide you with a carry-on bag• If you would like to take your own, carry-on bags should

not exceed the dimensions of 12”x11”x6”• For safety reasons, wheeled carry-on bags are not suitable

as hand luggage on the motorcoach• Porterage for one suitcase per person is included• One suitcase per person