This journey is the perfect mix of fun, faith and friendship! Cead Mile Failte — Welcome to Ireland! This evening, we will join with our fellow pilgrims at 6pm for a Welcome Dinner. This renowned place of pilgrimage is the site of the monastic settlement founded in the 6 th century by St Kevin — a man of noble stock.
Coming here to be alone as an ascetic contemplative monk, his prayerful inspiration ironically attracted many others and thus the community of Glendalough springs from a hermitage. Our visit in Glendalough is focused on both the upper and the lower lakes in the valley. Visit Powerscourt Gardens , in County Wicklow. Dating back to the 13th century, Powerscourt was named no. It is a vast country estate noted for its magnificent Palladian style mansion and 47 acres of formal landscaped gardens in the picturesque village of Enniskerry.
We then journey south to Moone , another 6 th century monastery and founded by St Columba. It is famous for its unique tall High Cross, beautifully evocative and with carved scenes of the Old and New Testament. We will visit the 13 th century Kilkenny Castle overlooking the River Nore and the Cathedral of St Canice , also dating from the 13 th century which is built on the site of a Celtic Christian monastery said to have been founded in the sixth century by St Canice. The cathedral has been carefully restored over the years and is still used for the dedication for the Bishops and the Deans of Ossory.
This afternoon we travel out to the foreboding Rock of Cashel , possibly the most photographed site in Ireland.
Towering over the town of Cashel from its perch on a foot-high outcrop of limestone, the Rock of Cashel was once the seat of the Kings of Munster. St Patrick visited the rock in , while Brian Boru was crowned the 1 st high King of Ireland here in the tenth century.
