Purpose:
To see and experience Ireland and learn about the spread were important to the Apostle Paul; to experience the city where Asia meets Europe (Istanbul) and Christians were first allow.
We have room for 2 more people.
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We have room for 2 more people. 〰️〰️〰️
Trip Overview
My Hope: That you will say, “that was fun, and I learned a lot!”
My Role: I am not your tour guide, but your host (and hopefully, teacher). Most teaching will be done before the trip. At various places, you will have a local tour guide.
— We will also try to see most of the important tourist sites that do not necessarily have spiritual or religious significance.
— The trip is designed to see the highlights of Ireland.
Trip Details
11 days including travel days
9 nights of lodging
All breakfasts included, plus 2 dinners
We will meet in Dublin and begin our trip at noon on October 10th and leave from the airport at noon to travel north to Belfast.
Weather is often rainy but “not wet.” It will be cool (usually about 45 to 55 degrees in o).
Itinerary:
Fri, Oct 9, 2026 -- Leave for Ireland
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 -- Arrive Ireland, Start at the Dublin airport at noon, Hill of Slain, Down Patrick | Group Dinner at Hotel — Belfast
Sun, Oct 11, 2026 -- Go to Titanic Belfast, C. S. Lewis church and statue, Black Taxi Tour on your own — Belfast
Mon, Oct 12, 2026 -- Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Bushmill's Distillery — Belfast
Tue, Oct 13, 2026 -- Clonmacnoise, Drive to Galway — Galway
Wed, Oct 14, 2026 -- Cliffs of Moher and the Burren — Cashel
Thu, Oct 15, 2026 -- Rock of Cashel and Cobh — Waterford
Fri, Oct 16, 2026 -- Waterford, Glendalough — Dublin
Sat, Oct 17, 2026 -- Dublin -Guinness, Kilmainham Jail, St. Patrick's Church — Dublin
Sun, Oct 18, 2026 -- Trinity College, Book of Kells, City Tour, Group Dinner — Dublin
Mon, Oct 19, 2026 -- Free day in Dublin — Dublin
Tue, Oct 20, 2026 -- Fly Home or travel to your next destination!
Hotels
Oct 10-13 Clayton Hotel Belfast (3 nights)
Oct 13-14 The Galmont Hotel Galway (1 night)
Oct 14-15 Hotel Minella Clonmel Cashel (1 night)
Oct 15-16 The Tower Hotel Waterford (1 night)
Oct 16-20 The Spencer Hotel Dublin (4 nights)
Costs
The cost of the trip is $3,495.
TRIP COST INCLUDES:
— All entrance fees (see list below)
— Ten nights in four-star hotels.
— City guides
— Bus and bus driver for entire trip
— All breakfasts and 2 dinners (October 10 & 18)
— Ireland Travel book
— Travel insurance through Faith Ventures
— Headsets (Whispers)
— All TIPS for guides, driver and hotels
Entry fees into the following sites: Hill of the Slain; Downpatrick; Titanic Belfast; C.S. Lewis Church and Statue; Dunluce Castle; Giant's Causeway; Old Bushmill's Distillery; Clonmacnoise; Cliffs of Moher; The Burren; The Rock of Cashel; Cobh; Waterford Glass; Glendalough; Guinness Storehouse; Kilmainham Jail; St Patrick's Church; Trinity College and the Book of Kells.
You will be responsible for the following:
-- Your flight (I will send sample flights in a few months. I would also suggest that, if possible, you fly a day or two early to adjust to the time change before we begin our touring.)
-- Your lunches and dinners (except for the two dinners included).
PAYMENTS
Your deposit of $500 will be due on March 15, 2026.
Final payment will be due on June 15, 2026.
Meetings
We will have two in-person meetings to help us prepare for the trip.
They are set for . . .
-- May 17, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. at ECC
-- Sept 27, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. at ECC
Both of these meetings will be recorded and video provided for anyone who cannot attend in person.
I will provide a list of suggested books to read and also several movies to watch before the trip.
Flight Information
I have checked flights from multiple airports and it appears that Fort Wayne (for those living in the FW area) is very competitive — both in terms of cost and flight times.
I will put two suggested flights below. Wherever you choose to fly from, I would look for a total flight time of 12 hours or less and not more than one connection if possible.
If you are flying on October 9th, you must arrive in Dublin no later than 10:15 a.m. on October 10. Otherwise you may miss the bus that leaves at noon from the airport.
As always, I would encourage you to go a day or two earlier and enjoy some time of adjusting to the time change and enjoying the culture. You can choose any hotel in Dublin as we are spending our first nights as a group in Belfast. (If you’d like to stay at the same hotel that we will finish at — The Spencer Hotel — there is a 30% discount if you book before January 19th. Here is the link:
Whenever you have booked your flights, please send a copy of that itinerary to Carla Truesdale HERE
Suggested Reading
The following books will really help you to enjoy, and get the most from our trip to Ireland.
St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography by Philip Freeman
How the Irish Saved Civilization (Hinges of History Book 1) by Thomas Cahill
The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer that Changed the World by Stephen Mansfield
Date for Next Meeting
May 17, 2026 — 12:30 p.m. at ECC