8 Day The Original Irish Pub & Folk Tour 2012

Highlights:

• 12th Century Brazen Head Pub Dinner
• Old Jameson Distillery
• Kiss the Blarney Stone
• Sheepdog Trials on Ring of Kerry
• Irish Coffee in Foynes
• Guinness Brewery

8 Day The Original Irish Pub & Folk Tour 2012

Itinerary:
Day 1: Dublin Tour & Guinness Storehouse
Your tour starts at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the hotel at their own expense. In the afternoon tour Dublin with a local guide to see elegant Georgian squares with the famous brightly-painted doors and the peaceful St. Stephen's Green. Cross the River Liffey to O'Connell Street and view the General Post Office where the 1916 Uprising started and pause to view the solemn figures of the Famine Memorial. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to explore the many exhibitions, ending in the rooftop bar with a creamy pint of stout. Back at your hotel discuss your itinerary over a welcome drink with your tour director and you are free for dinner. Ryan's of Parkgate Street, a traditional Victorian pub, is beside your hotel and the lively Temple Bar area is within easy reach.
Day 2: National Stud & Medieval Kilkenny
Depart Dublin and stop in Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud. Horseracing is a passion for the Irish and you will see some of the finest stallions and learn about breeding. Walk through the charming Japanese Gardens, created to portray life from birth to death. Arrive in Kilkenny and check in to your centrally-located hotel. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure - Kilkenny is a fun place to explore on your own. You may like to tour Kilkenny Castle, dating back to 1192, shop at the Kilkenny Design Workshop or have a drink at Kyteler's Inn, a tavern established by a reputed witch in 1324. (B, D)
Day 3: Waterford Crystal & Blarney
Drive south to the ancient port of Waterford to visit the House of Waterford Crystal. See how skilled craftspeople transform molten glass into elegant tableware and magnificent trophies of all types. Drive along the south coast to visit Blarney Castle and climb to the ramparts to kiss the “Stone of Eloquence.” Enjoy some time for shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills or take a break in the pub hidden between the shops! Travel through County Cork and on to Killarney and check in to your hotel. In the evening you may like to explore some of the lively pubs where traditional Irish music is played. (B, D)
Day 4: Ring of Kerry Tour & Pub Dinner
Embark on County Kerry's popular scenic drive with Ireland's highest mountains on one side and a varied Atlantic coastline on the other. Every turn will reveal new vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches. Meet a local farmer, Brendan Ferris, for a taste of farm life as he demonstrates how dogs herd flocks of sheep. At the Skellig Experience learn about early Christian monks who braved a harsh existence on the rocky offshore islands. Continue your trip around the peninsula with stops in the attractive village of Sneem and at Moll's Gap for views of the Lakes of Killarney. It the evening drive to Kate Kearney's Cottage for dinner and traditional Irish entertainment with songs and dances. (B, D) 
Day 5: Cliffs of Moher & Connemara
Drive north for a short ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. View the Cliffs of Moher that rise to heights of almost 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. Pass through the Burren, around the shores of Galway Bay and through the lovely scenery of the Connemara region. Pass hills, little lakes and open country where mountain sheep roam freely. Stop in Leenane, renowned as the location of the movie, “The Field.” Continue to Westport, an attractive estate town built in 1780, and check in to your hotel. Westport is a great town with lots of interesting shops and traditional pubs, many with live music. (B, D)
Day 6: Westport House & Achill Island Excursion
Visit Westport House, an 18th century mansion, set in superb parkland with magnificent views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Achill Island. See stunning rooms with priceless furnishings, paintings, books, silver and Waterford Crystal. Drive around Clew Bay to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of nearly 100 stone cottages abandoned around the time of the 1840's Famine. Return to Westport for free time. (B, D)
Day 7: Strokestown House & Brazen Head Pub
Visit Strokestown Park House in County Roscommon. There are three parts to see - the 18th century mansion with its original furnishings; the four-acre walled garden, restored to look as it would have during the heyday of the estate; and the Famine Museum, which explains the circumstances of the 1840's Famine through a combination of original documents and images. Head to the Brazen Head Pub, Dublin's oldest, dating back to 1198 for an evening of “Food, Folk and Fairies” where story-telling will reveal Ireland's myths and beliefs in times past. (B, D)
Day 8: Tour Ends Dublin Airport
Take a taxi transfer to Dublin Airport in good time for your flight home. (B)
Your Hotels:
First class:

• Ashling Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
• Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny (1 night)
• International Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Wyatt Hotel, Westport (2 nights)
• Ashling Hotel, Dublin (1 night)

Tour Includes

• Group transfers at start and end of tour
• Sightseeing by luxury coach
• Professional tour director
• 7 nights in hotels listed above
• Full breakfast daily except on day 1 (B)
• 5 dinners (D) including:
  - Food, Folk and Fairies dinner/show at the Brazen Head Pub
  - 4 table d'hote dinners
• Lunch at Bridge Bar on Ring of Kerry (L)
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• Tour and a pint at the Guinness Storehouse
• Sheepdog trials on Ring of Kerry
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• Day tour to Achill Island
• Visits and admissions to Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens, House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher, Westport House, Strokestown House and Famine Museum
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Dates & Rates:
Tour begins and ends in Dublin Saturdays and Wednesdays.
April 4 – 28: $1338
May 5 – 19: $1458
May 26 – September 26: $1548
September 29 - October 6: $1438
October 10 – 27: $1338
November 3 - 24: $1168
December 1 & 8: $1098

All rates in US Dollars, per person, based on double occupancy.
Single Supplement: $388