Celtic Catholic Encounter Pilgrimage

Morning arrival at Dublin Airport. Group will be met by their driver and guide and depart for a panoramic tour of Dublin City Centre which will take in the wide boulevard of O’ Connell Street, the Customs House on the banks of the River Liffey, the Georgian Squares at Fitzwilliam and Merrion, the historic quarter which features Dublin Castle and Christchurch and St Patrick’s Cathedrals, past the Guinness Brewery and a drive through Phoenix Park – with stop at the Papal Cross. Late afternoon interior visit to St Patrick’s Cathedral. Attend evening mass at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral. Check in to your hotel in the city centre for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Begin with a visit to Trinity College and Long Room Library - enjoy a tour through the magnificent Long Room Library which houses Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure and world’s most famous medieval manuscript: The Book of Kells – an illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels in Latin. Depart Dublin and transfer to the village of Knock in Co Mayo with a strop for free time for lunch. Arrival at Knock Shrine – dedicated to the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the 21st of August 1879. It is now Ireland’s national Marian Shrine and it is visited by 1.5 million people each year. Meet with local guide for a guided tour of the grounds and basilica. Group will attend mass or celebrate a private Mass in the Apparition Chapel. In the late evening check in to Knock House Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Transfer to nearby Ballintubber. St Patrick first established a church here in 441 and the present day Ballintubber Abbey has a proud history where it is said that mass has been said daily for 800 years. Guided tour on arrival and we suggest you celebrate mass here. Onwards then to the beautiful setting of Croagh Patrick – Ireland’s Holy Mountain. The tradition of pilgrimage to this mountain goes back 5000 years. It was on the summit of the mountain that St Patrick fasted for 40 days in 441 AD and each year about 1 million pilgrims climb the mountain. The climb takes about 4 hours over rough terrain so probably not practical for you group. We would recommend a pause for reflection at the base or perhaps that your group climbs to the first stop where they will find a statue dedicated to St Patrick. In the afternoon return to Knock for your second dinner and overnight at Knock House Hotel.

Breakfast. Early departure for transfer to Armagh which will take approximately four hours. Armagh is the Ecclesiastical capital of Ireland and was effectively established by St Patrick in 445AD. There are 2 Cathedrals in Armagh – St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral and St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral. Guided walking tour of this old city with a local guide followed by mass in St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral with its twin spires overlooking the city. The foundation stone for the cathedral was laid on the 17th March 1840 and it took 60 years to complete. Check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. This morning we continue the pilgrimage and depart for Downpatrick – one of Ireland’s most ancient and historic towns. Begin with a visit to The Saint Patrick Centre to hear the story of St Patrick and also visit his remains buried on Cathedral Hill beside the Cathedral. The group will also attend mass or celebrate mass at St Patrick’s Church. Onwards to Belfast for a panoramic tour of the city City Hall, St Anne’s Cathedral, Queens University, the Murals of West Belfast and the Titanic Quarter. Check in to your hotel in Belfast for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Transfer to Belfast ferry terminal. Ferry crossing from Belfast to Cairnryan as foot passengers. Meet your coach and transfer to Glasgow. On arrival in Glasgow meet your Scotland guide. Panoramic tour before continuing to Oban for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Ferry crossing from Oban to Isle of Mull and onto Isle of Iona. A small and peaceful isle of the Inner Hebrides, Iona was to become the heart of Celtic Christianity in Scotland when St Columba landed in AD563 and founded a new monastic community. Trace the story of Celtic Christianity here, which prospered until relentless Viking raids forced many monks to flee the island. The Roman Church would later return in force with a new Benedictine Abbey in the 12th century. Visit the Abbey where numerous Scottish Kings were believed to be buried, including the infamous Macbeth. Three original Celtic High Crosses can also be viewed. You will also see the nunnery ruins, and the Iona Parish Church with its Macleans Cross outside. Service at the abbey before returning to Oban for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Journey through the Trossachs region and along the banks of Loch Lomond and continue to Dunfermline. Visit Dunfermline Abbey, originally founded as a priory by Margaret on the site where she had married Malcolm III, it later became an abbey and then a royal mausoleum – including the mausoleum for St Margaret. Visit St Margaret’s cave, entering via a tunnel. It has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Margaret spent much of her time in Dunfermline and it is believed that during her time there she would spend time praying in a cave. Attend mass in local church. Transfer to Perth for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Visit St Andrew’s Cathedral, the remains of Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church – until 1560 it was the headquarters of the medieval Scottish church. Visit the nearby castle which stood as a bishop’s palace, a fortress and a state prison over a 450-year period. Afternoon journey south and arrival into Edinburgh. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Short panoramic coach tour of the city including Princes Street and Carlton Hill, before attending mass at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral (dependant on Cathedral schedule). After mass start your full day tour of Edinburgh. Visit of Edinburgh Castle and a walking tour along the Royal Mile. Afternoon visit to St Giles Cathedral followed by a visit to Palace of Holyrood House. Dinner and overnight

Breakfast. Full day pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. St Aidan came here from Iona at the request of King Oswald in AD635 and built his monastery, a place also prominent in the life of St Cuthbert. Take a guided tour and explore the priory and Lindisfarne Centre, (which includes a leather-bound facsimile of the Lindisfarne Gospels in the atmospheric scriptorium). Depart the island for dinner and overnight at hotel.

Breakfast. Morning visit to Whitby Abbey. The ruins of St Hilda’s Abbey dominate the town’s skyline. Oswiu, King of Northumbria after Oswald, called the Synod of Whitby in 664AD in order to bring to a head the conflict between the traditions of the Ionian church and Roman Church. Afternoon walking tour of Durham. Visit to the cathedral for a guided tour and also visit the chapter house, where the monks transacted daily business including reading a chapter of the monastic rule and also visit to the library. It is here, at the cathedral, where monks from Lindisfarne brought St Cuthbert’s body; his tomb is still here (buried with King Oswald’s head), and at the other end of the cathedral are the remains of St Bede enshrined in the Galilee Chapel. Dinner and overnight

Breakfast. Possibility to hold a private service in the 13th century vaulted Chapel of the Holy Cross. Rest of day at leisure. Afternoon transfer to hotel near Manchester airport for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast. Transfer from hotel to Manchester airport.