 Ireland
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Ireland Trip 2007 Randolph P. Johnston, Doris M. Johnston (Just tagging along with Bob and Susie)
400 East 12th
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Ireland
|
Ireland Trip 2007 Randolph P. Johnston, Doris M. Johnston (Just tagging along with Bob and Susie)
400 East 12th
|
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Itinerary - August 13-August 23, 2007
Bob and Susie fly to Atlanta, we meet and fly overnight
Arranged by CIE Tours International and Gulf Breeze Travel
Monday, August 13, Day 1: Depart for Ireland
Board your flight to Ireland and enjoy inflight meals and entertainment as you
start your vacation.
Tuesday, August 14, Day 2: Shannon, Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Ceili
Arrive in Shannon Airport and go to the CIE Tours desk. Travel through Ennis and
part of the Burren country. At the coast stop to view the
Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall
of rock that rises nearly 700 feet above the open Atlantic Ocean. Check into your hotel located between
Bunratty and
Limerick and relax for the remainder of the day.
(D in hotel) Optional: Enjoy a welcome
drink before heading to the Ceili in the Bunratty Folk Park for a home-style
dinner and entertainment or
Bunratty Folk Park's
Corn Barn, which is the venue for a home-style dinner followed by a Ceili with
lots of fun and dancing. .
Overnight: Bunratty Castle Hotel
Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Drive through Ennis to view the Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of rock
above the open Atlantic Ocean. Visit the
Burren Display Centre to learn
about the flora and wildlife of the unique, rocky area before driving through
it. Continue around Galway Bay to arrive at your hotel in Galway in time to take
a look around the city center on your own.
Foynes & Bunratty Ceili
Drive north to visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, near the River Shannon.
During the 1930s and early 1940s, the Port of Foynes was a hive of activity with
Pan Am's Clipper traffic between the United States and Europe. The museum
recalls this era through exhibits and an audio-visual show. In Limerick drive
around the city center to see the Treaty Stone and
King John's Castle.
Wednesday, August 15, Day 3: Dingle Peninsula Tour
Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by David Lean's movie,
"Ryan's Daughter." Drive along the south shore and stop to admire views of
heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach and rocky headlands. Pause for a
while in Dingle before continuing to
the western tip of the peninsula. Tour the
Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the
Blasket Islands,
inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming and
fishing. After an independent
dinner in Killarney you may like to take a walk around town and listen to
live music in one of the pubs. (B)
Overnight: Arbutus Hotel, Killarney
Thursday, August 16, Day 4: Killarney, Blarney Castle & Kate
Kearney’s Cottage (rental car)
Sightsee independently. Drive south through farming country and marketing towns
and stop for photos at the
Rock of Cashel, a stately limestone outcrop topped
with medieval ruins. Continue south to visit
Blarney Castle where you may climb
to the battlements to acquire the "Gift of Eloquence" by
kissing the famous
stone. Take a look through the Blarney Woollen Mills, noted for quality
Irish-made merchandise. Visit
Waterford and the
Waterford
Crystal Visitor Centre. Travel through the rugged countryside of
County Kerry where the town of
Killarney is situated with a backdrop of mountains and lakes. In the evening it
off to the Gap of Dunloe to
Kate Kearney’s Cottage for dinner.
Afterwards sit back and enjoy traditional Irish entertainment with popular
songs, dances and a lot of laughs. (B, D)
Overnight: Arbutus Hotel, Killarney
Friday, August 17, Day 5: Ring of Kerry Tour
Journey around the Ring of Kerry, a full day tour of varying mountain and
coastline scenery. Start your tour at the Gap of Dunloe by viewing the "Essence
of Kerry," an audio visual show for an overview. Drive around the coastline to
the colorful village of Sneem and the vantage point of Moll's Gap. Tour
Muckross
House, a 19th century furnished mansion, which is set in charming gardens on the
shores of Muckross Lake. Travel through
Catherdaniel and
Waterville. Return to Killarney and relax before dinner. (B, D)
Overnight: Arbutus Hotel, Killarney
Saturday, August 18, Day 6: Adare Village & Dromoland Castle
Adare
Overnight: Dromoland Castle
Sunday, August 19, Day 7: Knock Shrine
Mass at Knock Shrine
Galway
Ennis
Gort
Charlestown
Tubbercurry
County Mayo
Sligo
Overnight: The Glasshouse Hotel,
Sligo
Monday, August 20, Day 8 Mass Rock & Drumcliffe (rental car)
Mass Rock at Tobernault
Glencar Waterfall
near
Manorhamilton
Stop to view
W. B. Yeats'
grave in Drumcliffe Churchyard
Rest of day open, including dinner
Overnight: The Glasshouse Hotel, Sligo
Options:
Ballina!
& North Mayo
Museum of Irish Life & Donegal
Head north to visit the Museum of Irish Life to understand how rural people
lived from the 1850's to the 1950's. In Sligo Drive around Donegal Bay and visit
Donegal Castle
in the center of the town. Built in the 15th century as a fortress of the
O'Donnell chieftain, it was later rebuilt. Continue past the Blue Stack
Mountains to Derry.
Yeats' Country & Donegal Castle
Head north to Castlebar to visit the Museum of Irish Life. This modern building
explains how Irish people made a living from the soil from 1850 to 1950. Also
see the Victorian mansion of Turlough Park House where some of the rooms are
open to view. Travel through County Sligo and stop to view the W. B. Yeats'
grave in Drumcliffe Churchyard. Follow the shoreline of Donegal Bay to take a
guided tour around Donegal Castle in the center of town. The fortress was built
by an O' Donnell Chieftain in the 15th century but 200 years later changed hands
and was expanded. Continue your journey through Donegal and past the lovely Blue
Stack Mountains to Derry for dinner and overnight.
Tuesday, August 21, Day 9: High Crosses at Kells & Hill of Tara
Kells and the
Irish High Cross
Hill of Tara
Dining in
Dunboyne
Overnight: Dunboyne Castle
Hotel, Dunboyne
Wednesday, August 22, Day 10: Dublin Castle & Dublin City Tour
Kilmainham Gaol, Trinity College, the General Post Office, St. Patrick's
Cathedral and Dublin Castle. Visit to
Dublin Castle's State
Apartments where you can see magnificently decorated chambers that are used for
many state functions. Top the day with a tour of
St. James's Gate,
and Guiness Storehouse, home
of Guinness Stout. In the evening meet your fellow travelers over a welcome
drink and, as you are free for dining at the hotel.
Overnight: Dunboyne Castle
Hotel, Dunboyne
Thursday, August 23, Day 11: Return Home
This morning take a group transfer from Kingscourt to Dublin Airport where your
tour concludes at 10:00 am. After check-in you will have time to shop at the
duty-free stores. If you need to arrive at Dublin Airport before 10:00 am, your
guide will arrange an early group transfer. (B)
Future
Options:
6th Century Glendalough & Abbey Tavern
This morning drive across the Wicklow Mountains to see the 6th century monastic
ruins of Glendalough where the
peacefulness of the valley conjures up the spirit of the monks. The Visitor
Centre explains how St. Kevin founded this settlement at a time when
Christianity was burgeoning throughout Ireland. Today the monks have long gone,
leaving the ruins of numerous churches and a round tower. Return to Dublin where
the afternoon is at leisure for further sightseeing or shopping. Head to the
Abbey Tavern for some traditional Irish cuisine, an Irish coffee and a lively
session of popular songs.
Clifden & Kylemore Abbey
Today tour Connemara and admire sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering
lakes. You will see sheep grazing freely and tracts of bogland where people
hand-cut peat for home heating. Stop in Spiddal where you may hear locals
chatting in the Irish language. Continue to Clifden, a delightful market town
set between the Twelve Bens and sandy bays. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century
neo-Gothic mansion, which is now a prestigious girls’ school. Tour the exquisite
chapel and reception rooms and stroll by the peaceful lake shore. In Moycullen
watch skilled craftsmen cutting fine crystal at the Connemara Celtic Crystal
Factory.
Derry & Giant's Causeway
Drive along the north coast to explore the
Giant's Causeway,
huge hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. Return to Derry for a
guided walking tour around central Derry, which will include the 16th century
city walls. Also visit the Tower Museum and enjoy some free time before dinner.
Ulster American Folk Park & Cabra Castle Stay
Drive past the Sperrin Mountains to visit the Ulster American Folk Park. See
many cottages including the boyhood home of Thomas Mellon, who emigrated to
Pittsburgh in 1818 and later founded Mellon Bank. The Park traces the story of
Ulster emigrants by showing how they lived in the "Old Country" and sailed
across the Atlantic to settle in the "New World" in Colonial times. Travel south
to Kingscourt to your castle hotel, built in 1760. After a farewell dinner in
the Court Restaurant, enjoy some informal entertainment.