Afternoon Tea at Ashford Castle | Overnight in a 5-star Irish Manor Croagh Patrick | Knock Shrine | Kylemore Abbey

Rock of Cashel | St Mary's Pro-Cathedralalso see

Cliffs of Moher | Blarney Castle | Book of Kells

A Choral Pilgrimage to

IRELANDFEBRUARY 16-23, 2017

2017 directors fam trip available at $799

Inquire with your Classic Performances representative for more details.

Classic Performances presentsCORPORATE TRAVEL

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 r DEPART FROM USADepart USA on overnight international flight(s) to Dublin, Ireland

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 r CLONMACNOISE | WESTPORT (D)Arrive at Dublin's international airport and meet your Classic Performances tour manager, who will lead you to the waiting motorcoach. Drive to Clonmacnoise, a set of ruins dating to the 6th century. Established as an early Christian monastery, the site quickly grew to be a hub of commerce, trading, art, and of course, learning, with its grandest epoch falling between the 8th and 12th centuries. The ruins provide a cross-section of early Irish architecture and religious symbols, including a cathedral, seven churches, two round towers, three high crosses, and numerous early Christian graves. Continue to Ashford Castle for afternoon high tea, and an opportunity to get to know other directors and guests on the tour. Finally, transfer to Westport for hotel check-in, dinner, and overnight.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 r CROAGH PATRICK | KYLEMORE ABBEY | KNOCK SHRINE | BALLINTUBBER ABBEY (B, D)Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Croagh Patrick overlooking Clew Bay. On this mountain, St. Patrick is said to have fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. Now a place of pilgrimage, tens of thousands of faithful climb this holy mountain on "Reek Sunday," which is the last Sunday of July. Next, visit Kylemore Abbey. Originally built as a country estate in the 19th century, the 40,000-square foot lakeside Kylemore Abbey was purchased by the Benedictine Nuns of Ypres, Belgium in 1920, after the fighting of World War I forced the order to flee their homes and re-settle in western Ireland. Continue to Knock Shrine. In 1879, fifteen villagers witnessed an Apparition of Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, a lamb, and a cross on an altar of the Knock parish church. For two hours they stood in the pouring rain, reciting the Rosary, and watched the Apparition, while not a single drop of rain fell upon the vision. Today, each diocese in Ireland makes an annual pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine at Knock. Lunch on own in Knock. Visit Ballintubber Abbey, a royal church founded 800 years ago in 1216, and considered to be the only remaining active church which was founded by a King of Ireland. Return to Westport for dinner and overnight.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 r GALWAY CATHEDRAL | CLIFFS OF MOHER | STORYTELLING IN LIMERICK (B, D)Breakfast at the hotel, followed by hotel check out. Early morning transfer to Galway to celebrate Mass at Galway Cathedral, a modern structure barely 50 years old with a Renaissance-style dome. Inside one of the chapels is a mosaic tribute to the United States' only Roman Catholic president, John F. Kennedy, who made a historic visit to Galway just five months before his assassination. Enjoy some free time strolling through this seaside town and have lunch on own. Continue the day's journey into the Burren, a unique topography of limestone dissolved by ancient glaciers and lined with crevices marking points of weakness in the bedrock. Emerge from the Burren at the Cliffs of Moher, which rise some 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and, on a clear day, provide unparalleled views of the western Irish coastline. Finally, arrive in Limerick for hotel check-in and dinner, followed by an evening of storytelling by legendary Irish Seanachie, Batt Burns. Overnight in Limerick.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 r BLARNEY CASTLE | KINSALE | HAYFIELD MANOR | CORK (B,D)Breakfast at the hotel, followed by hotel check out. Visit local churches in Limerick which host groups for Mass or concerts, then continue towards Cork City with a stop at Blarney Castle. This well-preserved ruin of an Irish castle features extensive gardens and a nearby baronial manor house, but is most well-known as the home of the "Blarney Stone." For centuries, visitors have ascended to the top of the castle, leaned over backwards at the base of the battlements, and kissed the Blarney Stone. Legend holds that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are endowed with the "gift of gab." Transfer next to Kinsale, a quaint seaside port and historic fishing town whose population swells with visitors in the summer months. Finally, arrive at Hayfield Manor in Cork, a five-star gem which was originally a merchant’s country home, for check in, dinner, and overnight.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 r ROCK OF CASHEL | DUBLIN (B,D)Breakfast at the hotel, followed by hotel check out. Visit local churches in Cork which host groups for Mass or concerts, and then depart for Dublin via the Rock of Cashel. Known in Irish as "St. Patrick's Rock," this historical seat of the Kings of Munster is reputed to be the site where St. Patrick converted the reigning monarch in the 5th century. Nowadays, the complex is perhaps the most well-preserved examples of medieval Irish architecture, with a round tower, high cross and Romanesque cathedral from the 12th century alongside a 13th-century Gothic cathedral and a 15th-century castle. Arrive in Dublin for hotel check-in, dinner, and overnight.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 r DUBLIN CITY TOUR | BOOK OF KELLS | FAREWELL DINNER (B,D)Breakfast at the hotel. Take a morning guided tour of Dublin to include seeing St. Stephens Green, Grafton Street, O'Connell Street, Dublin Castle, and a visit to Trinity College, which was established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 and remains the standard-bearer of higher education in Ireland. Here, see the famous "Book of Kells," a small, illuminated, 9th century manuscript of the Gospel, renowned around the world for its intricate decoration and masterful calligraphy. Also visit Dublin's landmark St. Patrick's Cathedral, which was formerly a Roman Catholic Cathedral, but is now the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Continue to St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, which, since 1825, has served as the temporary seat of the Archbishop of Dublin. Lunch on own in the Temple Bar area and remainder of the afternoon at leisure. This evening, gather for a special farewell dinner featuring Irish music and dancing, where we will toast to fond memories and new friendships. Return to the hotel for overnight.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 r DEPART FOR USA (B)Breakfast at the hotel, followed by hotel check out. Transfer to Dublin's international airport for the return flight(s) to the USA.

B = Breakfast | D = Dinner

313-565-8888 | classic-performances.com

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