Monday

Breakfast started with a bang. Frank was his normal quiet self, and everyone trickled in for the breakfast. We left relatively on time.
Of course, we started the the ride with the song of the trip:
Don't give up til it's over,
Don't quit if you can
'Cause the weight on your shoulders
Will make you a stronger man.

Stopped in Knock. Knock is famous for the apparition of a lamb with a cross behind, Mary, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangilist.
A bit of Knock and the Sanctuary:The Apparition of Our Lady St. Joseph, St. John the Apostle, the Altar, the Eucharistic Lamb of God, the Cross and adoring Angels took place on the evening of 21st August 1879 at the South Gable of the Parish Church in Knock. There were fifteen official witnesses to the event which lasted for two hours. Church Commissions accepted their evidence as upright and trustworthy. Four Popes have honoured Knock Shrine and Pope John Paul II visited the Shrine on 30th September 1979, its Centenary Year. Mother Theresa of Calcutta visted Knock on the 15th June 1993. Two million pilgrims come to Knock annually which is now one of the world's major Marian Shrines and a member of the European Marian Network.

After Knock we went to Ashford Castle, which is where Pierce Bronsan had his wedding reception. From there we went to Cong, which is where the Quiet Man was filmed. A bit of a respite in the quaint little town.

Off to St. Nicholas in Galway. St. Nicholas is a relatively young Cathedral, built in 1965, but it is very beautiful. The stained glass windows are a sight to behold.

After seeing St. Nicholas, we went to Galway. Everyone was on their own for dinner, and some of the older crowd went to a small place for a nice dinner.

We then walked around town and settled in a bit earlier than other nights.

The rest of the group went off to the pubs during the night. Called it an early evening around 2:00 AM.