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Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin. Here you will discover the north and south side of the River Liffey. This area offers great striking monuments such as the General Post Office on the city main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, or the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde’s House can still be found, its colourful doors, along with Grafton Street and its quality shops. Not so far from St. Stephen’s Green, in Kildare St., you will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. This part of the city is also dominated by the students of Trinity College, where the famous book of Kells is permanently exhibited in its library. The university is facing the medieval district where Dublin Castle and the two Anglican Cathedrals can be found. If time allows, visit Trinity College. Trinity was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth 1st on grounds confiscated from an Augustinian priory and is the oldest university in Ireland. Within its walls, visitors will be able to admire Parliament Square and its 18th Century edifices. Continue to your hotel and check in. Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

This morning depart for a tour of Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland. Celebrate Mass in St. Kevins Parish Church Laragh. Continue to Glendalough Monastic Site. This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. The Visitor Centre has an interesting exhibition on Glendalough detailing the history, archaeology and wildlife of this area of Wicklow and includes an audio-visual show. Continue to Baltinglass Abbey, founded in 1148 by King Dermot MacMurrough, Baltinglass Abbey was a daughter house of Mellifont Abbey and the mother house to Jerpoint Abbey. Travel to Castledermot Abbey. This Franciscan Friary, founded around 1247 on a site established by St. Diarmuid, is believed to have been built by Walter de Riddlesford II. The surviving ruins include a 13th-century nave and chancel, a 14th-century aisle and transept, and a round tower—once used to protect monastic wealth. Continue to your hotel and check in for dinner and overnight. (BD)

Celebrate mass after breakfast and then depart for Kerry and visit the Rock of Cashel en route. Possibly the most photographed site in Ireland, the Rock of Cashel towers over the town of Cashel from its perch on a 200-foot high outcrop of limestone. Once the seat of the Kings of Munster. St. Patrick visited the rock in 450 AD, while Brian Boru was crowned the first high King of Ireland here in the tenth century. The Vicars Choral has been recently restored and its basement houses a small museum of artefacts found on the site. One of the leading visitor attractions in Ireland, in 2011 it was visited by Queen Elizabeth II on her historic first visit to the Republic of Ireland. Continue to your hotel and check in for dinner and overnight. (BD)

Celebrate mass after breakfast and depart for a day on Dingle Peninsula. The Dingle Peninsula contains some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Ireland, particularly to the western extremity, where stunning views of the Blasket Islands are to be enjoyed. You will visit Gallarus Oratory during the day. Gallarus Oratory is the most impressive early Christian monument on the Dingle peninsula. It has withstood the passage of time for over 1200 years. Built in the shape of an upturned boat, the oratory formed part of a larger monastic site and was used as a place of prayer and reflection. Gallarus Oratory visitor centre offers visitors the opportunity to explore Gallarus Oratory and see an Audio-Visual presentation on the surrounding area. There is a shop offering souvenirs and some refreshments located in the main centre. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. (B)

Celebrate mass after breakfast. Today travel to Galway via the Cliffs of Moher & Burren region. You will take the Shannon Car Ferry to cross to County Clare. Situated on the Atlantic Ocean and bordering the Burren region, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights. Standing 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. A visit of the tower is also possible. The sweeping view across the Atlantic has recently been ranked the best ‘cliff-view’ on the planet by Conde Nast Traveler. Continue towards Galway via the Burren. The Burren landscape covers over 150 square kilometres and is one of Ireland’s 6 National Parks. The region is visually similar to a moonscape yet shelters a mixture of flora and archaeological sites which have attracted visitors for centuries. Continue to your hotel and check in for dinner and overnight. (BD)

After mass, embark on a cruise on Lough Corrib with Tea & Scones. The Corrib Princess sails from Woodquay in the heart of Galway city, along the famous Steamers Line, which is the lakes traditional trade route. The journey takes passengers along the majestic River Corrib and onto the lake providing visitors with a guided commentary in several languages on the historic monuments and natural amenities on this waterway that leads to the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland. After the cruise travel to Clonmacnoise. Clonmacnoise is a wonderful early Christian site founded by St. Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. In a stunning setting, the site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th -13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of early Christian graveslabs in Western Europe. Return to the hotel at the end of the day. (B)

This morning, travel to Knock Shrine where you will celebrate Mass. Located in County Mayo, Knock Shrine is Ireland’s National Marian Shrine, attracting over 1.5 million pilgrims annually. It is a site of deep spiritual significance, marking the place where locals witnessed an apparition of the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist in 1879. Continue to your hotel and check in for dinner and overnight. (BD)

Celebrate mass after breakfast. Depart Mayo to travel back to Dublin. Visit the National Museum of Archaeology upon arrival. The National Museum of Archaeology, on Kildare Street in Dublin, first opened its doors in 1890 and since then it has been filling in the blanks for us through its extensive archaeological collections. The Treasury features outstanding examples of Celtic and Medieval art, such as the famous Ardagh chalice, the Tara brooch and the Derrynaflan hoard. The museum also features the finest collection of prehistoric gold artefacts in Europe. The new and fascinating “Kingship and Sacrifice” exhibition centres on several recently found bog bodies dating back to the Iron Age. Displayed along with other bog finds from the museum’s collections, it offers you an opportunity to come face to face with Irish ancient ancestors. After your visit, enjoy some time at leisure in the city. Continue to your hotel and check in. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at Merry Ploughboy. The show takes place in the ideal location, a pub owned and run by musicians who have been performing to audiences in Dublin since 1989. The Merry Ploughboys live in concert is widely regarded as the best traditional music show in Dublin and is a must see for any visitors to Dublin city. (BD)

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