Ireland Adventure

metronorth chamber of commerce

june 24-30, 2020

ITINERARY

Céad míle fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! Check into your hotel.

At 3 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College.

Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Horse-racing country awaits this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose fine thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. 

Lots more to see: the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached; Tipperary, made famous in a wartime marching song; and Limerick, where an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. 

Tonight’s suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional medieval banquet at an historic castle. Today’s 

Distance: 165 mi / 266 km 

Meals: Breakfast

Your day excursion along Ireland’s spectacular Atlantic coastline begins with a drive to the 668-foot CLIFFS OF MOHER, where you savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. A scenic route across the limestone plateau of The Burren takes you to Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. 

This afternoon, a special treat at RATHBAUN FARM: try your hand at SCONE BAKING, and learn from the farmer about sheep shearing and herding. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and your scones, fresh from the oven. 

Today’s Distance: 122 mi / 198 km 

Meals: Breakfast

After a short drive via Clonderlaw Bay to Killimer, cross the Shannon estuary by FERRY. 

Continue on to Killorglin on Dingle Bay to join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Take photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View, then spend the night in the popular resort of Killarney. 

Before dinner at your hotel, why not take a horse-drawn jaunting-car ride along the national park to Ross Castle? 

Today’s Distance: 174 mi / 281 km

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel across the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. 

Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. 

In the afternoon, proceed via Cork to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, for a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. 

After dinner this evening, enjoy an IRISH COFFEE DEMONSTRATION. 

Today’s Distance: 131 mi / 210 km 

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca, where you watch the weavers at work; the Wicklow Mountains; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then join your Local Guide to see the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement.

Back in Dublin tonight, a fitting farewell to Ireland would be an optional cabaret evening with dinner, followed by dance, song, and laughter.

Today’s Distance: 120 mi / 192 km

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, check out of your room and prepare for departure.

Inclusions:

Sight-seeing and activities in the following:
DUBLIN: Orientation drive; welcome dinner
KILDARE: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud
ROCK OF CASHEL
LIMERICK: Orientation drive
CLIFFS OF MOHER
GALWAY
RATHBAUN FARM: See the farmer at work,  bake your own scones, and enjoy coffee in the farmhouse
KILLIMER–TARBERT: Cross the Shannon estuary by ferry
RING OF KERRY
KILLARNEY
BLARNEY
WATERFORD: Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal;  enjoy an Irish Coffee demonstration
AVOCA: Guided tour of the handweaving mill
GLENDALOUGH: Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity (Headsets throughout the tour.)

Transportation: Motorcoach; ferry across the Shannon estuary.

Meals: Full Irish breakfast daily; 3 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin

 

Optional add-ons:
 

Flights Can be self- arranged or through Travel Leaders:  
Liz Jones, CTA | Travel Specialist | 763.233.7882 | Liz@tvlleaders.com

Airport-Hotel transfers
Trip Insurance
Pre or Post trip additions
Any other activities or meals not outlined in the itinerary

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