Ireland Through The Ages

Tour Highlights:
Dublinia (Viking Dublin)
Newgrange Monolithic Sites
Dunbordy Famine Ship
Walking tour of Waterford
Cobh Heritage Center
Bunratty Folk Park
Aran Island Ferry
Tour of Irishmore
Shannon Estuary Ferry

Prices & Dates : Below

Based on per person traveling, Prices are subject to change 

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Escorted sightseeing by luxury motorcoach
• Professional Irish Tour Director throughout
• Accommodation at Superior and First Class hotels (3 & 4 Star) for 8 nights
• Full Irish Breakfast (B) daily except morning of arrival
• Four dinners (D) including one with entertainment - Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle
• Welcome reception hosted by your Tour Director
• All entrance fees to:
  • Dublinia (Viking Dublin)
  • Newgrange Monolithic Sites
  • Dunbrody Famine Ship
  • Walking tour of Waterford
  • Cobh Heritage Center
  • Bunratty Folk Park
  • Aran Island Ferry
  • Tour of Irishmore
  • Shannon Estuary Ferry
• Sightseeing including: Dublin, Newgrange, Wicklow, Waterford, Cobh, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty, Aran Island of Irishmore and Galway.
• Tips for baggage handling, taxes and hotel gratuities except gratuity to your Tour Director

Pricing excludes

• Airport taxes and security charges
• Transfers from airport /hotel/airport
• Meals not specifically identified
• Other personal expenses

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart USA Your trip begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Dublin (Your airfare is not included in the tour price). Relax and enjoy the in flight meal service and onboard entertainment.

Day 2: Viking Dublin Upon arrival at Dublin airport, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall. A representative will be there to meet you and arrange a transfer to your first hotel (transfer cost not included). While getting settled into your hotel you will have a chance to get a quick bite to eat or just take a moment to relax. In the afternoon we will head out to our first historical experience, Dublinia, where we will travel back in time into Viking Ireland and learn about the history of early Dublin. Later, enjoy a welcome reception with your tour director and fellow passengers. Accommodation: Grand Canal Hotel or similar.

Day 3: Pre-Christian Newgrange After breakfast, we head north of Dublin to Newgrange in County Meath. Newgrange dates back to 3200 BC and is one of Europe's largest and most famous passage tombs. Here you will experience a touch of Pre-Christian Ireland. On arrival back in Dublin, enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure. Perhaps have a walk through Dublin's wide Georgian streets or take a visit to Trinity College where you can visit the Old Library and view the ancient Book of Kells. Tonight you can opt for a traditional Irish Night, enjoying music and entertainment the traditional Irish way or if you prefer, spend the evening exploring Ireland's Capital City. Accommodation: Grand Canal Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 4: Early Christian Wicklow & Famine Period Wexford We bid farewell to Dublin this morning and travel south to County Waterford. On route we will travel through County Wicklow, otherwise known as the "Garden of Ireland" and we will stop at Glendalough "the valley of two lakes" famous for its spiritual history and early Christian monastic sites. Here we can view the famous round tower and other Celtic monastic sites. We will head on then towards County Wexford passing through the lovely village of Avoca where the popular TV series Ballykissangel was filmed. On arrival in Wexford we will visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship which provides a unique, authentic re-creation from a period in history that shaped modern day America and Ireland. Here you will hear stories from emigrants telling their accounts of where they come from and why they are leaving Ireland. The tour concludes with the story of famous Irish-American achievers such as John F. Kennedy and Henry Ford. We will then continue onto County Waterford where we will check into our hotel. This evening enjoy the city's inviting restaurants and music filled pubs. Accommodation: Tower Hotel or similar. (B,D)

Day 5: Viking Waterford, 15th Century Blarney & Famine Period Cobh WThis morning, after a hearty Irish breakfast we will take a walking tour of the Viking city of Waterford, Ireland's oldest tourist destination, first visited by the Vikings in 852 AD. Following this, we will head onto County Cork where we will make a stop in the coastal town of Cobh, the last port of call for the Titanic ship before it sank to its doom in 1912. Here we will visit the Cobh heritage center which tells the story of Irish emigration during the famine. Continuing on, we will make a stop at the village of Blarney where you can do some shopping in the Blarney Woolen Mills, or maybe you would like to visit Blarney castle where you can kiss the famous Blarney stone which gives you the "gift of gab". Following this we will head onto Killarney in County Kerry where we spend the next two nights. Tonight enjoy dinner in your hotel. Accommodation: Killarney Towers Hotel or similar. (B,D)

Day 6: The Ring of Kerry - Unspoiled Scenery, Ancient Heritage This morning, we will drive the famous Ring of Kerry, rich with an unspoilt scenery and Irish history. On the drive we will see many beautiful views including Moll's Gap and Ladies View. Above all the Ring of Kerry provides an amazing insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland - see the Iron Age Forts & Ogham Stones, Old Monasteries and a landscape carved out of rock by the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago. On arrival back in Killarney you can opt to step back in time and take a ride in a traditional horse drawn cart by the Lakes of Killarney. Tonight, enjoy dinner in your hotel. Accommodation: Killarney Towers Hotel or similar. (B,D)

Day 7: Cliffs of Moher This morning we travel north across the Shannon Estuary to the mighty Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 5 miles over the Atlantic Ocean with O'Brien's Tower standing proudly on a headland. From the Cliffs you can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. We then travel via an area called the Burren. The Burren is a karst limestone area which contains dozens of megalithic tombs and Celtic crosses. After this we will head on toward Galway where we will first take a tour of the Claddagh area and the Cathedral before checking into the hotel. As we will arrive late afternoon, the evening is free for you to relax and enjoy the many excellent pubs and restaurants in Galway. Accommodation: Harbour Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 8: 17th Century Galway & Celtic Aran Islands This morning after breakfast we will head west to the coast where we will take a ferry out to the famous Aran Islands. The islands are rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality. Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the comforts and facilities of the present. On our tour of Inishmore we will see many ruins and historical sights including Dun Aengus, a dramatic stone fort sentinel standing on a cliff top. It is said that the fort was built by a pre-historic tribe named "Fir Bolg" and their leader Aengus. This evening, you are on your own to enjoy the vibrant city of Galway. Accommodation: Harbour Hotel or similar. (B)

Day 9: 19th Century Bunratty & Medieval Banquest AAfter breakfast this morning we will travel south to County Clare. We will stop at the Craggaunowen Project where the living past tells us the story of the Celts arriving in Ireland. We continue on to Bunratty where we will stop at the Bunratty Folk Park, a beautiful little recreated 19th Century village which will almost make you feel like you have traveled back in time. Here you can see first hand, how a traditional Irish village would have looked during that time period. You may also want to take a visit to the Castle, the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. There will be time to relax before we head back out for tonight's dinner. Enjoy an evening of dinner and entertainment at the 15th Century Medieval Bunratty Castle. Here, we get transported back to Medieval Ireland through an array of song and dance and a typical medieval feast in the company of the Castle's Lords and Ladies. Accommodation: South Court Hotel or similar. (B,D)

Day 9: Dublin/USA After breakfast, we depart for Dublin Airport, for your return flight home. (B)