FAMILY ROSARY PILGRIMAGE TO IRELAND
August 28 to September 7th 2006
Escorted by
Father John Phalen, CSC
President of Holy Cross Family Ministries
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Day 1: Monday, August 28
Fly Aer Lingus non stop from Boston overnight to Dublin. Remember, the North uses British currency. We will be there for our first three days in Ireland.
Day 2: Tuesday, August 29
Arrive with the rising sun in Dublin. You will be met by your tour guide/driver. Enjoy the green fields on your way to Drogheda to St. Peter’s Church where Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Phalen. After a breakfast break (don’t forget to buy scones!) we are off to Northern Ireland. We see the magnificent Mourne Mountains which ‘flow down to the sea’ on our way to Downpatrick where St. Patrick and St. Bridget are said to be buried. We will visit the St. Patrick Heritage Center near the Church. Lunch will be on our own in one of the picturesque stops we make on our way to the City Hotel (3 nights) in Armagh town. We will sleep well tonight!
Day 3: Wednesday, August 30
After a good sleep and filling breakfast, we will go to the Cathedral of St. Patrick for Mass and a tour of this beautiful edifice. Boarding our bus, we are off to the far northern coast to explore the Giants Causeway, a spectacular panorama of thousands of polygonal stone formations from a volcanic eruption 55 million years ago. It is Ireland’s main World Heritage Site. After seeing the cliffs and visiting the historical exhibit, we will have lunch on our own. Those brave enough to endure heights may have a chance to cross the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge linking the mainland with salmon fisheries on a small island. The bridge is 60 feet long, and 80 feet above a rocky cleft! Then, on to the Bushmills Distillery, the oldest continuously run distillery in the world, for a lively tour. Back by another route to our hotel in Armagh where dinner awaits us.
Day 4: Thursday, August 31
Today we are driving north along the largest lake in Ireland, Lake Neagh stopping at Ardboe to see the remarkable 10th Century high cross more than 18 feet tall. We are on our way to the little town of Moneyglass, County Antrim, where Mass will be offered at Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine built in the 1920’s. A large stone, cut from the mountainside of Lourdes in France, lies in this Church as well as the famous Moneyglass Penal Cross. After Mass, we will take in the scenic route through part of the beautiful Gortin Glen Forest Park to the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh County Tyrone. There is a small admission fee. Following the tour and time for lunch, we may have the opportunity to see the town of Omagh. We will make our way back to Armagh for dinner.
Day 5: Friday, September 1
Today we leave the North, and change our British pounds into Euros, traveling closer to our pilgrimage destination in Country Mayo. We will hardly be able to take in all the beauty we pass today! Mass will be celebrated at the holy Shrine of Knock, where Our Lady appeared with John the Baptist and St. Joseph to many of the locals in 1879. There will be ample time to visit the Basilica, take a tour of the Knock Folk Museum, visit the bookstore, see the rose window donated in memory of Fr. Peyton or even say a rosary or two! Be sure to bring an empty plastic bottle for Holy Water. Following Mass, we will drive to Westport where dinner at the Downhill House Hotel (3 nights) awaits us. Get a good night’s sleep before our expedition tomorrow!
Day 6: Saturday, September 2
Mass today will be in Westport. This city by the sea provides spectacular views as we take a brief trip to Achill Island, the place where Grace O’Malley stashed her pirate bounty! For those who are so inclined, the opportunity to climb the penitential mountain of Croagh Patrick will be available, weather permitting. (The others can use the day for touring the city of Westport and getting in a bit of shopping!) The climb takes all of 2+ hours up and another 2 hours on the way down over a rough pilgrim path of stones. It is a pilgrimage of prayer and penance made yearly by thousands of the Irish. St Patrick was said to have prayed here in the fourth century! Some of us will make it only half way up the mountain, but it will be worth the effort! Dinner at the hotel and welcome rest! No need to visit the hotel exercise equipment today!
Day 7: Sunday, September 3
Today after yet another Irish breakfast, we head out for the Father Peyton Centre in Attymass for a welcomed day of recollection, to consider the reason why we make this pilgrimage each year. On the way we view the Ox Mountains of Father Peyton’s youth and perhaps chance to see the fishermen of the Moy River catching salmon. Fr. Phalen will offer Holy Mass at the parish Church of St. Joseph, with all the parishioners. Lunch will be available for purchase at the Father Peyton Center where the scones are second to none! This day goes by too quickly as we head back to Westport and our dinner. We may wish to explore the local establishments before retiring!
Day 8: Monday, September 4
Today we take leave of Westport and Mayo, via a route through beautiful county of Galway on to County Clare where we will visit the Cliffs of Moher.These spectacular cliffs are almost 700 feet high, with a shear drop to the Atlantic waves beneath. We have time to climb the stairs in the O’Brien tower or walk up the hill to get even a higher view of the Irish coast! On to the little heritage town of Ennistymon, where Mass will be celebrated. Buy some scones at O’Brien’s Bakery as we board our bus for the short trip to Kilfenora to visit to the Burren information center. Now we make our way to the Burren, a landscape unlike any other we have seen. As far as the eye can see, the landscape is gray. We will enter the Ailwie caves (admission fee) to view spectacular formations on the limestone walls. We stop at an ancient dolmen and a chance to site beautiful flowers amidst the rocks and for spectacular photo opportunities. We make our way to the last hotel of our stay, West County Hotel (3 nights) in the town of Ennis.
Day 9: Tuesday, September 5
Following our leisurely Irish breakfast at our hotel, we set out on our bus to the northeast for Mass today in the St. Colman Cathedral in Gort and a memorable train trip through the huge bog in Shannonbridge, County Offaly. The turf of this famous bog is being burned for fuel by the Irish electricity Bord na Mona. The tour will tell of the bog formation and local lore. “Off the beaten track” is an understatement for this place! (inexpensive fee for the train.) Not far away are the remains of the monastery of Clonmacnoise where St. Ciaran (Kieren) and his monks lived. Depending on the time and weather, we can take in some other beautiful sites before our return trip to Ennis for dinner.
Day 10: Wednesday, September 6
Today is our last full day in Ireland, and we will make the most of it. Following Mass in Ennis, we have time to explore the town and find a local establishment for lunch. The small town streets are full of places to shop and you may even stumble on a local group of musicians entertaining passers-by. Tonight, we are heading to Knappogue Castle in the town of Quin, for a traditional Medieval banquet of fine food and traditional Irish music and entertainment. Bring your appetite and your camera!
Day 11: Thursday, September, 7
Today we have our last Irish breakfast and after Mass set off on the short trip to the Shannon airport for our flight home. There will be plenty of time to shop in the duty free area, or have one last pint for the road. Our trip is over too quickly, and we would like to see and do more! Boarding the bus for our short trip to the Shannon Airport we find ourselves figuring a way to come again next year!
COST
Cost per person, double occupancy from Boston $2,260
Single supplement $333 (limited number available)
Trip Insurance:
$109 per person sharing a room
$119 for person in a single room
We are no longer able to accept reservations for 2006
Please join us next year!