Depart from your hometown for your overnight flight(s) to Ireland. Meals will be served on board.

Cead Mile Failte – Welcome to Ireland! Upon arrival in Dublin collect your luggage, pass through passport and customs control, then walk to the Arrivals Hall where you will meet your tour guide and/or driver. Depending on your arrival time, check into your hotel. We will have a panoramic view, of both sides of the River Liffey, where we pass by the General Post Office on the city’s main streets, O’Connell Street, Custom House, and Phoenix Park, the largest city park in Europe. On the other side of the river are Georgian squares characterized by colorful doors, Grafton Street, and Trinity College which is the oldest university in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I. Time permitting we visit the ancient library containing over 20,000 manuscripts, among which is the Book of Kells, and St. Patrick’s Anglican Cathedral. Then we will celebrate Mass at a local church. The day will come to a close with dinner and an overnight in Dublin.

Following breakfast, we will travel through the beautiful mountains of Wicklow, called the “Garden of Ireland” until we reach Glendalough. This ancient monastic city, established in the 6th century by St. Kevin, is in the heart of “the valley of the two lakes.” It was a very important center of learning as well as a pilgrimage destination. There are many legends concerning St. Kevin and he is often compared to St. Francis of Assisi. You will be taken on a guided tour of the site, in which you will see the Round Tower, the ruins of the Cathedral, and “St. Kevin’s Kitchen” which is surrounded by an old cemetery. The tour continues to Baltinglass where the ruins of a Cistercian Abbey are found. We will then pass by Castledermot, where we set eyes upon the remnants of a Franciscan Abbey, before arriving into Tipperary for a delicious dinner and a restful overnight. 

Today we are on to the “Rock of Cashel,” standing high in the middle of the “Golden Vale.” These religious buildings, dating from the 12th century, form the most spectacular medieval set in Ireland. The Cathedral, the Round Tower, and Cormac Chapel, which was the first Irish Romanesque church, testify to the importance of this site which used to be the seat of the High Kings of Munster. Once more we find two traditions and cultures meeting with one another and the story of St. Patrick’s Cross will tell us more. Our journey will continue toward Kerry for dinner and a restful overnight.

This morning we will continue toward the Dingle Peninsula, the most northern of the Kerry peninsulas. From the town of Inch, where David Lean shot the movie “Ryan’s Daughter,” and the last part of the country where Gaelic language is spoken, we continue along the Eagle Mount and the cliffs of Slea Head. In Early Christian Ireland, monks were looking for isolated places such as Gallarus Oratory. This oratory, which used to be a sacred place of prayer for monks, dates back to the 9th century and is excellently preserved. Our next stop is the Kilmalkedar Church. The church was constructed in the 12th century and was once a part of a complex of religious buildings in Romanesque style. The day will come to a close with dinner and an overnight in Kerry.

After a good Irish breakfast, we will head north through Listowel and embark on the ferry at Killimer to cross the Shannon estuary. County Clare is a beautiful landscape with a Victorian seaside resort, and where we will visit the Cliffs of Moher. The coastal road with Galway’s intensely blue bay on one side and natural rocky landscape on the other. From here we go on to Galway, a city that has kept its medieval charm with its colorful streets and authentic pubs. The day will come to a close with dinner and a restful overnight stay in Galway.

Today we will enjoy a Cruise on Corrib Lake, which is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland. It is also the best way to see Galway and its surroundings. Today we will visit Clonmacnoise – Ireland’s most important monastic site – overlooking the River Shannon. This site was founded by St. Ciaran in the 6th century and consists of a walled field containing numerous early churches, high crosses, round towers, and graves. The day will end with dinner and an overnight in Galway.

Today we will visit Knock and the shrine situated in the plains of East Mayo, which is one of the world’s leading Marian shrines. On August 21, 1879, fifteen men, women, and children witnessed an Apparition of Mary. We will visit the Basilica, the largest church in Ireland. Knock is a very popular pilgrimage destination, and in 1979 Saint John Paul II made his own pilgrimage to this holy site. After Mass you will have time for private prayer at the shrine, followed by free time for lunch and shopping on your own. We will return to the hotel for a delicious dinner and a restful overnight.

Today as we leave Knock, we will enjoy beautiful scenery travelling toward Dublin. We will arrive in Dublin in the afternoon and visit the National Museum, situated in the heart of the city. Its collection of golden prehistoric jewelry is without a doubt some of the most beautiful in Europe. You will be particularly interested in the Celtic finery as well as numerous early Christian ornaments and relics of great beauty. In the afternoon there will be some free time for lunch and relaxation. The day will come to a close with dinner and an overnight stay in Dublin.

After breakfast transfer to Dublin Airport for your flights to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver who will then take you on the 2 1/2 hour drive by private coach to the village of Medjugorje. Your guide will be with you throughout your stay. Once there, you will meet your fellow pilgrims and your spiritual director and check in to where you will be staying for the next four nights.

The most beautiful feature of Medjugorje is its simplicity and its peace. While in Medjugorje, you will have the opportunity to experience your faith grow and share in the faith journey of pilgrims from all over the world. The local guide will accompany your group throughout your stay in the village.

Some activities that will accompany you in your spiritual journey:

Attend Daily Mass: Each morning, at 10:00am, your group will assemble at St. James Church for Mass (English-speaking). At the end of each Mass, regardless of language, there is a blessing of the religious articles that you have with you.

On Feast Days, and Sundays: English Mass is at Noon

Climb Apparition Hill: This mountainous hill is where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. Also, at the base of this hill is a Blue Cross, where it is said Our Lady appeared to the children while they hid from the Communist police in the early days of the alleged apparitions. When climbing, your group is invited to recite the Rosary, pausing five times for each decade of the Rosary. At the top of the hill, you will witness the exact location of the first alleged apparition of Our Lady to the visionaries and enjoy private time in prayer.

Climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain): In 1933, the villagers built a 30‘ high cross atop a mountain to commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Your group will have the opportunity to climb this mountain and venerate that very cross. When climbing, your group is invited to pray the Stations of the Cross to meditate on Jesus’ suffering Road to Calvary, pausing fifteen times for each Station.

Apparitions: Each evening at 5:00pm (or 6:00pm depending on Daylight Savings Time), your group can join the villagers and fellow pilgrims of Medjugorje at either St. James Church or Apparition Hill to commemorate the time Our Lady appears to the Visionaries. There you can pray the Rosary as you all await that time (5:40pm or 6:40pm during Daylight Savings Time).

*Afterward, Croatian Mass is held at St. James Church and is free for all to attend. It is broadcasted by the radio simultaneously in order to translate the services from Croatian into many languages. Following the Croatian Mass there is a Blessing of the Sick.

**For details about the Visionaries, please visit: www.206tours.com/visionaries

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Our Lady has always called us to be close to her Son. You will have the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the outside altar of St. James Church. Adoration is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays; Veneration of the Cross is held on Fridays inside the church. Additionally, there is an Adoration Chapel on the grounds of St. James Church. Adoration is held here in the afternoon hours.

Visit the Community of Cenacolo:
Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the Community of Cenacolo, founded by Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, for young men and women who have taken the wrong path and are on the road to recovery. You will be able to listen to their inspirational testimonies about their journeys back to Jesus Christ.

Prayer at the Statue of the Risen Christ: Located on the grounds of St. James Church is the bronze statue of the Risen Christ. Many pilgrims sit and pray on the benches surrounding this peaceful statue. This statue miraculously seeps droplets of water at all times of the day out of Christ’s right knee.

* Your time in Medjugorje is intended to provide a personal retreat. As such, your time in Medjugorje is not designed to be a “tour” but rather to provide opportunities for prayer and reflection as you feel called. Upon arrival in the village, you will have an orientation tour. For the remainder of your stay you will not have a guide. However, a representative of 206 Tours will be available should you have any questions or requests. Daily Mass in English and English confessions are available at St. James Church in Medjugorje.

If you would prefer our traditional pilgrimage/tour of Medjugorje, we would recommend you consider our Tour #1 (www.206tours.com/tour1) which provides a tour escort and spiritual leader throughout your stay.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, your group will leave by motor coach for Dubrovnik, Split, or Sarajevo Airport for return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.