Pictures from Ireland

Bishop’s Pilgrimage to Ireland

The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

Led by:

The Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg

and

The Rev. Canon Stephen Askew
Diocese of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN

November 1 – 10, 2010

As you can see by the day-to-day itinerary, the focus of this trip will be on spiritual matters but Irish history and the natural beauty of Ireland will be an integral part of the adventure.

The guide in Ireland will be Marianne Gorman who is considered to be one of the best guides in Ireland. Marianne is very experienced, has a great knowledge of history as well as Celtic Spirituality. She is a member of the Royal Society of Antiquaries which was founded in 1849 to “preserve, examine, and illustrate all ancient monuments, manners, arts and customs of the past as connected with the antiquities, language, literature and history of Ireland”.

Accommodations have been arranged in centrally located, good first class hotels that will serve a hearty Irish breakfast each morning and the group will dine together on four of the eight nights we are in Ireland. Our guide will be happy to offer suggestions for pubs and restaurants for lunches and non-included dinners.

Trip map

DAY 1, Monday November 1, 2010 - Depart the U.S. for our nonstop trans-Atlantic flight.  Meals on board. D

DAY 2: Tuesday, November 2, 2010 - We arrive in Dublin where we meet our guide and driver.  On our way to check into the Davenport Hotel, we take a panoramic tour of Dublin and see the statue lined O’Connell St., Georgian Squares, and Phoenix Park.  After check in, we visit St Audoen’s Church, which is the only medieval parish church still functioning and St. Michan’s Church where we have a guided tour of its famous vaults to see mummified remains.  We finish our afternoon in St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Evensong.  Tonight we enjoy a “Welcome to Ireland” dinner in Davenport Hotel. D

DAY 3: Wednesday, November 3, 2010 - Today we travel to Newgrange for a visit to the Stone Age passage graves and the Hill of Tara where disputes between clans were settled and new laws were passed.  We see the Hill of Slane where St. Patrick lit a Paschal fire as a challenge to the pagan High King of Tara.  If time permits we visit Monasterboice to see Muiredach’s High Cross, the finest high cross in all of Ireland.  There may also be an opportunity to visit Mellifont Abbey, founded in 1142 and the first Cistercian Abbey in Ireland.  You are free to visit one of the many pubs or restaurants for dinner this evening and overnight in Dublin. B

DAY 4: Thursday, November 4, 2010 - A full Irish breakfast followed by a visit to Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, the most richly illuminated of Ireland’s medieval manuscripts.  Our exploration will take us to the National Museum where we will see the many Celtic artifacts displayed there.  On the grounds of Dublin Castle, we will explore the Chester Beatty Library which contains 2 collections – “Sacred Traditions” and “Artistic Traditions”.  The library is considered one of the best sources of scholarly investigation of both the Old and New Testaments.  In the afternoon we will travel to Kildare, site of the 6th century St. Brigid’s Monastery, St. Brigid’s Cathedral and St. Brigid’s Well.  We visit Solas Bhride, a small Christian centre, which has as its focus St. Brigid and Celtic Spirituality.  The group will be welcomed by a member of the Brigidine Sisters who will join the group for prayers, reflection and a Pilgrim Liturgy at St. Brigid’s Well.  Overnight in Kildare. B

DAY 5: Friday, November 5, 2010 - We leave Kildare and travel to Glendalough, the setting of some of Ireland’s most important monastic settlements.  We will go to the visitor’s center and see a film, “Ireland of the Monasteries” which will give us a brief history of the monastery.  We will meet with Fr Michael Rogers who will lead the group on a personal pilgrimage walk through St. Kevin’s Monastic City and visit the remains of the Reefert Church and Tempall na Skellig.  Finally, we arrive at Kilkenny, our home for the next 2 nights.  Dinner and overnight in Hotel Kilkenny. BD

DAY 6: Saturday, November 6, 2010 - After breakfast, we will visit the Rock of Cashel, once the seat of the Kings of Munster and then a huge religious center.  The remains of much of the medieval complex are still standing.  We will return to Kilkenny to visit Kells Augustinian Priorty and St. Canice’s Cathedral.  A visit to the Kilkenny Design Centre is a must, a collection of the most eminent Irish crafts people and designers, under one roof.  Overnight Hotel Kilkenny. B

DAY 7: Sunday, November 7, 2010 - We travel to Clonmacnoise, the medieval monastery by the River Shannon founded by St. Ciaran in 545-54.  After touring the ruins, we continue to Clonfert Cathedral.  This tiny cathedral occupies the site of a monastery which was founded by St. Brendan in AD 563.  We continue to Galway where we will visit the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, Galway’s finest medieval building.  Here we will have a private Eucharist celebrated by Bishop von Rosenberg.  We will see the Spanish Arch where traders unloaded their ships.  There will be some time for a stroll through the old city before we have dinner and overnight in the Connemara Coast Hotel, Galway. BD

DAY 8: Monday, November 8, 2010 - Breakfast and then depart by ferry from Rossaveal for the Aran Islands where we will tour by coach and visit Dun Aengus, the iron or bronze promontory fort with four concentric stone walls.  We will visit Na Seacht dTeampaill, the Seven Churches which make up a monastic settlement dedicated to St. Brecan.  Dara Molloy will be our special guest lecturer giving us intriguing information regarding the Islands.  We will have lunch on the island before we return to Galway for our overnight. B

DAY 9: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 - We travel through Connemara to see the spectacular landscape dotted with bogs, wild coastline and rugged mountains.  We will visit Kylemore Abbey, a lakeside castle that was later turned into an abbey when Benedictine nuns sought refuge here.  We will continue our journey to Bunratty Village in Clare where we will attend a Banquet in Bunratty Castle.  A full medieval banquet is re-created with music, song, and merriment. Seated at long tables in the magnificent baronial hall, guests sample dishes made with ancient recipes.  To add to the fun a "lord and lady" are chosen from the participants to reign over the proceedings.  Overnight Co Clare. BD

DAY 10: Wednesday, November 10, 2010 - We will travel to Shannon where we will board our return flight to the United States arriving back into Charlotte this afternoon.  B and meals on aircraft. B

Price: $2,899.00   Price is based on double occupancy without air or taxes and fuel surcharges, which are estimated to be $300.00 per person.  Roundtrip air from Charlotte, NC.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement:  $599.00

* The price is not guaranteed and may change due to the fluctuation of the Euro and the US dollar.  We make every effort to avoid any increase and will only do so if the value of the dollar falls against the Euro.  Your pricing was based on the exchange rate of $1.35 to the Euro. *

$200.00 per person deposit due with registration and copy of passport.

Final Payment due by July 31, 2010.

An application for travel insurance will be included with the receipt for your deposit.  We strongly recommend that you seriously consider this coverage.

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until July 31, 2010 - $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After August 1, 2010:  NO REFUND

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.