Mon, Oct 15. UNITED STATES TO SHANNON
Depart your
hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight
entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.
Tue, Oct. 16 SHANNON ARRIVAL &
BUNRATTY
After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon
Airport, your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and take you to
your motorcoach. Drive a short distance to the village of Bunratty and visit the
Bunratty Folk Park, which comprises a collection of farmhouses from different
regions of Ireland and a 19th century village street with a pub, school, general
store and many other buildings where traditional lifestyles and crafts are
demonstrated. Then check into your hotel where you will have some free time in
the afternoon. You may choose to relax or explore some of the other attractions
near your hotel-choose from Bunratty Village Mills and Durty Nelly's Pub. This
evening join in the fun and feasting at Bunratty or Knappogue Castle. Your
medieval-style banquet is served in the Great Hall of the 15th century castle
during which the lords and ladies of the castle transport you in spirit to the
Middle Ages with their songs and stories. (B)
OVERNIGHT: BUNRATTY CASTLE
HOTEL, BUNRATTY
Wed, Oct. 17 CLIFFS OF MOHER &
GALWAY
Depart Bunratty and drive to the coast of Clare to view
the Cliffs of Moher. This impressive wall of rock rises to almost 700 feet above
the foaming Atlantic breakers. Continue through the Burren Country, a region of
rounded limestone hills, and around Galway Bay to Galway. Check into your hotel
and enjoy some time at leisure. You may choose to relax in your hotel or spend
some time around Eyre Square, the hub of the city. Most of the shops are within
easy reach and there are also many quaint pubs where Irish traditional music is
played. In the evening join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink followed
by dinner in the hotel restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL
MEYRICK, GALWAY
Thu, Oct. 18 CONNEMARA & LEISURE
TIME
Today tour Connemara and admire the sweeping views of
boglands and misty mountains. Stop in the quaint village of Spiddal, which
retains the Irish language and many traditional lifestyles. As you drive along
you will see many sheep that graze freely and also tracts of bogland where some
people hand-cut peat for home heating. Return to Galway where the balance of the
afternoon is at leisure. Eyre Square forms the hub of the city and contains the
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park where you can sit and people- watch. Many of the
narrow streets, such as Shop Street, are pedestrianized and contain shops, pubs
and teashops. Lynch's Castle dates from 1320 but is now a bank and you can see
portions of the medieval walls near Eyre Square. You may visit the magnificent
Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, dedicated in 1965 by Cardinal Cushing
of Boston. Or you may like to walk along the rushing River Corrib, which links
the lake to the sea. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the
hotel restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL MEYRICK, GALWAY
Fri, Oct. 19 ADARE & KILLARNEY
Leaving
Galway travel through Gort and Ennis. Drive through the city of Limerick,
strategically situated on the River Shannon. Continue to Adare, which is famous
for its main street of thatched houses and colorful gardens. After a photo stop,
journey into the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney, settled beside
three lakes in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountains. Upon arrival check
into your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day free to explore Killarney on
your own before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL,
KILLARNEY
Sat, Oct. 20 RING OF KERRY & SKELLIG
EXPERIENCE
Today admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs
and beaches on Ireland's most popular drive. See a variety of natural beauty as
you drive 100 miles around this scenic route. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge
to visit the Skellig Experience, which describes the way of life of early
Christian monks who built their monastery on one of the offshore islands. Also
learn about the many birds that nest in the Skelligs. A number of stops will
allow you to admire the spectacular scenery and take a brief walk around the
colorful village of Sneem. Head back to Killarney through Moll's Gap with
stunning views of the Lakes of Killarney. In the evening join your fellow
travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT:
KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY
Sun, Oct. 21 GLENGARRIFF &
KINSALE
Leaving Killarney travel south through lovely mountain
scenery to Glengarriff and Bantry Bay where the mild climate allows sub-tropical
vegetation to thrive. Continue along the coast through peaceful fishing towns to
Kinsale, nowadays a popular yachting center. Upon arrival take a brief walking
tour with a local guide to learn the history of Kinsale. The town traces its
origins back to 1177 when the Anglo-Normans founded a town in a small walled
area close to the water. It grew as a port town during the 18th century and
today the harbor is favored by yachtowners. The town has steep, narrow streets
with many fine Georgian houses. Today it is renowned as “the gourmet capital” of
Ireland as there are so many award-winning restaurants and pubs. Then check into
your hotel and enjoy some free time to settle in before joining your group for
dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CARLTON HOTEL, KINSALE
Mon, Oct. 22 COBH HERITAGE CENTRE & BLARNEY WOOLLEN MILLS
This morning drive a short distance to the east of Cork to
Cobh, the harbor town for large ships. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which
depicts the varied history of emigration from Ireland and many European
countries to the United States over the past 150 years. Cobh was the last port
of call for the "Titanic" and many liners that carried emigrants to the New
World. This informative display is housed in the rail station through which all
of the Irish emigrants had to pass. Then drive through the outskirts of Cork to
Blarney to visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of
Irish products of all types. Return to Kinsale where the balance of the day is
free for individual pursuits. In the evening join your fellow travelers for
dinner in the hotel restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CARLTON HOTEL,
KINSALE
Tue, Oct. 23 TRAVEL TO DUBLIN & MERRY PLOUGHBOY
EVENING
Depart Kinsale this morning and travel northeast via the
outskirts of Cork city and into County Tipperary. Continue your drive through
the midland region where you will see many farms and marketing towns. Your route
will take you past the towns of Portlaoise and Kildare and into the metropolitan
area of Dublin. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits on how this world
famous stout was first created and why it is so popular today. Finish your visit
in the roof-top bar, Gravity, overlooking the city center where you can sample a
draft Guinness and enjoy the view of the city. Then check into your hotel and
settle in before dinner.
This evening drive to the town of Rathfarnham
to The Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner followed by a lively show of traditional
Irish songs, dancing and music.
OVERNIGHT: BURLINGTON HOTEL, DUBLIN
Wed, Oct. 24 DUBLIN'S HIGHLIGHTS
This morning
discover the delights of central Dublin with public buildings, elegant Georgian
townhouses and squares as well as modern sculptures and busy shopping hubs.
Visit Kilmainham Gaol to see what punishment was like during its years of
operation from 1796 to 1924. Learn about political prisoners, especially from
the 1916 Rising, detained here because of their efforts to shape Ireland's
history. Spend the afternoon shopping or sightseeing independently. In the
evening join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner in the hotel
restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: BURLINGTON HOTEL, DUBLIN
Thu, Oct. 25 RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
All too
soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Transfer to Dublin Airport
in plenty of time to check in for your flight and clear security. You may do
some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then board your aircraft and
fly west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.
