Highlights of Ireland with
Father Jim DeBisschop

September 15 – 27, 2008

Mon, Sept 15 - UNITED STATES TO DUBLIN - Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation. Tue, Sept 16 - DUBLIN ARRIVAL & HIGHLIGHTS - After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Then your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the motor coach. Set off with a local guide who will show you around the prominent historic buildings and monuments of Dublin. Dublin is an ancient settlement, founded by the Vikings in the 9 th century. The city has been molded through the centuries with many architectural styles, reflecting the economic, political, and artistic influences. Visit Dublin Castle to see the State Apartments where many state functions are held in the richly decorated chambers. Next stop i n Trinity College to view the 8 th century Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the gospels. Then drive to your hotel and check in. After you settle into your room enjoy the balance of the day and evening at leisure for independent activities and dining. OVERNIGHT: MESPIL HOTEL, DUBLIN Wed, Sept 17 - GENDALOUGH & CELTIC STORM - This morning celebrate Mass before driving south from Dublin and through the mountains to visit the scenic valley where Glendalough is located. Glendalough was an important monastic settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, which became one of the most important centers of learning in Europe. Today, the well-preserved round tower and church ruins are interesting to explore and the Visitor Center explains the history of the settlement. Return to Dublin where the balance of the day is at leisure. Tonight head over to Abbey Street to Celtic Storm for an authentic Irish dinner followed by a high energy evening of traditional music, singing, dancing, and storytelling. OVERNIGHT: MESPIL HOTEL, DUBLIN Thu, Sept 18 - ROCK OF CASHEL & WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY - Depart Dublin and drive through the prosperous farming country and marketing towns of the midland region of Ireland. Pause for photos at the Rock of Cashel, a stately limestone outcrop topped with medieval church ruins. Continue south past the gentle slopes of the Galtee Mountains and stop at a farmhouse to sample freshly-baked scones with tea. You will have an opportunity to chat to the owners and learn how Irish farms are run. Continue to Waterford, home of the renowned handcut crystal. Tour the Waterford Crystal Factory to see skilled craftspeople blowing, cutting, and polishing the crystal. Also see an amazing range of glassware and trophies in the showrooms. After your visit, motor to Kinsale and check into your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day shopping, sightseeing, or browsing before dinner in the hotel restaurant. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: TRIDENT HOTEL, KINSALE

Fri, Sept 19 - BLARNEY CASTLE & KATE KEARNEY'S COTTAGE - Today celebrate Mass before driving through Cork city to see the main attractions of the busy city. A few miles outside Cork visit Blarney Castle where you may climb to the battlements to acquire the “gift of eloquence” by kissing the famous stone. Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. They will ship and insure goods such as Waterford Crystal for you. Travel through the rugged countryside of County Kerry where the town of Killarney is charmingly located with a backdrop of mountains and lakes. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to settle into your room and relax or explore the town before dinner. This evening enjoy dinner and entertainment at Kate Kearney's Cottage, which is picturesquely situated at the entrance to what must be the most beautiful glaciated valley in Ireland, the Gap of Dunloe. The Irish night consists of a superb meal and traditional entertainment, which includes songs and musicians playing a wide array of instruments along with costumed dancers doing the jig and other traditional sets. OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY TOWERS HOTEL, KILLARNEY Sat, Sept 20 - DINGLE PENINSULA TOUR - Discover the beauties of the Dingle Peninsula, made famous by David Lean's movie, “Ryan's Daughter.” Drive along the south shore of the peninsula for plenty of vistas of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach and rocky headlands. There will be frequent stops at strategic locations to admire the views and take photos. Stop in the town of Dingle before continuing to the western tip of the peninsula. Here the scenery becomes wilder as the influence of the open Atlantic Ocean strengthens. You will pass early Christian monastic beehive huts and small fishing villages. Return to Killarney in time to freshen before dinner with your group. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY TOWERS HOTEL, KILLARNEY Sun, Sept 21 - JAUNTING CAR RIDE & TORC WATERFALL - Celebrate Mass at Muckross Friary, which was founded in 1448 by MacCarthy Mor, last king of Desmond, it is the renovated remains of a Franciscan friary. The remarkable cloisters enclosing ancient giant yew are said to date from the abbey's foundation in the 15th century. Also the graveyard contains remains of the last king of Desmond, as well as O'Sullivan, Macgillycuddy, and O'Donoghue chieftains. Then travel by horse-drawn jaunting car around Killarney's Lakes to 19th century Muckross House for a guided tour of this delightful mansion on the shores of Muckross Lake. Your guide will tell you all about the lives of the owners and the great collection of antiques. Continue your drive to Torc Waterfall, which is a dramatic falls that originates from the top of Torc Mountain from the Owengarriff River on the road up to Ladies' View. Then drive into the peaceful village of Adare renowned for its main street lined with thatched cottages and colorful gardens. Check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before dinner. This evening travel through the outskirts of Limerick and cross the River Shannon to join in the fun and feasting at Bunratty or Knappogue Castle. Your medieval-style banquet is served in the Great Hall of the 15th century castle during which the lords and ladies of the castle transport you in spirit to the Middle Ages with their songs and stories. Return to Adare for your overnight stay. OVERNIGHT: FITZPATRICKS WOODLANDS, ADARE

Mon, Sept 22 - CLIFFS OF MOHER TO GALWAY - Depart Adare and drive north via the city of Limerick, situated at a crossing point on the River Shannon. Pass through Ennis to visit the Cliffs of Moher which rise 700 feet above the sea and extends five miles along the coast. Drive on through the Burren Country, an area of limestone hills where a wide range of flora thrives, to Galway, the major city of the western region. After checking into your hotel and settling into your room celebrate Mass before dining in the hotel restaurant. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL MEYRICK, GALWAY Tue, Sept 23 - KYLEMORE ABBEY & CROAGH PATRICK - After breakfast motor through the Connemara region with sweeping views of boglands and misty mountains. As you drive along you will see many sheep that graze freely and also tracts of bogland where some people hand-cut peat for home heating. Continue to visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion overlooking Kylemore Lake. Originally a private residence, it is now a prestigious girls' school. Tour the chapel and the restored Victorian gardens which have won awards. Travel north t hrough the wild scenery of County Mayo to visit the pilgrimage mountain of Croaghpatrick where tradition maintains that St. Patrick fasted for 40 days. Return to Galway for dinner on your own. OVERNIGHT: HOTEL MEYRICK, GALWAY Wed, Sept 24 - KNOCK, DRUMCLIFFE & DONEGAL CASTLE - Head out of Galway and drive north to celebrate Mass in the pilgrimage town of Knock, at one of the world's leading shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. Travel through County Sligo which is associated with the poet, W.B. Yeats. At Drumcliffe Visitor Centre, see Yeats' grave and a display about his life and work. Follow the Atlantic shoreline of Donegal Bay to Donegal where you can visit Donegal Castle. This tower was originally built in 1505 as an O'Donnell stronghold and rebuilt by Sir Basil Brooke who added a 17 th century Jacobean wing. Continue your journey past the lovely Blue Stack Mountains to Derry and check into your hotel to freshen up before dinner and your overnight stay. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CITY HOTEL, DERRY Thu, Sept 25 - GIANT'S CAUSEWAY & LEISURE TIME IN DERRY - Drive along the north coast of Ireland to explore the Giant's Causeway, huge hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. The huge rocks have given rise to many legends, especially involving Finn McCool. Return to Derry and enjoy the day at leisure for you to browse, shop and sightsee independently around the town of Derry. The old center is ideal for a walking tour to see the 17th century city walls which are some of the best preserved in Europe and the Diamond, the main square in the center. The 17th century St. Columb's Cathedral and the Tower Museum are worth visiting and just outside the walls is the Guildhall where the history of Derry is shown in stained-glass windows. Spend some time exploring the quaint buildings, cobblestone streets and the many stores in the city center before dining independently. OVERNIGHT: CITY HOTEL, DERRY

Fri, Sept 26 - ULSTER AMERICAN FOLK PARK - Celebrate Mass before departing Derry to visit the nearby Ulster American Folk Park, an outdoor museum of cottages, including that of Thomas Mellon's ancestors. See traditional cottages and displays of life in rural Ireland together with portrayals of the sea crossing to the United States and the life of the early settlers. Drive through Monaghan, Carrickmacross, and other bustling towns. As you pass through the countryside, see how many Irish people make a living from farming today. Drive to Dunboyne and check into your hotel. After spending some free time for individual pursuits return to the hotel for a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: DUNBOYNE CASTLE HOTEL, DUNBOYNE Sat, Sept 27 - RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES - All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Motor north to Dublin and transfer to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear security and claim your VAT refund. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and fly west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.