10 Day emerald Isle Tour 2012

10 Day emerald Isle Tour 2012

Overview:
Enjoy an incredible journey through Ireland’s bustling cities and lush countryside. Begin in Dublin with an overnight and guided sightseeing that includes O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College. Heading west, stop in Kildare at the Irish National Stud, then north to Longford’s Strokestown House for a tour of the mansion and to learn about the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. See the abbey ruins at Boyle on the way to Sligo, then south to the pilgrimage village of Knock. Drive along the beautiful coastline, visiting Kylemore Abbey and a marble workshop. Spend two nights in the port city of Galway, featuring an included excursion to the Aran Islands and a genuine Irish farm experience. The Cliffs of Moher, Limerick, Killarney, the scenic Ring of Kerry, Blarney, the newly opened House of Waterford Crystal, and St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity at Glendalough are all on your agenda before returning to Dublin.

Itinerary

Day 1Arrive in Dublin, Ireland

Check into your hotel. At 3 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (Dinner)

Day 2Dublin–Kildare–Strokestown–Knock–Claremorris

Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Then, north to Longford for a visit to STROKESTOWN HOUSE for a guided tour of the restored 1740s mansion, a stroll through its fine gardens, and at the Famine Museum, an insight into the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. Stop in Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world since townsfolk saw apparitions, before arriving in Claremorris, in the heart of beautiful County Mayo, for your overnight stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3Claremorris–Kylemore–Galway

Via Westport, head for the unspoiled region of Connemara, an area known for its hardy breed of ponies. Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Moycullen, visit the Joyce family at their MARBLE WORKSHOP before arriving in the port city of Galway. Tonight’s recommendation: an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme. (Breakfast)

Day 4Galway. Excursion to the Aran Islands

At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Your fascinating day continues with a presentation on life on Inishmore by an island historian. After a lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy your driver/Local Guide’s commentary on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. Back in Kilronan, board your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway this evening. (Breakfast)

Day 5Galway–Kilfenora–Cliffs of Moher–Limerick

A real Irish farm experience at RATHBAUN FARM this morning. Try your hand at scone making, and learn from the farmer about sheep shearing and dog whistling. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and your scones fresh from the oven. Take the scenic route across the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren, and stop for photos of prehistoric Poulnabrone Dolmen. At Kilfenora, take in THE BURREN CENTRE and learn about the time when this area lay beneath a warm tropical sea. In the nearby churchyard of the ancient cathedral, see the greatest concentration of high crosses in Ireland. At the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. Tonight’s optional excursion is to a traditional Irish night, a fun ceili of song and dance in the setting of a village barn at Bunratty. (Breakfast)

Day 6Limerick–Adare–Killarney

On this morning’s Limerick city tour, view the Treaty Stone and St. Mary’s Cathedral, and visit KING JOHN’S CASTLE in the medieval heritage precinct. South now via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. Later, maybe an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner followed by tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (Breakfast)

Day 7Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion

Join the famed RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Plenty to focus your camera on here: sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and the breathtaking panorama of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View. Back in Killarney, a special treat: a fun-filled horse-drawn JAUNTING CAR RIDE through the national park with glorious vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 8Killarney–Blarney–Waterford

Across the Kerry Mountains, drive into County Cork for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarvan to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 9Waterford–Avoca–Glendalough–Dublin

Today’s agenda: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your Local Guide show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. Back in Dublin tonight, why not join your traveling companions for a fitting farewell to Ireland: an optional cabaret evening with dinner and entertainment. (Breakfast)

Day 10Dublin

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

INCLUDED FEATURES

Dublin Welcome dinner; orientation drive
Kildare Guided tour of the Irish National Stud
Strokestown House Guided tour of the house and Famine Museum, and visit the gardens
Knock Visit the religious site
Kylemore Visit the Benedictine abbey
Connemara Visit a marble workshop
Galway Orientation
Aran Islands Ferry to and from Inishmore, hear a presentation on life on the island by a local historian, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus
Rathbaun Farm See the farmer at work, bake your own scones, and enjoy morning coffee in the farmhouse
Kilfenora Visit The Burren Centre
Cliffs of Moher Savor the spectacular views
Limerick Orientation drive, visit King John’s Castle
Adare Admire the thatched cottages
Ring of Kerry Scenic peninsula drive
Killarney Horse-drawn jaunting car ride
Blarney Visit the famous village
Waterford Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal
Avoca Guided tour of the handweaving mill
Glendalough Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity
Note: Due to the adventurous style of the Aran Islands excursion we recommend you bring suitable outdoor wear and comfortable shoes.

Dates & Rates:
Tour leaves Dublin Fridays and returns to Dublin Sundays.
April 20: $1819
April 27 – August 31: $1839
September 7 & 14: $1859
September 21 & 28: $1839
October 5: $1819

All rates in Canadian Dollars, per person, based on double occupancy.
Single Supplement: 349