ITINERARY
Wednesday, September 24th
From castles and Monasteries to crystal factories, this Ireland Trip will provide a unique opportunity to taste and see all that the Emerald Isle has to offer. We begin our tour with an overnight flight to Shannon, departing from Chicago O’Hare Airport. Dinner will be served on-board the plane. D
Thursday, September 25th
This morning we will arrive in Shannon. After we collect our luggage and pass through customs, we will be met by our Irish driver/guide. We will travel on to Galway, where we check into our first-class hotel! The afternoon is yours to spend at your leisure. Tonight, we will enjoy a special welcome dinner. B, D
Friday, September 26th
This morning after checking out of our hotel will drive to Our Lady of Knock Shrine. Here the Virgin Mary appeared to several witnesses young and old alike. We will take a guided tour of the grounds. In the early afternoon we will drive to the charming town of Killarney, where we will be staying for the next four nights. Along the way, we will see lakes and fells as we travel southward. Our route will take us through the market towns of Castleisland, Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West and the quaint old world village of Adare, with its gentle ruins and thatched cottages. We will arrive at our hotel, check in and enjoy a delicious dinner together. B, D
Saturday, September 27th
This morning, following a full Irish breakfast, we will drive to the little village of BLARNEY. Here we’ll have a chance (for a nominal fee) to kiss the famed Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. We will also visit and explore the Blarney Woolen Mills, famous for Irish crystal and china, woolen clothing and all sorts of wonderful souvenir items. We will leave in the early part of the afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure. The town of Killarney is incredibly charming. Perhaps you’ll participate in a traditional jaunting cart ride by the lovely Killarney Lakes or a visit to Muckross House, a 19th Century Tutor mansion set in beautiful landscaped grounds and surrounded by 11,500 acres of parkland. Inside Muckross House, the upper floors are furnished in the manner of the great houses of Ireland and include some fascinating exhibits. We will meet back at the hotel in the early evening to enjoy dinner together. B, D
Sunday, September 28th
This morning our driver will pick us up and bring us on a sightseeing tour of one of Ireland’s most popular and beautiful drives, the Ring of Kerry. Traveling from Killarney, we come to the town of KILLORGLIN, famous for the “Puck Fair.” We will continue our drive along the coastline of the broad Iveragh Peninsula, through the towns of Glenveagh, Cahirciveen, Waterville and Sneem. The scenery is a spectacular as wind-swept cliffs, still lakes, lost valleys and rocky mountains blend in awesome beauty. As one looks around it is easy to agree with the old Irish saying, “Even if a man has only a small bit of earth here, he has a lot of the heavens.” From Sneem, we will continue via “Ladies View” back to Killarney. Later in the day, we will enjoy a delicious dinner back at our hotel. B, D
Monday, September 29th
This morning after our full Irish breakfast, we depart on a tour of the rugged Dingle Peninsula. Film goers will be reminded of scenes from the movie, “Ryan’s Daughter,” which was shot in this area, as we drive past little harbors and wide stretches of sandy beach, leading southward to Slea Head. This is the most westerly point in Europe, also known as “the next parish to America.” Vistas of the Blasket Islands and Dingle Bay delight the eye and Gallarus Oratory, a little beehive stone structure, more than 1,000 years old, conjures up visions of monks in early Christian times in this “land of saints and scholars.” We will return to Killarney later in the afternoon. This evening we will all enjoy dinner at the hotel. B, D
Tuesday, September 30th
This morning we say goodbye to Killarney as we check out of our hotel and travel north to the city of DUBLIN. On our way, we will stop in the town of Waterford, where we will visit the famous Waterford Crystal Factory and showroom. An escorted tour of the facility will show the skilled craftsmen at work cutting and blowing this magnificent crystal. We will arrive and check into our first-class hotel, where we will stay for the next three nights. Although Dublin is a modern city, it still retains the graceful, charmed atmosphere of an earlier time. The Georgian squares and terraces are evidence of this. This remaining evening is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. B
Wednesday, October 1st
This morning, following a hearty breakfast, our tour will take us to the Garden of Ireland, County Wicklow. We leave the city behind and head for the heathery hills of the Wicklow Mountains that spring up at the edge of Dublin’s southern suburbs. We drive south through Enniskerry to Glendalough where St. Kevin founded his 6th Century monastic settlement. From there we will travel to Avoca, made famous by Thomas Moore’s song, “There Meeting of the Waters.” Enjoy the roads that wind through the mountain passes, cross over the high glens, and thread their way to the sandy beaches. Here we’ll see hills which are ablaze with wild flowers and golden gorse all summer long. B
Thursday, October 2nd
This morning after breakfast we will board our private motorcoach and participate in a City Tour of Dublin. Our guide will provide an informative narration of the places we will visit. Our tour includes driving past Trinity College, the famous place that houses the Book of Kells, a stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Shrine of St. Valentine, a visit to St. Michan’s Church and St. Steven’s Green, a drive through the city center and O’Connell. We will return back to the hotel in the early part of the evening for a special farewell dinner. B, D
Friday, October 3rd
This morning we will say goodbye to the Emerald Isle and drive to the Dublin Airport. We will check in and fly back to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. B
This itinerary and pricing are subject to change. Insurance is available and highly recommended. Space is limited to 45 participants only and based on first come, first served. Single rates are available upon request. Please consult the Terms and Conditions located on our website, as they apply once the first deposit is received.
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