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The village of Medjugorje and the grounds of St. James Church seen from above

Ireland and Medjugorje

Glendalough, Cashel, Kerry, Galway, Knock and Medjugorje

Fifteen days and two countries, the Marian route through Ireland from Glendalough to Knock, then a flight south for four nights in Medjugorje.

Departures

Current Tours to Ireland

Upcoming departures to Ireland. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Ten stops in two countries

Dublin, Glendalough, Cashel, Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Clonmacnoise, Knock and Medjugorje.

Itinerary · EU_IE-BA-15D-01

The Ireland and Medjugorje Itinerary

This fifteen-day route joins the Marian pilgrimage through Ireland to four nights in Medjugorje, and it is the only route in this family that leaves the island. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

DAYS 1–4

Dublin and Glendalough

Photograph to come · Trinity College Old Library, Dublin
Trinity College Old Library, Dublin
Day 1

Departure

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Dublin. Meals are served on board, and the crossing is short enough that most groups arrive ready for the first day in Ireland.
Day 2

Arrival in Dublin

Céad Míle Fáilte, a hundred thousand welcomes. Our guide and driver meet us in the arrivals hall and transfer us to the hotel, and the group gathers in the evening for a welcome dinner and the first prayer of the pilgrimage.Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 3

Dublin, Trinity College and the Book of Kells

A panoramic tour takes in the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, the Custom House and Phoenix Park, then the Georgian squares and Grafton Street. Trinity College, founded in 1592, holds the Book of Kells among more than twenty thousand manuscripts.Mass is celebrated at a local church. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 4

Wicklow, Glendalough and Tipperary

We cross the Wicklow mountains to Glendalough, the monastic city St. Kevin founded in the sixth century in the valley of the two lakes. The round tower, the ruined cathedral and St. Kevin’s Kitchen stand in an old burial ground above the water.Mass is celebrated at St. Kevin’s Church, Glendalough. Dinner and overnight in Tipperary.
DAYS 5–8

Cashel, Kerry and Galway

The medieval cathedral and round tower on the Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel above the Golden Vale
Day 5

The Rock of Cashel and Kerry

The Rock of Cashel rises out of the Golden Vale, once the seat of the kings of Munster. Its cathedral, round tower and Cormac’s Chapel, the first Irish Romanesque church, make the most spectacular medieval group in the country.Mass is celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, Cashel. Dinner and overnight in Kerry.
Day 6

Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula

The Dingle Peninsula runs west into the Atlantic past Inch and the cliffs of Slea Head. Gallarus Oratory has stood in dry stone since the ninth century, and Kilmalkedar Church beside it is Romanesque work of the twelfth.Mass is celebrated at Kilmalkedar Church. Dinner and overnight in Kerry.
Day 7

The Shannon ferry, the Cliffs of Moher and Galway

We cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry into County Clare and come to the Cliffs of Moher, seven hundred feet of rock above the Atlantic. The coast road then runs along Galway Bay into the city, which has kept its medieval streets.Mass is celebrated at a local church. Dinner and overnight in Galway.
Day 8

Lough Corrib and Clonmacnoise

A cruise on Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic, shows Galway and the country behind it. Clonmacnoise, founded by St. Ciarán in the sixth century, keeps its churches, high crosses and round towers in a walled field above the Shannon.Mass is celebrated at Clonmacnoise. Dinner and overnight in Galway.
DAYS 9–11

Knock and the flight south

A crucifix and statuary in the grounds of the shrine at Knock, County Mayo
The basilica at Knock Shrine
Day 9

Knock

On 21 August 1879 fifteen witnesses watched an apparition of Our Lady at the gable of the parish church. The basilica built to receive the pilgrims who followed is the largest church in Ireland, and St. John Paul II came here himself in 1979.Mass is celebrated at Knock Shrine. Dinner and overnight in Knock.
Day 10

Knock and Dublin

We cross the midlands to Dublin and visit the National Museum, whose prehistoric gold is among the finest in Europe and whose early Christian rooms hold the ornaments and relics of the Irish church.Mass is celebrated at a local church. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 11

Dublin to Medjugorje

We fly south and are met on arrival for the two-and-a-half-hour drive into the village. Our guide stays with the group for the whole of the stay, and we check in for four nights and meet our spiritual director.Overnight in Medjugorje.
DAYS 12–15

Medjugorje

The twin towers of St. James Church at Medjugorje
St. James Church, Medjugorje
Day 12

Medjugorje and Apparition Hill

We climb Apparition Hill, where the visionaries first met Our Lady, praying the Rosary as we go and stopping at the Blue Cross, where she is said to have appeared to the children as they hid from the police. The evening is the apparition hour and the Croatian Mass.Mass is celebrated at St. James Church. Dinner and overnight in Medjugorje.
Day 13

Medjugorje and Mount Krizevac

We climb Mount Krizevac, praying the Stations of the Cross to the thirty-foot cross the villagers raised in 1933. On the church grounds the Risen Christ statue draws pilgrims who wait in prayer, and the evening brings the apparition hour again.Mass is celebrated at St. James Church. Dinner and overnight in Medjugorje.
Day 14

Medjugorje and the Community of Cenacolo

We visit the Community of Cenacolo, founded by Sister Elvira Petrozzi for young men and women recovering from addiction, and listen to their testimony. The afternoon is free, and the evening closes with the apparition hour and the Blessing of the Sick.Mass is celebrated at St. James Church. Dinner and overnight in Medjugorje.
Day 15

Return home

We transfer to Dubrovnik, Split or Sarajevo for the flight home, with the intercession of Our Lady of Medjugorje, St. Kevin and St. Patrick behind us.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
MedjugorjeFour nights in the village, the apparition hour and the climb up Krizevac
Photograph to come · Medjugorje
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The round tower and monastic church at Glendalough seen from above
The round tower and church at Glendalough
The dry stone Gallarus Oratory standing in the Kerry countryside
Gallarus Oratory on the Dingle Peninsula
The Cliffs of Moher falling to the Atlantic in evening light
The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
The ruined churches and high crosses of Clonmacnoise at sunset
Clonmacnoise on the River Shannon
The statue of Our Lady on Apparition Hill above Medjugorje at sunset
Apparition Hill above Medjugorje
The white cross on the summit of Mount Krizevac above Medjugorje
The cross on Mount Krizevac

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Ireland and Medjugorje?

Groups travel from April through October. Ireland is at its best from May to September, and Medjugorje is busiest around the anniversary of the apparitions in late June and the Youth Festival at the start of August. Both are mild in the shoulder months, and the Croatian evening Mass runs all year.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina?

United States citizens need a passport valid for the length of the stay and do not need a visa for either country as tourists. Bosnia and Herzegovina is not in the European Union, so this route crosses two separate entry regimes, and the return flight leaves from Dubrovnik, Split or Sarajevo depending on the group.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Ireland?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

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