Jewels of Ireland 14 Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Fri: Dublin Castle & City Tour

Arrive in Dublin Airport and go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm tour Dublin city centre with a local guide to see elegant Georgian squares, Trinity College, St. Stephen's Green, the Famine Memorial and O'Connell Street. Tour the State Apartments of Dublin Castle, which contain magnificently-furnished chambers. Back at your hotel enjoy a welcome drink and discuss your tour.

Day 2 - Sat: Glendalough Monastery & Taylor's Three Rock

Take a drive through the lovely Wicklow Mountains to visit 6^th century Glendalough monastery, picturesquely set in a peaceful valley. Walk through ruined churches, a round tower and Celtic crosses. Return to Dublin where the afternoon is free to take your independent open-top bus tour and visit Guinness or Jameson. Head to Taylor's Three Rock Pub for dinner with traditional music, songs and step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 3 - Sun: Rock of Cashel & Historic Kinsale Walk

Travel south to visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster in 977. See the 12^th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel and other ancient ruins. Continue past the Galtee Mountains and through Cork to Kinsale, a delightful old fishing town which is now renowned for sailing and gourmet food. Check in to your waterfront hotel and join a local guide for a short walk around Kinsale's historic centre. (B, D)

Day 4 - Mon: Muckross House & Killarney

Drive via Macroom to Kenmare and along part of the Ring of Kerry route for splendid views. Tour Muckross House with a guide to tell you about influential owners and visitors before heading into Killarney for free time. Continue your journey along the Dingle Peninsula, enjoying views of heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Check in to your hotel, overlooking Dingle Bay. (B, D)

Day 5 - Tue: Dingle Peninsula & Gallarus Oratory

Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies, "Ryan's Daughter" and "Far & Away." Drive to Slea Head at the westernmost tip and tour the Blasket Experience to learn about the Blasket Islands. Visit Gallarus Oratory, a small church dating from the 6^th to 9^th centuries, which has remained watertight through the centuries. Travel up to the Conor Pass for sweeping views before returning to Dingle. (B, D)

Day 6 - Wed: Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher

Visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, which recalls the era during the 1930's and early 1940's when Pan Am's Clipper traffic created a hive of activity. Travel through Limerick on the way to Ennis and check in to your centrally-located hotel. At 2:30 pm depart for the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. Return to Ennis for dinner with some informal entertainment in your hotel. (B, D)

Day 7 - Thu: Poulnabrone Dolmen & Connemara Crystal

In Kilfenora visit the Burren Display Centre to learn about the Burren, an area of rounded limestone hills. Then view the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic burial place dating to 4,000 BC and take a look around the village of Ballyvaughan. In Moycullen visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory to see a skilled crystal cutter at work. Drive into Galway to check in to your central hotel overlooking Galway Bay. (B, D)

Day 8 - Fri: "Quiet Man" Walking Tour & Catamaran Cruise

Drive to Cong for a guided walk around the village where "The Quiet Man" movie was made in 1952. Drive through the lovely scenery of Connemara to embark on a short cruise of Killary Harbour. Enjoy an Irish coffee as you view traces of pre-Famine potato "lazy beds." Make a brief stop at Kylemore Abbey Visitor Centre before heading to Clifden, a delightful market town, and then return to Galway. (B, D)

Day 9 - Sat: Museum of Country Life & Belleek China

Outside Castlebar visit the Museum of Country Life. View collections of domestic goods, used in everyday living from 1850 to 1950. Stop in the pilgrimage town of Knock and in County Sligo view W. B. Yeats' Grave. Continue to Belleek for a tour of the Belleek Pottery Factory, founded in the mid-19^th century and today renowned for fine china. Drive to Donegal town for your next overnight stop. (B, D)

Day 10 - Sun: Slieve League Cliffs & Donegal

Drive along the coast of Donegal to view Slieve League sea cliffs, the highest in Europe reaching 1,972 feet. The cliffs drop straight down to the wild Atlantic waves creating marvellous views. Enjoy coffee or tea with home-baked scones before driving through Glengesh Pass to Ardara to visit Triona Design for demonstrations of spinning and knitting. Stop in Donegal town for free time before returning to your hotel. (B, D)

Day 11 - Mon: Derry Walk & Giant's Causeway

Take a walking tour with a local guide to see Derry's medieval walls, the Diamond and St. Columb's Cathedral. Pause for photos at Dunluce Castle before visiting the Giant's Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Continue along the scenic coastal drive of the "Nine Glens of Antrim" to your centrally-located hotel in Belfast, just across the street from the ornate Victorian bar, Crown Liquor Saloon. (B, D)

Day 12 - Tue: Belfast & St. Patrick's Grave

Tour Belfast with a local guide to see Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built, the Falls Road and Shankill. Drive south past the Mourne Mountains to Kingscourt to your lovely castle hotel, built in 1760. Arrive mid-afternoon so that you will have time to enjoy the facilities, including a 9-hole golf course. After dinner, youthful dancers will display intricate Irish step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 13 - Wed: Battle of the Boyne Centre & Leisure Time in Dublin

Outside Drogheda 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. Then travel into Dublin and check in to your hotel overlooking the River Liffey. The balance of the day is free so you may take an open-top bus tour and visit Guinness or Jameson, if you did not use your vouchers at the start of your tour. (B)

Day 14 - Thu: Depart from Dublin Airport

Your hotel offers a shuttle service to Dublin Airport every two hours starting at 7:20 am. So choose a suitable transfer time to arrive at the airport. If you need an earlier transfer, your tour escort will arrange one for you. (B)

Breakfast ( B) Dinner ( D)