Travel Guide to Ireland (and the rest of the world)    DESTINATIONS

Festivals / Events in Ireland (and the rest of the world)    FESTIVALS / EVENTS

The “Emerald Isle” offers spectacular beauty and a rich cultural history. Explore this spectacular island as well as following in the footsteps of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and among the first missionaries to spread the Christian faith here during the 5th Century. Visit key religious sites such as the final resting place of St. Patrick in Downpatrick, pray and reflect at the famous Marian apparition site of Knock and visit the remarkable Kylemore Abbey. This inspirational journey also includes visits to experience some of Ireland’s most dramatic scenery such as the awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway and the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher—the perfect setting for peaceful prayer and reflection.


Highlights of the 10 day "Legacy of St. Patrick Tour

CHRISTCHURCH cATHEDRAL / DUBLINIA

The church that Sitric built.  Sitric was a bad man, went to Rome, and became a new man...just for a bit though...then he was a bad man again.

ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin is full of history.  You can see military memorials, literary figures tributes, chronicles of the Irish people, and of course, the door of reconciliation

DOWNPATRICK

At the Saint Patrick Center in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland you will find that there is much more to the legacy of Patrick than shamrocks, pots of gold, green beer, and other Irish stereotypes.

GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

The likeliness than this impressive formation of stones was created by giants is roughly equal to the likeliness that it was created by happenstance and volcanic activity.  There is no volcanic activity nearby, so the giant's story has more visual evidence.  It's all rubbish.  God created everything.

KNOCK

Mary and Jesus (as a lamb) appeared here.  Maybe...maybe not.  The message of knock is to pray.  A good message that furthers the message of The Bible.

KYLEMORE ABBEY

Kylemore castle was built as a residence for Mitchell and his bride Margaret.  The property now belongs to nuns.

GALWAY

As you gaze out at the sea from atop the Cliffs of Moher, imagine sailing off into that sea in a home-made boat of leather.  And you know what's out there.  Brendan sailed off into the unknown from nearby Galway in order to find other peoples to whom he could share the Gospel.

LIMERICK

Limerick is a lovely and peaceful town.  See the rock upon which that peace was signed.

ROCK OF CASHEL

Saint Patrick's legacy lives on. 

TRINITY COLLEGE LIBRARY

An amazing collection of more than 200,000 very old and rare books.  People mostly come to see perhaps the most valuable book in the world...which of course is the Bible.  Here it is beautifully presented in the Book of Kells.

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Ireland's Top Sites

St. Patrick's Cathedral

St Patrick's Cathedral is Ireland's largest church. It's erected on the site where St. Patrick is believed to have baptized his converts to the Christian faith when he visited Dublin. The current building dates back to the 12th century, although it has been restored and altered over the years. Jonathan Swift was dean of St. Patrick's from 1713 to 1745, during which time he penned Gulliver's Travels. Visitors can still see his tomb and pulpit. There are many tombs and memorials in the cathedral and it is interesting to get a guided tour to learn more about all the history on show. The cathedral has a nice little gift shop and really lovely grounds to enjoy. Right next to the church there is Marsh's Library, which is worth a visit for anybody interested in old, rare and unusual books. The cathedral still has daily services, which are open to the public - the church has a particularly impressive Boys Choir. Tourists have to pay a small fee for entry and all admission fees go towards maintenance of the magnificent building. If, however, you want to attend a service to worship you don't have to pay admission. The cathedral is sometimes closed for special services - check the website for details.

Trinity College

Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and counts Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett and Oscar Wilde, along with many other great thinkers and writers, among its past students. It was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The complex is home to many glorious buildings, beautifully manicured lawns, cobbled squares and the campus of the University of Ireland.
The main attraction for many is the Trinity Library. It houses the celebrated Book of Kells, which dates from the 8th century and is considered to be one of the oldest books in the world. Other manuscripts taken from ancient monasteries are also on display. Note that photography in this gallery is strictly forbidden.
The library is also home to the remarkable Long Room which will delight the scholarly. The chapel on the grounds is absolutely beautiful and a must-see for anybody interested in ecclesiastical architecture. There are lots of sculptures, statues and monuments dotted around the grounds to investigate. One of the best things to do at Trinity, however, is to simply make like a student and lounge on the lovely green lawns!

Giant's Causeway

The pride of Northern Ireland's tourist attractions, the Giant's Causeway is a must-see sight for visitors to the northern half of the Emerald Isle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Giant's Causeway is a series of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, a wondrous geological feature caused by ancient volcanic eruptions along the Antrim coastline. The hexagonal columns, the tallest of which are about 39 feet (12m) high, were formed over 60 million years ago, and today present visitors with a terrain that truly does look like the handiwork of giants.

As visitors walk along the one mile (1.6km) causeway, they will notice a few famous formations among the columns, that have been given names such as The Chimney Stacks, The Harp, The Organ, and The Camel's Hump. Despite looking like a work of art, the Giant's Causeway is a completely natural landscape. An on-site Visitors' Centre is open every day of the year, and provides some interesting information about the origins and myths surrounding the unique landscape. The Giant's Causeway Visitor's Experience includes a multi-lingual audio guide and greatly enriches the visit to the Causeway, particularly for those travelling with children.

Cliffs of Moher

The steep and wondrous Cliffs of Moher, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in County Clare, are one of Ireland's top visitor sights. The majestic cliffs rise from the ocean to a height of 702ft (214m) and extend for a distance of five miles (8km). Formed by layers of sandstone, shale and siltstone, the cliffs have stood unchanged for millions of years. Visitors come to marvel at their splendour, and to enjoy views towards the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. If at all possible, visit the cliffs on a clear day so that you can fully appreciate the views and natural beauty; if you go on a misty or rainy day you often can't even see the ocean far below you and the wind on the cliff-tops can be terrifyingly strong. However, Irish weather being what it is, try not to miss out on this amazing attraction come rain or shine.

The award-winning visitor centre offers an ultra-modern interpretive centre, Atlantic Edge, which includes interactive exhibits and displays, images, an audio visual show, and a virtual reality cliff face adventure. You can quite easily approach the cliffs without visiting the centre but learning a bit about the place enriches the experience..

Glendalough

Glendalough is just south of Dublin and a very popular destination for day-trippers. Although it gets busy, the site has a very tangible spirituality that can be experienced whilst standing amidst the remains of the monastic settlement. The Gaelic name translates to 'valley of the two lakes' and there are beautiful walks around the ruined monastery and along the clear-as-glass lakes.

St Kevin founded the monastery in the 6th century and it became a great European centre for learning. His body lies in the 9th century cathedral. The site is adorned with St Kevin's Cross, carved in about 1150. Other buildings here have survived from the 8th and 12th centuries, the most famous of which is the round tower, standing 112ft (34m) high with a base measuring 52ft (16m) in circumference.

Glendalough is a remarkable place both in its profound history and its natural splendour. Photographers will be in heaven with the scenery and the romantic ruins. It is a place that fires up the imagination. There is a Visitor's Centre, but although it does give some interesting context, the real attraction is the countryside and the incredible monastic complex.