I'll be going on pilgrimage to Ireland from December 28-January 15. Does anyone have any suggestions for Catholic sites to visit? So far I am planning to visit friends in Dublin, County Derry, and County Kerry. I also plan to visit Donegal, Galway, and the shrine in Knock.
14 comments:
The Cliffs of Moher are a must see! I think they are close to Knock...
Visit the headquarters of the Legion of Mary in Dublin :)
Concilium Legionis Mariae
De Montfort House, Morning Star Avenue,
Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, Ireland.
If you are in Dublin, take the commuter rail to the northern most stop to a town called Howth. It is a little fishing village on the sea. You can hike up to the top of the cliffs and see the ocean around Dublin bay. Its a spectacular view, and really cheap (a few Euros for the commuter train.) You can come down and have some fresh seafood at the restaurants on the wharf.
You should also see the ruins of St. Kevin's monastery to the South of Dublin from the 7th century. Fabulous.
There is also a really nice convent/church north of the Temple Bar in Dublin that has daily services, and it a great place to visit. It's a huge worship space that you would never know if you just looked at the outside of the building. I am thinking that its the Carmelite church in Whitefriar street, but I need to double check that.
Also, I believe its at the Cathedral in Dublin, but I can't remember the name of the church offhand, but they do a mass in Irish and not English, which is worth listening to. Beautiful language that.
St. Brigid's Well (Dabhach Bhríde) is just south of the Cliffs of Moher, both are a must see in my book!
Drive (best with a native driver) along the Ring of Kerry. Also, stop and take a good look at the Lakes of Killarney. In December..be prepared for a "wet-cold" feeling, from which you never seem to warm up.
Philip,
You shall have an holy and awesome time in the "land of saints and scholars".
There is an every day Gregorian Rite Mass at St Kevins Church in Dublin.
Here are the details:
Archdiocese of Dublin:
St. Kevin's Church, Harrington St., Dublin 8:
• Sundays & Holy Days on public holidays or Saturdays - 10.30 am;
• Monday-Friday - 8 am;
• Saturday - 9 am;
• Working Holy Days & 1st Fridays - 8 am & 7 pm.
Traditional Chaplain: Rev. Father Gerard Deighan, P.C.
Tel.: +353-87-2884638;
e-mail: latinmass@dublindiocese.ie
God bless.
Practically every site in Ireland is a Catholic site. Read ahead on the different denominations of churches/religions in Ireland and you'll do yourself a favor. It will be quite a history lesson and you'll be able to distinguish churches, one from the other, no matter what town you enter. You'll also see a lot of old medieval churches with no roofs- it's good to know about that before you go. And read about graveyards there.
If in Dublin, visit the Trinity Univ. Library where the Book of Kells is on display. They turn to a new page each day. It's a Real must see- every day if you can!
Wear layers with buttons and zippers. Cotton with lots of wool on top. Bar food is cheaper than the restaurant side of the public house and restaurant, but it's the exact same food.
It's easy to go from one tip of the country to the other. Do not forget to visit the North for a completely different landscape and mindscape.
Teelin is about my favorite little, little city. Valentia Island is grand. Dingle Peninsula is gorgeous, tho I've never been to any place in the winter. The Abbey in Connemara and the Burren are indescribable. Co. Fermanagh...ahhh! Go to Enniskillen, and visit the Janus statue on the island if still showing. There's talk of protecting it.
Good luck! Drink lots of tea and stay as dry and warm as possible!
S.
An Irish Blessing:
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again - may God hold you in the palm of his hand
God Bless you Philip
St Kevin's Bed and Glendalough, the valley of the two lakes.
Among the highlights of this monastic city where once seven churches flourished, a twelfth century oratory where I had the pleasure of chanting the liturgy of the hours and a spring flowing between the lakes from which I drank.
There was snow that day in January 1993 but the weather cleared and the sun pierced through in time for my visit to the valley in the Wicklow mountains south of Dublin.
A bus direct to the site departs regularly from Saint Stephen's Green in Dublin which, on the day I traveled, was canceled because of the snow. Instead I took a bus from the main station which dropped me six miles from St. Kevin's and only by hitching a ride in the Devil's Glen along my way was I saved from slogging through the driving snow.
During the summer we nearly made it to Skelig Michael but the sea was too rough to set foot upon the holy island; still it was awe inspiring to be even so near the place. Probably it is for a summer pilgrimage.
FrMM
Saint Patrick crough to see but if the weather stand up take the mount.
Saint Patrick center in Downpatrick
Our Lady of Knock Mayo.
Black Friay in Dublin. to pray in front of the relics of Saint Valentine.
In the good weather season Patrick purgatory in the Lough Dreah Dongeal.
In the North the Felons club in Belfast private club but tell them your clergy will get you a pint. Also any AOH ( I am a member and some of your brothers at Saint Charles as well ) hall will Failte you for a pint or a sip of the Irish Holy Water. Wiskey. In the North if you are into the History of the Troubles in front of the Felons club some Nationalist Taxi driver will give you the informal history of the troubles by give you the cook tour.
In Belfast go to the see of Saint Patrick Armagh. I do belive the relics of Saint Oliver Plunkett is there. A reported very long twice removed cousin of HE Card. Rigali.
Hill of Tara, the Grange as well as O'Connle Bridge and the Dublin Poste Office. In advance try to make time for the President of Ireland she meets people from time to time she has relative in the Philadelphia area.
But all in all yes there many sites to see but any old ruins of a church will make a good site to pray the divine office as well as a roasry.
There are more holy sites in Eire than there are versions of "Molly Malone", which is to say, a lot. When Charlie and I were there for our 25th anniversary 5 year ago we took a notable entire day at Glendalough (Saint Kevin) and a half day at Saint Brighid's, we even went to see the nuns in Kildare. Those are must-sees for sure. Also at the tiny village of Spiddell in Cty. Galway is a lovely old church. The village is so named because way back in the plague days there was a hospital there.
St Kevin's, Knock, Cliffs of Moher, the SKELLIGS and the ARAN ISLANDS... Trinity Library, Conmacnoise!! Don't forget a day in Connemara- Plan on Confession at Knock! I'll keep you in my prayers, Mary will guide you, it's her island. :) Peggy Hebert
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