Catholic Pilgrimage to Ireland: The Holy Wells
August 24 – September 2, 2026
with
Spiritual Leader Fr. Edward Sanchez
and
Guest Artist Anja Scovil
What is included
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Round-trip airfare from Washington Dulles, for departure from other airports please contact us*
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All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
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8 nights in centrally located hotels:
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Radisson Blu Royal or similar 1 night
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The Galmont Hotel & Spa or similar 2 nights
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Delphi Resort or similar 3 nights
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Knock House or similar 2 nights
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Tour leader(s)
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Spiritual Leader: Fr. Edward Sanchez
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English-speaking guides for all sightseeing visits according to the program
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Half board: daily breakfast and lunch or dinner according to the program
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One drink included per meal (glass of wine, beer or soft drink)
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Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
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Transfers as per itinerary
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Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
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Mass daily & Spiritual activities
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Headphones
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81 Tours backpack & portfolio of all travel documents
EXCLUSIONS
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Personal expenses (pocket money)
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Meals not specifically noted: beverages
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Single supplement (limited availability)
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Tips to your guide, driver and hotel staff
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Travel Insurance; we recommend www.insuremytrip.com
Package price
$5,859.00
(Based on double occupancy)
$1,400.00
(extra for single supplement)
Land only
$4,759.00
(Based on double occupancy)
Planned
itinerary
DAY 1: August 24 - USA - Dublin, Ireland
Make your way to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) * or other aiport, where you will board your overnight flight to Dublin. Meals and beverages will be served on board.
DAY 2: August 25 - Dublin, County Dublin
Upon arrival at Dublin Airport, meet your 81 Tours escort and begin your Irish pilgrimage. Check in at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel and visit the historic O’Connell House. There will be opening prayer in St. Patrick's Chapel in O’Connel House. Next, you will walk through St. Stephen’s Green to Newman University Church for Holy Mass. After Mass you will continue on to The Hairy Lemon pub before returning to the hotel for an overnight stay.
DAY 3: August 26 - Clonmel, County South Tipperary - Liscanor, County Clare - Galway, County Galway
The day begins with visiting Whitefriar Street Church for Holy Mass. After Mass there will be quiet time to pray and visit the various shrines in this church in the heart of Dublin. Since the 1270's, the Carmelite friars have been a presence in one of the oldest parts of Dublin city. This church is home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Dublin and to the Relics of St. Valentine. Next we depart for St. Patrick’s well in Clonmel where Anja will give an introduction to the pilgrgimage. The well is situated in a tranquil valley to the west of Clonmel in County Tipperary. Next we will visit St. Brigid’s Well and the Cliffs of Moher, one of the most famous cliffs on Europe’s western frontier that tower over the rugged West Clare coast. The day will finish by checking in at the Galmont Hotel & Spa with dinner to follow.
DAY 4: August 27 - Galway, County Galway
The day starts with breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you'll have a chance to attend Holy Mass at St. Mary's, Claddagh, run by the Irish and Polish Dominican order. This is followed by a visit to Galway Cathedral. The rest of the day is for free time. You can explore the Galway Market, find local foods, unique gifts, and enjoy live music. If you're interested, you also have the option to visit one or two holy wells. Dinner is on your own, and you're encouraged to check out the restaurants on Quay, in the Latin Quarter, or other nearby areas. This will be your last night in Galway.
DAY 5: August 28 - Galway - Rossaveel - Inis Oírr, Aran Island - Leenane, County Galway
After breakfast, you'll check out of the Galmont Hotel & Spa and depart for Rossaveel to catch a ferry. The ferry departs for Inis Oírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands. Upon arrival, you'll meet your guide and attend Holy Mass at St. Mary's Church.
The rest of the afternoon on the island includes:
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A guided walking tour, where you'll visit the ruins of the Churches of St. Kevin and St. Gobnait, and the holy well dedicated to St. Eanna.
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Lunch on your own
In the late afternoon, the ferry departs Inis Oírr taking you back to Rossaveel. From there, you'll depart for Leenane, Connemara.
You'll check in to the Delphi Resort and have dinner at the hotel.
To sign in
Please download PDF file,
complete online application and send your check of DEPOSIT $ 1000.00 or the full amount payable to 81 Tours L.L.C send to:
256 Old Dutch Mill road Malaga, NJ 08328
Final payment is due 10 weeks before the departure date
You will receive travel documents approximately two weeks before departure. For more info please call 856-563-4696 or email us at info@81tours.com
IRELAND
DAY 6: August 29 - Kylemore, County Galway
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, you'll head to Kylemore Abbey for a tour and talk about its history and grounds. Nestled in the heart of Connemara, on the Wild Atlantic Way, Kylemore Abbey is a haven of history, beauty and serenity. Home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for the past 100 years, Kylemore Abbey welcomes visitors from all over the world each year to embrace the beauty of the magnificent 1,000-acre estate. Be sure to explore the 6-acre Victorian Walled Garden. During your visit, you will attend Holy Mass at the neo-Gothic Church which is a short walk from the Abbey.
Lunch is on your own. You have three options:
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The Kylemore Kitchen
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The Garden Tea House
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The Explorer and Forager Food Trucks
After lunch, you'll have some free time to explore the gardens, hike, or visit the exquisite craft and design shop. Along with many recognizable brands and handmade gifts, the shop hosts a range of Kylemore products including soaps and chocolates crafted by the Benedictine nuns and world renowned jams. You'll depart for the Connemara Oyster Farm, where you'll get a tour of the farming process. You will return to Kylemore Abbey for a cocktail hour and talk followed by dinner. The day concludes with your departure for Delphi Resort.
DAY 7: August 30 - Leenane - Mám Éan, Maumturk Mountains, County Galway
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel followed by your departure for Mám Éan, a pilgrimage route in the Maumturk Mountains. There, you will be guided on a walk to the top of the pass, where you'll find holy wells dedicated to St. Patrick, a Mass rock, and Stations of the Cross. This walk is about 1.5 km and should take 30-45 minutes. After, you'll depart to a sheep farm and on the way, you can grab a quick bite to eat. At the working sheep farm you'll see demonstrations of sheepdogs at work and sheep shearing. The day concludes with dinner.
DAY 8: August 31 - Leenane, County Galway - Croagh Patrick - Westport - Knock, County Mayo
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel, followed by checking out of the Delphi Resort to depart for Croagh Patrick. Here, you have the option to climb Croagh Patrick, known as Ireland's Holy Mountain. The climb is a pilgrimage that offers beautiful views. For those who choose not to climb, you can enjoy exploring the town of Westport, a heritage town with a unique architectural style. You will depart for Knock Shrine, where you will check in to The Knock House Hotel. Later in the afternoon, you will attend a private Holy Mass in the Apparition Chapel, which encloses the original wall where the apparition was witnessed in 1879. The day concludes with dinner at the Knock House Hotel restaurant
DAY 9: September 1 - Knock, County Mayo
The day starts with breakfast in the hotel followed by a tour, talk and Holy Mass. You will have free time for prayer and reflection, which will be followed by a final talk. The day concludes with a final group dinner.
DAY 10: September 2 - Knock, County Mayo - Dublin, County Dublin - USA
The day starts very early with a boxed breakfast and checkout from Knock House. You will depart for Dublin Airport to catch your flight.
Fr. Edward Sanchez
Fr. Edward was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on May 16, 2020. He has served in Fond du Lac, Beaver Dam, and Milwaukee, and will be serving as Pastor and Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee beginning January 1, 2026.
Fr. Edward’s educational background is in mathematics and theology, and he is eager to retrace the steps of the Irish monks, hermits, and everyday mystics in this pilgrimage. Here’s to an encounter with the radical witness of Irish mysticism, a few good beers and songs, and an unforgettable trip.
Administrator – St. Augustine, Immaculate Conception, and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parishes, Bay View and St. Francis, WI
Anja Scovil
Passionate about prayer and the beauty of God’s creation, Anja Scovil paints to explore ways to invite people into relationship with God through their experience of beauty. Anja is married to Nicholas Scovil, and they are expecting a new baby in January 2026. With a BA in Theology and MA in Theology, both from the University of Notre Dame, Anja has been contemplating these themes since her first research expedition to Ireland in 2019, where she studied Holy Wells—places of Irish Roman Catholic popular piety and pilgrimage culture—as a way to understand human longing for God. She saw this longing demonstrated in the fingerprints of the pilgrims found in the landscape, and these landscapes became the content of her paintings. She is also deeply passionate about catholic spiritual writing, the lives of the saints and the Blessed Mother as they illuminate human suffering. Through her writing and artistic work, she explores how these gifts of the Catholic faith orient us and provide a framework within which to find support and ultimately glorified wholeness even in the painful experiences on earth.