Irish
Tradition Tour 11 Day Tour
Day 1 - Sun:
Shannon Arrival & Ennis Walking
Tour
Land at
Shannon Airport and transfer to the charming marketing town of
Ennis.
Complimentary transfers are available between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your
flight arrives later than 12:00 noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense.
At 2:00 pm join a local guide for a walking tour around the main points of
interest, including Ennis Friary. Meet your fellow travellers and tour director
over a welcome drink before dinner with casual entertainment in your hotel.
(D)
Day 2 - Mon:
Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Travel to the
coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, a five-mile wall of limestone rising above
the foaming Atlantic breakers. See the rounded limestone hills of the Burren and
the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a huge stone monument marking a Neolithic burial place.
Stop in the attractive village of
Ballyvaughan and continue to Moycullen,
just north of Galway. Visit the Connemara
Celtic Crystal Factory, which specializes in intricate designs in coloured
crystal. Head to Galway for free time before
dinner. (B, D)
Day 3 - Tue:
Connemara & Catamaran Cruise
Today explore
Connemara, a scenic region of misty hills and
shimmering lakes. At Leenane embark on a catamaran cruise through Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. See steep hills
where ridges of potato fields, reminders of the 1840's Famine, are still visible
and see mussel and salmon farms. Stop for photos at the Kylemore Abbey Visitor
Centre and drive to Cong, for a short walking tour around movie locations used
in the 1952 production of "The Quiet Man." (B, D)
Day 4 - Wed:
Yeats' Grave & Belleek China
Outside
Castlebar tour the Museum of Country
Life to see collections of domestic goods, used when
most people lived by farming. Stop at Knock Shrine to see the church where
locals saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Cross into County Sligo and stop at the grave of W. B. Yeats
before continuing to the Belleek Pottery Factory to watch skilled craftspeople
create delicate china. Continue your journey past the hazy Blue Stack Mountains to Stranorlar. (B,
D)
Day 5 - Thu:
Glenveagh
Castle & Grand Atlantic Drive
Travel into
the heart of Donegal to Glenveagh
National Park where Captain Adair
evicted 225 tenants to build Glenveagh Castle in 1870. Learn about the history of
the mansion, owners and guests as you tour the rooms and walk around the
extensive gardens filled with exotic plants. Then experience the glorious
natural beauty of the Grand
Atlantic Drive, which winds through Downings and
Rosapenna and around the coastline. Return to Stranorlar in time for dinner. (B,
D)
Day 6 - Fri:
Giant's Causeway & 17th Century Ballygally Castle
Hotel
In
Derry join a local guide for a
walking tour to see medieval city walls, the Diamond and St. Columb's Cathedral.
Drive along the north coast, pausing for
photos at Dunluce
Castle. Explore the
Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns
formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Experience wonderful
scenery along the coastal "Nine Glens of Antrim" route. Check in to
Ballygally Castle,
Northern
Ireland's only 17th century building
still used as a residence - ask to see "The Ghost Room." (B,
D)
Day 7 - Sat:
Belfast & Dublin's Merry Ploughboy Pub
Tour
Belfast with a
local guide to see Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where
the Titanic was built, Shankill and the Falls Road. Visit the Battle of the Boyne Centre to learn about the 1690 conflict
between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II, for dominance
over the British throne and religious power in Ireland. Travel to Dublin and check in to your city centre hotel.
Head to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for
dinner, which is followed by a show of traditional music and step-dancing. (B,
D)
Day 8 - Sun:
Dublin Tour
& Book of Kells
Tour
Dublin city
centre to see elegant Georgian squares with colourful doorways; pass the
peaceful St. Stephen's Green and the bustling shopping areas around Nassau Street; cross
the River Liffey to O'Connell
Street and view the General Post Office where the
1916 Rebellion started. Walk through the campus of Trinity College to view the 8th century
manuscript of the Book of Kells. The afternoon is free and your independent
open-top bus tour will
transport you around central Dublin and includes a visit to either Guinness
or Jameson. (B)
Day 9 - Mon:
Farmhouse
Tea & Blarney Castle
Drive south
through prime agricultural country and pause at the impressive Rock of Cashel
with its medieval ruins. Visit a nearby sheep farm to sample freshly-baked
scones with tea and find out about country living. Continue south to Blarney and
climb Blarney
Castle to kiss the famous
"Stone of Eloquence." Shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills or take a look around
the village green. Continue your journey to Killarney, famous for its beauty and
check in to your deluxe hotel overlooking the mountains and lakes. (B,
D)
Day 10 - Tue:
Jaunting Car Ride & Ring of Kerry Tour
Travel by
traditional horse-drawn jaunting car to Ross Castle for views of Killarney's
largest lake, Lough Leane. Head off on the Ring of Kerry, a circular tour with
amazing scenery and enjoy plenty of breaks to admire the natural beauty. Visit
the Skellig Experience to learn about early Christian monks who lived on the
rocky offshore islands and about the prolific bird life today. Drive through
Waterville and the colourful village of Sneem and stop at Moll's Gap to view the
Three Lakes of Killarney before returning to Killarney. (B,
D)
Day 11 - Wed:
Homeward Bound
Transfer to
Shannon
Airport to arrive by 9:30
am in time for flights home. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the
duty-free stores before boarding your flight for the journey home.
(B)
Breakfast (B)
Dinner (D)