Unforgettable Ireland Escorted Tour

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

Prices & Dates : Below

Based on per person traveling in twin room, Prices are subject to change 

YOUR TOUR INCLUDES:

• Roundtrip flights from New York to Dublin on available carrier
• Escorted sightseeing by luxury motorcoach
• Professional driver/guide included as per itinerary
• Group arrival and departure airport transfers (time specific)
• Accommodation at four star hotels for 7 nights
• Full Irish Breakfast (B) daily except morning of arrival
• Three dinners (D) as per itinerary
• All entrance fees to:
  • Blarney Castle
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Muckross House
  • Galway Cathedral
  • Kylemore Abbey
  • Clonmacnoise
  • Trinity College
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• English speaking guide for half day Dublin City Tour
• Hotel service charges, taxes and porterage fees

Pricing excludes

• Airport taxes and fees
• Transfers from airport/ hotel/ airport
• Drinks and Meals not speciically identified
• Other personal expenses

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1: Depart USA Your trip begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Dublin. Relax and enjoy the in-flight meal service and onboard entertainment.

Day 2: Welcome to Ireland Upon arrival at Dublin airport, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall. Transfers to the hotel will be arranged at 8:00am and 12:00pm (noon). If your flight arrives after 12:00 noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. You are free to explore the city at your leisure this afternoon. Your hotel will be within walking distance of the city center. Dinner at the hotel this evening. Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Dublin. (D)

Day 3: Ireland's Midlands, Blarney Castle & Kerry Today meet with your coach and English speaking driver/guide and depart Ireland's Capital and travel to County Kerry. En route stop in the town of Blarney for a visit to Blarney Castle. Dating from 1446, 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 labor 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. Continue to your Kerry hotel. Dinner at the hotel this evening. Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Killarney or Kerry region. (B,D)

Day 4: 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 view 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 colored 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. Today enjoy dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants or pubs in Killarney Town. Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Killarney or Kerry region. (B)

Day 5: 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 Killimar. Travel along the coast to the Cliffs of Moher. The most majestic cliffs in Ireland rise from the Atlantic Ocean at 215 meterse and extend for over seven kilometers. On a clear 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.

OPTIONAL 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 known 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 splendor of this magnificent castle. A true step back in time to Medieval Ireland.

Overnight: 4 Star Hotel in Limerick. (B)

Day 6: Galway City & Lough Corrib Cruise 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 hte 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 feet, 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 on 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 cruise lasts 90 minutes and sails from Woodquay in the heart of Galway City.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. Dinner at the hotel this evening.

Overnight: 4 Star hotel in Galway. (B,D)

Day 7: Connemara Today travle 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 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 view of the Ocean, the vjord 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. Today, the Abbey is home to the Irish order of Benedictine nuns. They bought the house in 1920, having fled their convent in war-torn Belgium in 1914.

Overnight: 4 Star hotel in Galway. (B)

Day 8: Galway - Dublin's Fair City Depart Galway for Dublin vis Clonmacnoise. Situated in the wilds, on the banks of the Shannon, sixth century Clonmacnoise is nowadays partly in ruins. You visit the Visitor Center 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 colorful 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 splendor. The ninth century Book of Kells, famous for its precious illuminations, is exhibited in these premises.

Some time at leisure for some last minute souvenir shopping. (B)

OPTIONAL EVENING: Evening Entertainment at Taylors Three Rock (or similar)

Taylor's Three Rock is a lively pub located in Rathfarnham, 30 minutes from Dublin city center. It hosts a fine restaurant and an excellent Irish night of music and dance. Guests are encouraged to dine early and be ready for the music, which starts at 9:00pm. A ballad group (4 musicians typically) will regale visitors with ballads both happy and sad and will (after a few pints) have visitors singing along with them. The music is interrupted for a short while to allow guests to catch their breaths and enjoy the best of Irish Dancing - guaranteed to get feet tapping. A final song or two from the musicians will send the visitors into the night with fond memories of a memorable night in a Dublin Pub.

Overnight: 4 Star hotel in Dublin.

Day 9: Dublin/USA After a final breakfast, transfer to Dublin Airport for your departure flight home. Transfers will be arranged at 6:00am and 9:30am. (B)