Travel with Pastor Rustin Comer on a Pilgrimage to Ireland, June 12–22, 2026, Departing from San Francisco (SFO)

Day 1 | Friday | 12 June 2026 Departure for Ireland
Depart for your overnight flight to Dublin; meals will be served on board.

Day 2 | Saturday | 13 June 2026
Arrive at Dublin Airport and meet with your driver and guide and depart for County Tipperary and enjoy a full Irish breakfast on the way.

Visit to Holy cross Abbey
Located 6 km from Thurles on the banks of the River Suir, the picturesque Cistercian Holy Cross Abbey was originally built in 1168 by Donal Mor O’Brien for the Benedictine Order. The monastery was colonized by monks from Monasteranenagh in County Limerick. It was named Holy Cross because the monastery housed a portion of the true cross. This relic is now enshrined in the Abbey. It became a place of pilgrimage for people from all over the country. Under the patronage of James Butler, the fourth Earl of Ormonde, much of the abbey was rebuilt in the 15th century, but after suppression, it was eventually left in ruins. The church has many interesting features, including a variety of fascinating windows, mural paintings, and many fine carvings. The abbey was in ruins until the early 1970’s, but a massive restoration project turned the Cistercian cloisters and chapels into a living church. In the restored West Range is a tourist office, an exhibition area featuring an audio-visual, a shop, and toilet facilities.

Continue to Cork

Panoramic Cork City Tour
Get to know the second-largest Irish city on a panoramic city tour. The city of Cork owes its charm to its favorable location, nestled in a landscape surrounded by hills. Attractions that you see on the way include the St. Finbarr Cathedral, Butter Museum, City Hall, and Cork City Gaol. You will also pass the famous English Market. The origin of this food market dates back to 1610, and the present building, where it takes place, dates back to 1786. The market hall was destroyed by fire in 1980 and later rebuilt by an architect from Cork (T.F. MacNamara). Traditionally, this was a meat and fish market, so today you can still watch many butchers sell their goods.  Continue to the hotel and check in for dinner and overnight at the hotel this evening in Cork

Day 3 | Sunday | 14 June 2026
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for Blarney Castle

Visit to Blarney Castle
Attracting visitors from all over the world, Blarney Castle is situated in Blarney village, 8 km from Cork city. An ancient stronghold of the McCarthy’s, Lords of Muskerry, it is one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic castles, and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster. Built in 1446, Blarney Castle is famous for its Blarney Stone, the Stone of Eloquence, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who kiss it. Many legends tell the story of the Stone, but why not kiss it and find out the truth behind the legend. The Castle gardens, covering 60 acres of land, are under constant change, and in the past few years, a water garden has been developed and is open to visitors.

Lunch at leisure (independent, at own expense)

Continue to Midleton

Midleton Distillery Experience
Whiskey has been distilled in the town of Midleton, County Cork, since the early 9th Century. The Midleton Distillery Experience was founded by the Murphy brothers in 1825. The 45-minute guided tour of the distillery commences with a short audio-visual, after which visitors are taken on a tour of the old distillery by local guides. Follow the old distillery trail through mills, maltings, stillhouse, warehouses, and kilns, and view the largest pot still in the world – some of these buildings date back to 1795. The tour ends in the Distillery pub, where all are invited to enjoy a glass of Irish Whiskey. During the visit, a number of volunteers are selected to take part in a tasting session to compare a Jameson whiskey with a Scottish Whisky and American bourbon. Participants will receive a diploma for their achievement! It is possible for the whole group to participate in the whiskey comparison tasting. The visitor attraction has a Malt House Restaurant and a shop where guests can buy a range of whiskeys and souvenirs.  Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Cork.  Dinner at leisure (independent, at own expense)

Day 4 | Monday | 15 June 2026
Breakfast at the hotel and Depart for County Clare

Visit to Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre
Situated on the Atlantic Ocean and bordering the Burren region, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights. Standing 230 meters above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. The cliffs reach their highest point just north of O’ Brien’s Tower built by Cornelius O’ Brien, a descendant of Brian Boru, to entertain his lady friends. A visit of the tower is also possible. The sweeping view across the Atlantic has recently been ranked the best ‘cliff-view’ on the planet by Conde Nast Traveler. The respected travel publication has voted the world-famous landmark at the top of a new chart of ‘ Nine Gorgeous Cliff Views That Rival The Grand Canyon’.

Lunch at leisure (independent, at own expense)

Travel via the Burren.  Continue to the hotel and check in.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Galway

Day 5 | Tuesday | 16 June 2026
Breakfast at the hotel and depart for a Connemara Day Tour

Today you will explore the Connemara Region. Connemara is a land of lakes and rivers, bogs and mountains. A land of small villages where Gaelic is still the spoken language and where little has changed since the beginning of time. It is without a doubt the wildest and most romantic part of Ireland. Connemara is a vast peninsula bordered by the arid and rocky coastline of Visitors will start at Divis Tower in the nationalist area of Falls Road where they will hear the colonization of Ireland by England, and how the conflict started in 1969. Then they will move up the road and see the international wall, then the Remembrance Garden commemorating local people who died during the conflict, if time allows, they will stop in the republican museum, which gathered artefacts from Armagh jail and the H-Blocks. The next main stop is the famous Bobby Sands mural, where the guide will explain the hunger strike of 1981. Most of our guides were in jail at that time and some of them even knew Bobby – this is usually a particularly emotional moment for both the tour guides and the visitors. After 1.5h the group will arrive at Lanark Way where they will meet the loyalist guide. He will show them the “peace line” this big wall dividing nationalist and loyalist/unionist areas. He will then bring them on to Shankill road to show them the famous loyalist murals over there, and they will finish in the garden commemorating local soldiers who went to France to fight during WW1. 20 years ago, seeing a former republican prisoner shaking hands and chatting in a friendly manner with a loyalist ex-prisoner was completely unseen and unimaginable.

Lunch at leisure (independent, at own expense)

Visit to Titanic Belfast
Located in the heart of Belfast, the Titanic Belfast recreates the story of the world’s most famous ship in an iconic, six-floor building right beside the historic site of the original ship’s construction. Opened in April 2012 to coincide with the centenary of its launch, the self-guided journey begins on entering the building’s giant atrium, where the visitor is surrounded by the four ‘ship’s hull’ shaped wings which house the Titanic Experience. As you journey through the nine large galleries of the interactive exhibition, you will uncover the true story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900’s, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and subsequent place in history.  Dinner at leisure (independent, at own expense).  Overnight in Belfast

Day 9 | Saturday | 20 June 2026
Breakfast at the hotel and depart for Downpatrick

Visit to Down Cathedral
Down Cathedral overlooking Downpatrick, stands close to what is believed to be the mortal remains of Patrick, the Patron saint of Ireland. Visitor can access the cathedral via gardens at the back of the St Patrick’s Centre or through English street from the town center. The Cathedral is impressive inside and has a wonderful organ and a very interesting seating arrangement. A retail area is housed at the entrance of the Cathedral. It is generally accepted that the main walls of the Cathedral date from the years after 1220. It suffered destruction on numerous occasions including during the wars with Edward Bruce in 1316 and finally, on the suppression of the monasteries in 1541, the Cathedral was laid waste. Notwithstanding its ruinous state which lasted until 1790, King James I granted a Charter to the Cathedral in 1609, providing for a Dean and Chapter. Rather than lose the connection with Patrick, the name began to be used for the growing town, which assumed the name Downpatrick. Rebuilding of the Cathedral began in 1790, it was consecrated in 1818 and the tower was completed in 1829.The Cathedral was closed again for repairs and renovations in 1986/7. Attacks of rot were so extensive that the Cathedral Board, acting on professional advice decided to remove almost the entire interior plaster walls and vaulting. What the visitor sees now is an almost entirely new interior, a replica of that which it replaced. The cost of this was upwards of £750,000 which was all raised voluntarily.

Lunch at leisure (independent, at own expense)   Continue to Dublin

Guinness Storehouse
Guinness Storehouse The Guinness Brewery in Dublin is Europe’s largest stout producing brewery and home to the Guinness Storehouse. Opened in 1904, the Storehouse was an operational plant for fermenting and storing Guinness. Today it houses a very fine exhibition dedicated to the Guinness story. Visitors will discover what goes into the making a pint of Guinness – the ingredients, the brewing process, the time, the craft and the passion. The exhibition shows how the brew has been marketed and how it is sold today in over 150 countries. Once the tour has finished, the guest is invited to the Gravity Bar to enjoy their pint of Guinness. Regular demonstrations on the art of pulling a pint of Guinness also take place in the Storehouse. Launched on the fifth floor in 2011, “Five” at Guinness Storehouse includes a small replica of an authentic Irish Bar, an 18th-century-inspired Brewers Dining Hall, and a restaurant named Gilroy’s, where guests enjoy a Guinness gastronomical experience driven entirely by the Irish tradition of wholesome local produce. Menus include local foods such as Ardsallagh goat’s cheese, Irish mussels from Carlingford and the Waterford Blaas bread supplied by MD Bakery in Waterford. This area will host from time to time live cooking demonstrations using Guinness in the recipe and it includes an interactive recipe sharing bank that allows visitors to take Guinness recipe cards home.

Continue to Dublin and check in at the hotel for Dinner at leisure (independent, at own expense).

Day 10 | Sunday | 21 June 2026
Breakfast at the hotel and depart for Dublin City

Panoramic Dublin city Tour
Enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin City. Here you will discover the north and south sides of the River Liffey. This area offers great striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city main thoroughfare, O’Connell Street, or the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde’s House can still be found (today owned by an American College), its colorful doors, along with Grafton Street and its quality shops. Not so far from St. Stephen’s Green, in Kildare St., you will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. This part of the city is also dominated by the students of Trinity College, where the famous Book of Kells is permanently exhibited in its library. The university is facing the medieval district where Dublin Castle and the two Anglican Cathedrals can be found.

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Dublin city!

Meet with your driver at the hotel and depart for your farewell dinner at Merry Ploughboy Irish Music Pub. The show takes place in the ideal location, a pub owned and run by musicians who have been performing to audiences in Dublin since 1989. The Merry Ploughboys live in concert is widely regarded as the best traditional music show in Dublin and also as a must-see for any visitors to Dublin city. The show is a highly entertaining performance of live traditional Irish music, song, and Irish dancing. From start to finish, this is a show based on fantastic interaction between the performers and the audience. Shuttle Bus for FIT: Bus stop on Nassau Street is the green “Collins Day Tours” bus stop, and it has a “Merry Ploughboy” logo on it.

Return to the hotel after dinner & show  for overnight at the hotel in Dublin

Day 11 | Monday | 22 June 2026
Meet with your driver & guide after breakfast and transfer to Dublin Airport. We hope you enjoyed your trip!