8 Day Focus on Ireland 2012

8 Day Focus on Ireland Tour 2012
HIGHLIGHTS
• Dublin: See the Customs House, Guinness Brewery and Dublin Castle. Visit the Book of Kells in the Trinity College Library.
• Galway: See the Lynch Memorial, Church of St. Nicholas, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square.
• Burren: Drive through the rocky limestone landscape.
• Cliffs of Moher: Admire views and visit the Exhibition Centre.
• Bunratty: Visit the Folk Park.
• Limerick: See Treaty Stone, King John’s Castle and Cathedral.
• Adare: See the main street lined with thatched cottages.
• Killarney: Enjoy a scenic tour around the Ring of Kerry. Join your ‘Jarvie’ for a ride on a jaunting car.
• Dingle Peninsula: Visit the Blasket Centre.
• Cobh: Visit the Heritage Centre.
• Cork: Enjoy an orientation tour.
• Blarney: Visit the Castle to kiss the Blarney Stone.
• Cahir: See the medieval Castle.
• Cashel: View St. Patrick’s Rock.
• Kildare: Visit Ireland’s National Stud and Japanese Gardens.

Itinerary:

Day 1 - ARRIVE DUBLIN
Welcome to a land of legends, of misty mountains, lovely lakes and a warm friendly greeting wherever you go. At Dublin Airport, transfers leave for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30. Later, a sightseeing tour of Dublin takes you past the Customs House, along O’Connell Street and through Phoenix Park. Travel along the river Liffey to see the Guinness Brewery and Dublin Castle before admiring the 18C buildings of the Georgian section of the city. Visit the Old Library of Trinity College which houses the 8C Book of Kells, its delicate paintings one of the treasures of the Middle Ages. Later, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Reception and light informal meal.
Hotel: Burlington/Herbert Park
Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - DUBLIN – GALWAY
Drive through the ‘forty shades of green’ landscape of the Emerald Isle. Pass by the former fortress town of Athlone on the River Shannon, to reach historic Galway, ‘City of the Tribes’, at the mouth of the Corrib River. Join your Tour Director to see the infamous Lynch Memorial and the Church of St. Nicholas, where Christopher Columbus reputedly prayed before his discovery of America. Also see the aged Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late US President, John F Kennedy
Hotel: Clayton
Meals: Full Breakfast

Day 3 - GALWAY – LIMERICK – KILLARNEY
Take the scenic route through the mysterious rocky limestone landscape of the Burren, riddled with underground caverns and streams and known for its rare flora. Stop at the Exhibition Centre at the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher with breathtaking views of the Clare Coast. Not far from here Ireland’s rural heritage comes to life as you walk through the cobbled streets of Bunratty Folk Park, lined with buildings from a bygone era. Later, stop in Limerick, famous for rhymes, lace and elegant Georgian houses. See King John’s castle, St Mary’s Cathedral and the Treaty Stone. Continue past the charming thatched cottages of Adare, through the land of song and legend to Killarney.
Hotel: Killarney Towers/Killarney Avenue
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner

Day 4 - RING OF KERRY EXCURSION
After a hearty Irish breakfast, take a leisurely excursion around the magnificent Ring of Kerry to enjoy the breathtaking views over mountains and sea. Pass through the small towns of Killorglin, where the famous Puck Fair takes place, and Caherciveen, birthplace of the great patriot Daniel O’Connel. Follow the narrow road as it winds along the cliffs to the fishing town of Waterville where reservations for an authentic local lunch have been made. Continue through delightful villages like Sneem and cross the peat bogs of the Black Mountains to Moll’s Gap to admire Queen Victoria’s ‘Ladies View’. Back in Killarney, enjoy a memorable ride on a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car with the local ‘Jarvies’
Meals: Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch

Day 5 - DINGLE PENINSULA AND BLASKET CENTRE
Travel through the town of Tralee, famous for its Rose of Tralee Festival and out to the rugged Dingle Peninsula, a land of blue gold hills, which inspired films such as ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ and ‘Far and Away’. At the very tip of the peninsula, visit the Blasket Centre which celebrates the language, culture and tradition of the Blasket Islanders. During your excursion, enjoy a delicious lunch at one of the peninsula’s great seafood restaurants. Back in Killarney, create your own personal dining experience by choosing from a selection of local restaurants tonight.
Meals: Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch / Dine Around

Day 6 - KILLARNEY – COBH – CORK – BLARNEY
Journey through the rugged Derrynasaggart Mountains to the pretty riverside village of Cobh, which was the last port of call for the Titanic. As you walk through the Heritage Centre relive the story of emigration of Irish people and the life of this once great passenger port. Then drive along spacious Grand Parade and South Mall of Cork, seeing the Court House and fine Georgian houses. At nearby Blarney, visit the 15C Castle, home of the famous Stone of Eloquence, once kissed - never forgotten! You also have a chance to shop for woolens at the Blarney Mills before reaching your hotel.
Hotel: Blarney Golf Resort
Meals: Full Breakfast / Dinner

Day 7 - BLARNEY – CAHIR – ROCK OF CASHEL - KILDARE – DUBLIN
This morning drive to Fermoy and through the Golden Vale with its beautiful pastoral countryside to Cahir to see its imposing 15th century castle, featured in the film Excalibur. Continue to St. Patrick’s Rock of Cashel, home to Irish kings, for amazing views of one of Ireland’s most popular monuments. Next visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese gardens in Kildare, before arriving early afternoon in Ireland’s fun-loving capital, for last minute shopping. Tonight, enjoy a farewell Celebration Dinner to round off your tour.
Hotel: Burlington/Herbert Park
Meals: Full Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 8 - RETURN TO CANADA
Your memorable tour comes to an end today. Departure transfers arrive at Dublin Airport at 07:30, 09:30 & 11:30.
Meals: Full Breakfast

Tour Pace: Well paced with three-nights in Killarney, and overnight stays in Galway and Blarney. The driving days are of a reasonable length with scenic stops offering photo opportunities.
Hotels: The four hotels on this tour range from the contemporary Burlington in Dublin and Galway’s stylish Clayton Hotel, to the cosmopolitan Killarney Towers and the Blarney Golf Resort, set amongst 170 acres of the Shournagh Valley.

INCLUDED FIRST CLASS SERVICES

• Escorted by a professional Tour Director
• Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
• Enjoy the unique comfort of Insight’s Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and on-board restroom
• Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
• Insight Traveller Welcome pack
• Airport arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 8(Should your flights not coincide with these transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport)

INCLUDED QUALITY DINING

• A Welcome Reception with light informal meal (WR)
• Stop on your journey around the Ring of Kerry for an authentic two-course lunch including a glass of wine. (HL)
• Enjoy an authentic two-course lunch including a glass of wine at a Dingle seafood restaurant. (HL)
• Dine-Around evening at your own choice of restaurant from our selection in Killarney (DA)
• An end of tour Celebration Dinner including a glass of sparkling wine and tea or coffee (CD)
• 7 full Breakfasts (FB), 1 three-course Evening Meal with choice, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)

Dates & Rates:

Tour leaves Dublin Saturdays and return to Dublin Sundays
April 28 – May 19: $2099
May 26 – August 25: $2125
September 1 – September 22: $2150
September 29 & October 6: $2050

All rates are in Canadian Dollars, per person, based on double occupancy
Singe Supplement: $425
Triple Reduction: please call our office