Irish Travel Bureau

Kiss the Blarney Stone
Tour the Ring of Kerry
Visit Muckross House
See the famous Cliffs of Moher
Medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle
A Cruise on Lough Corrib
Connemara Tour with visit to Kylemore Abbey
Visit to Clonmacnoise monastery
Dublin City Tour with visit to the Book of Kells

Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland

Arrive at Dublin Airport and transfer to you hotel. Transfers to hotel will be arranged at 08.00 am and 11.00 am. Arrivals after this time are under own arrangements.

You are free to explore the city at your leisure this afternoon. Your hotel will be within walking distance of the city centre.
Overnight Dublin hotel. (B, D)

En route stop in the town of Blarney for a visit to Blarney Castle. Dating from1446, the castle is a tower house built on solid limestone in wonderful grounds. At the top of the Tower you will find the legendary Stone of Eloquence. Kiss it and you’ll never again be lost for words. But don’t take our word for it – everyone from Sir Walter Scott to a host of American presidents, world leaders, and international entertainers has been eager to take advantage.

Enjoy some time for shopping at Blarney Woollen Mills
The presence of the Woollen Mills during the famine shielded Blarney from the worst effects of the famine, due to its employment of local workers. The success story at the mills continued until a disastrous fire in 1869. By August 1871, the mill was once again operational with a labour force of 222. In 1976 Chris Kelleher, himself a mill worker, bought the old mill property. Within a short period of time Chris and his family transformed the mill into what is perhaps the largest quality craft shop in Ireland.

Day 3 - Ring of Kerry

Today you can enjoy a superb tour of the Iveragh Peninsula, which will give you the opportunity to discover the Ring of Kerry. Taking in spectacular scenery - mountains, peat bogs, lakes and magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean. Leaving Killarney one passes through Killorglin, famous for its Puck Fair, then to Glenbeigh where the cliff road affords panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula and Dingle Bay. Passing through the peat bogs one arrives at the sea town of Waterville. Continue to Sneem Village, famous because of its brightly coloured houses. The road continues through the mountains to Molls Gap and Ladies View with superb views of the famous Lakes of Killarney.

Visit Muckross House, which was built in 1843 by the Herbert Family, in Elizabethan style. This house is one of the most sumptuous residences of Ireland. Muckross, surrounded by beautiful gardens, is in the heart of the Killarney National Park, the first to be opened in Ireland.
Overnight Kerry Hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 – Burren & Cliffs

Travel northwards to Tarbert and take a short boat ride across the mouth of the river Shannon to land on Clare’s shore at Killimer

Travel along the coast to the Cliffs of Moher
The most majestic cliffs in Ireland rise from the Atlantic Ocean at 215 metres and extend for over seven kilometres long. On a clean day, you can admire the Aran Islands, the Connemara Mountains and the many sea birds that colonise this place to nest in spring.

Enjoy a tour of the Burren Region
The Burren is a strange and unique region in Europe. “Burren” means “large stones”: in fact its name describes this impressive scenery perfectly well. Often described as lunar, the Burren is a high plateau of porous limestone situated in Northern Clare between Ballyvaughan and Kilfenora. No trees are growing here, no land is covering the stone, and the limestone is bare. But the Burren is not as deserted as we believe: the cracks allow different types of flowers to grow all year round, though spring would be the best season for the botanists to explore. The rocks hide many caves like Ailwee, as well as “Turloughs”, an interesting phenomenon which transforms lakes into fields during the summer. You will also discover the testimonies of its rich history thanks to countless castles and monastic ruins. Continue to Limerick

Evening: Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle

Bunratty Castle was built in the 15th century by the Earl of Thomond and stands on the banks of the Raite River in County Clare. From here The Earl ruled over his Chiefdom and was know for his generosity and his lavish entertainment and banquets. For over 40 years the ladies of Bunratty castle, aided and abetted by the Earl's Butler, have welcomed guests from the four corners of the globe to join them at The Earl's Banquet. The entertainment today is provided by the superb Bunratty Singers and is a fitting compliment to the lively mead reception, a four-course meal and of course good wine. Guests are invited to enjoy an unforgettable evening in the splendour of this magnificent castle. A true step back in time to Medieval Ireland.

On arrival enjoy an orientation tour of the city
Galway City is a delight with its narrow streets, old stone and wooden shop fronts, good restaurants and busy pubs. The city has attracted many musicians and artists, which add so much to the character of the city. A visit can start at Galway’s modern Cathedral, which was built in 1965.

Visit Galway Cathedral
The Cathedral is one of the largest and most impressive buildings in Galway City. Built between 1958 and 1965, it stands on the site of the old city jail. The architecture of the Cathedral draws on many influences. The dome and pillars reflect a Renaissance style. Other features, including the rose windows and mosaics, echo the broad tradition of Christian art. The Cathedral dome, at a height of 145 ft, is a prominent landmark on the city skyline. Cardinal Richard Cushing of Boston dedicated the cathedral in 1965. The exterior design may not be to everybody’s taste, while the interior, with its high curved arches and central dome, has a simple but solid elegance.

Enjoy a cruise on Lough Corrib
This journey on the Corrib Princess takes passengers along the Majestic River Corrib and onto the lake, providing visitors with wonderful views of the historic monuments and scenery, which make this one of the most spectacular waterways in Ireland. The visitors will see unsurpassed views of the historic monuments and natural amenities that make this one of the most spectacular waterway in Ireland. The cruise lasts 90 minutes and sails from Woodquay in the heart of Galway City.

Day 6 – Connemara

Today travel through the beautiful Connemara Region
Connemara is a land of lakes and rivers, bogs and mountains. A land of small villages where Gaelic is still the spoken language and where little has changed little since the beginning of time. It is without a doubt the wildest and the most romantic part of Ireland. Connemara is a vast peninsula bordered by the arid and rocky coastline of Galway Bay in the south ~ a land characteristic for its stone walls and thatched cottages. On its northern shore the land is harsher and more secret, with spectacular views of the Ocean, the fjord of Killary Harbour, as well as the steep mountains overlooking numerous lakes and large bog areas. Connemara is a real paradise for Nature lovers and those in search of strong emotions.

Visit Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is located in the Kylemore Pass in Connemara. A Mitchell Henry built the House in 1868, after having spent his honeymoon in the area. The architecture is best described as neo-gothic and the house still displays all the characteristics of that period. One of Kylemore Abbey's most famous features is its miniature cathedral, built in 1870 and known locally as the Gothic church.
Overnight Galway hotel. (B, D)

Situated in the wilds, on the banks of the Shannon, sixth century Clonmacnoise is nowadays partly in ruins. You visit the Visitor Centre where the original Celtic crosses are exhibited, followed by a tour of the site where you will see high towers, the eleventh century cathedral and the wonderful reproductions of the High Crosses.

Continue to Dublin to discover Dublin’s Fair City. The north side of the River Liffey offers great striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, or the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe.

The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square where Oscar Wilde’s House can still be found (today owned by an American College), its colourful doors, along with Grafton Street and its quality shops. Not so far from St. Stephen’s Green, in Kildare St., you will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. This part of the city is also dominated by the students of Trinity College, where the famous book of Kells is permanently exhibited in its library. The university is facing the medieval district where Dublin Castle and the two Anglican Cathedrals can be found.

Visit Trinity College, the oldest University in Ireland, which was founded in 1592 by Elizabeth 1st. Within its walls, you will be able to admire Parliament Square and its 18th Century edifices. The visit of the ancient library, containing over twenty thousand manuscripts, is often surprising by its splendour. The ninth Century Book of Kells, famous for its precious illuminations, is exhibited in these premises.

After a final Irish breakfast transfer to Dublin Airport for your departure flight home
(B)

                                    Blarney Castle                         Muckross House
                                    Cliffs of Moher                        Galway Cathedral
                                    Kylemore Abbey                     Clonmacnoise
                                    Trinity College

16 – 23 March 2010
6 – 13 April 2010
4 – 11 May 2010
18 – 25 May 2010
8 – 15 June 2010
22 – 29 June 2010
6 – 13 July 2010
13 – 20 July 2010
20 – 27 July 2010
27 July – 3 August 2010
3 – 10 August 2010
10 – 17 August 2010
17 – 24 August 2010
24 – 31 August 2010
31 August – 7 September 2010
7 – 14 September 2010
14 – 21 September 2010
21 – 28 September 2010
5 – 12 October 2010

Rates: CAD$ per person, twin share
March 2010                                         $1579.00
April & October 2010                         $1629.00
May – September 2010                       $1769.00

Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland

Day 3 - Ring of Kerry

Day 4 – Burren & Cliffs

Evening: Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle

Day 6 – Connemara

Visit Kylemore Abbey