The Congress normally takes place every four years. The daily celebration of the Eucharist is at the very heart of the Congress. The wider program includes other liturgical and cultural events, testimonies, and workshops during the week of the Congress. The theme for the Eucharistic Congress is "The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another."

The hope is that the theme will contribute to an enriched understanding of the Eucharist as true personal Communion with Jesus Christ and to a renewed understanding of the Church. In the Eucharist we are invited to a personal act of encounter with the Lord who gives himself for us, in Word and Sacrament. That encounter opens the path for new relationships in which we, as Church and as individual Christians are invited to engage in a social mission, in which we in turn are given for others.

The Eucharist is bread for the life of the world (Jn 6:51)

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
♣ Round-trip air from Pittsburgh or Chicago to Dublin
♣ Accommodations for 9 nights at centrally located, 3 stars (superior tourist class hotels) as follows: (or similar)
         ~ 4 nights at the Ballsbridge Inn, Dublin
         ~ 2 nights accommodation at Knock House Hotel, Mayo
         ~ 2 nights accommodation at Ardilaun Hotel, Galway
         ~ 1 night accommodation at Bunratty Castle Hotel, Clare
♣ Meals:
         ~ Daily, full Irish breakfast and dinner at hotel accommodation
         ~ Dinner & Entertainment on the last evening at the Bunratty Medieval Banquet
         ~ Tea/Coffee & Scones on morning of arrival
♣ Touring motorcoach with driver/guide as per the itinerary
♣ Porterage of one suitcase at hotels & Shannon Airport
♣ Entrance fees to Glendalough; Book of Kells; Malahide Castle; Knock Museum; Kylemore Abbey; Corcomroe Abbey; Dysert O’Dea Castle; Cliffs of Moher
♣ Holy Mass daily
♣ Service charge & local taxes
♣ Flight bag & portfolio of all travel document

Not Included: Airport taxes (approx. $120-$180, subject to change), Lunches. Travel Insurance optional at $99-$229 (www.206tours.com/insurance), Cancel for Any Reason Protection @ $199 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection),
Tips to Guides and Drivers ($11-$12 per person per day).

Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

**As the Congress posts details of each day’s program, we will adjust our proposed itinerary**

Day 1, Saturday, June 9th, 2012 - Depart from USA to Dublin
Depart from USA for an overnight flight to Ireland. Meals are served on board.

Day 2, Sunday, June 10th, 2012 - Dublin
Arrive Dublin Airport where you will be met by the driver in the arrivals hall and escorted to the awaiting coach. The driver will point out various sites along the way to the Hotel. Check-in at the hotel and prepare for the opening of the 50th Eucharistic Congress. The Congress will open with Holy Mass in the afternoon. Participate in the Congress events. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel, Dublin.

Day 3, Monday, June 11th, 2012 - Half Day Dublin City Tour and Eucharistic Congress
This morning we will have a half day Dublin city tour. On the panoramic half day city tour with a local city guide we will see the main highlights of the capital city. The tour will include a visit to the Sean McDermott Street Church which contains the tomb of Ven. Matt Talbot; Trinity College where we will see the 1200 year old Book of Kells., an Irish manuscript containing the Four Gospels; St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral. Christ Church is officially claimed as the seat (cathedra) of both the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic archbishops of Dublin. Return to the hotel to participate in the Eucharistic Congress afternoon and evening events, including Holy Mass. Overnight at the Ballsbridge Inn, Dublin

Day 4, Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 – Half Day Malahide Tour and Eucharistic Congress Dublin.
This morning we will have a half day tour to North County Dublin and the village of Malahide. This tour will include a visit to Malahide Castle which is very unique in Ireland because the Talbot family managed to keep control of the castle for 791 years. The Talbot family began their reign in 1185 and ended in 1976 despite a short interlude, 1649 to 1660, while Cromwell marched through Ireland.

At the heart of the medieval castle is the Oak Room which is lined with carved oak from floor to ceiling, representing scriptural subjects, now black with age and polishing. Some of the carving is of Flemish origin, including six panels representing biblical scenes opposite the window; their religious theme suggests that the Talbots, who remained Roman Catholics until 1774, used this room as a chapel. Over the mantelpiece is a fine representation of the coronation of the Blessed Virgin which according to tradition disappeared when Cromwell seized the Castle and miraculously sprang back to it's place when the Talbots were reinstated.

Afternoon and evening: Participate in the Eucharistic Congress events, including Holy Mass. Dinner and overnight at the Ballsbridge Inn, Dublin

Day 5, Wednesday, June 13th, 2012 – Dublin - Glendalough, Wicklow and Eucharistic Congress
This morning we will travel to Co. Wicklow to visit Glendalough. Renowned for its scenery, Wicklow is a beautiful mix of golden sandy beaches, rolling mountains, wooded glens, cascading waterfalls and lakes. The Glendalough Valley is located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and has many attractions, from its world famous Monastic Site with Round Tower to its scenic lakes and valleys. Glendalough is an old 6th century Monastic site founded by St Kevin. The area has been preserved, being part of the Wicklow National Park. If time permits, visit Powerscourt House and Gardens, one of Ireland’s most scenic and picturesque sites. Return to Dublin to participate in the afternoon and evening events of the Eucharistic Congress. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.

Day 6, Thursday, June 14th, 2012 - Dublin, Clonmacnoise, Knock.
After breakfast this morning the group will travel westwards towards Knock stopping enroute for Mass in St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth. Visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic site overlooking the River Shannon in County Offaly. The extensive ruins include a cathedral, castle, round tower, numerous churches, two important high crosses, and a large collection of early Christian grave slabs. Clonmacnoise was founded in 548 by St. Ciaran, the son of a master craftsman. The settlement soon became a major center of religion, learning, trade, craftsmanship and politics, thanks in large part to its position at the major crossroads of the River Shannon (flowing north-south) and the gravel ridges of the glacial eskers (running east-west). Like nearly all monastic settlements in Ireland, Clonmacnoise was plundered on several occasions by invaders, including the Vikings and Anglo-Normans.
Continue to Knock for dinner and overnight at the Knock House Hotel or similar.

Day 7, Friday, June 15th, 2012 - Knock
On 21st August 1879, at about 8 o'clock, fifteen people; women, men and children, witnessed an Apparition of Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist at the South gable of the Knock Parish Church, now a Basilica, the largest church in Ireland. In 1979 Pope John Paul II visited this holy place. We will have time for private prayer and after Holy Mass and an opportunity to visit the Knock Museum. Dinner and overnight in Knock.


Day 8, Saturday, June 2012 - Ballintubber, Croagh Patrick, Galway
We will travel west to Ballintubber Abbey. Ballintubber's history goes back to pre-Christian times, people came from the east through Ballintubber on their way to the holy mountain on the west coast, now called Croagh Patrick. When St Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland in c.441AD, he founded a church at Ballintubber. The present Abbey was founded in 1216 by King Cathal O'Conor. It is the only church in Ireland still in daily use that was founded by an Irish king. Holy Mass in Ballintubber. We will travel to the foot of Croagh Patrick for a photo stop on the way to Galway for dinner and overnight at the Ardilaun Hotel.

Day 9, Sunday, June 17th, 2012 – Connemara
Today after breakfast the group will tour the area known as Connemara. Holy Mass will be celebrated at Kylemore Abbey followed by a tour of Kylemore Abbey & Gardens. Kylemore Abbey, located in the Kylemore Pass in Connemara, Co. Galway, has been home to the Irish Benedictine nuns since 1920. The Benedictine nuns bought the house in 1920, having fled their convent in war-torn Belgium in 1914, where they ran a boarding school for girls for over 300 years. They re-established the school here and it is still very much alive today. Set in the heart of Connemara, Kylemore Abbey shares its woodlands, lakes and rivers with a large variety of birds and animals. A trip to the West of Ireland is not complete without experiencing the beauty and tranquility of Kylemore Abbey and Gardens. Return to Galway for dinner, an evening at leisure and overnight at the Ardilaun Hotel.

Day 10, Monday, June 18th, 2012 – Co. Clare and Bunratty.
Today the group will celebrate Mass in Galway, before traveling to visit Corcomroe Abbey. Corcomroe Abbey is an early 13th-century Cistercian monastery located in the north of the Burren region of County Clare, Ireland, a few miles east of the village of Ballyvaughan. It was once known as "St. Mary of the Fertile Rock," a reference to the Burren's fertile soil. The abbey is noted for its detailed carvings and other rich ornamentation, which are not commonly found in structures from this period. It features a typical cruciform church facing east, with a small chapel in each transept. We will also visit the Cliffs of Moher and then continue to Bunratty Village for overnight at the Bunratty Castle Hotel. For our last night in Ireland, the group will have dinner and experience Irish entertainment at the Bunratty Medieval Banquet (Subject to availability).

Day 11, Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 – Depart from Shannon Airport.
This morning your driver will transfer you to Shannon airport in time to check in for your departure flight back to the US.

Additional Information & Travel Tips What to Know Before You Go

Any questions? For more information or to register, please contact: Patrick McKenna tel: 800-206-TOUR (8687) ext. 109 or email: patrick@206tours.com

Important Information:   1st Deposit of $400 is due at the time of booking   2nd Deposit - an additional $800 is due by Dec 27th   If booking after Dec 27th, a deposit $1,200 is due.   Balance due April 2, 2012 *Deposits are non refundable If you have any questions, please contact us   Travel Dates Land Only (no airfare) *Air & Land # of Pilgrims Jun 9 - Jun 19, 2012 from Pittsburgh  $2,394 $3,498 SOLD OUT Jun 9 - Jun 19, 2012 from Chicago  $2,394 $3,648 SOLD OUT     Single Supplement / Private Room $637 Business Class Upgrade (one-way) $1,650 Business Class Upgrade (round trip) $3,300 First Class available upon request Children's discounts for children under 12 upon request

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Chuch at Knock Knock, Ireland		Croagh Patrick Mayo, Ireland
Ballintubber Abbey Mayo, Ireland		Kylemore Abbey Gardens Connemara, Ireland
Connemara, Ireland		Corcomroe Abbey, Ireland
Sunset, Cliffs of Moher Corcomroe Abbey, Ireland		Madonna & Child Bunratty Village, Ireland
Bunratty Castle, County Clare, Ireland
Dromoland Castle County Clare, Ireland

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