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A Taste of Ireland |
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Day 1: Depart Chicago Fly from Indianapolis to Chicago for our overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland. (In-flight Meals) Day 2: Arrival Dublin On arrival into Dublin Airport we will be met by our local tour representative who will escort us to our coach for immediate transfer into the City Centre. You will visit the Guinness Storehouse, located in the heart of the Guinness Brewery. Visitors will also have the opportunity to spend some time in the Advertising Gallery in the Storehouse, where you will find a display of all Guinness advertising material and shop in the Guinness Store where you will find the world’s greatest selection of Guinness fashions and memorabilia. The tour ends on the roof high above Dublin, in the Gravity Bar, with a pint of Guinness and a magnificent view of this 1000 year old city. Before our dinner we enjoy a welcome drink. Mont Clare Hotel- Dublin (D) Day 3: Dublin After breakfast we enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. We visit 16th Century Trinity College founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, the oldest university in Ireland. Trinity College is home to the famous Book of Kells, a 9th Century manuscript of the Gospels renowned world-wide for its rich illustrations. This is one of Ireland’s dearest treasures. We visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral circa 1191, being seen as the National Cathedral for the whole of Ireland. In a well close to where the cathedral now stands St. Patrick is reputed to have baptized converts from paganism to Christianity. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the city of Dublin on our own. This evening we enjoy a Traditional Irish dinner with entertainment at the world famous 16th century Abbey Tavern. Located in the lovely fishing village of Howth, with blazing turf fires, original stone walls flagged floors, gas lights and a really warm welcome. Traditional Irish entertainment features the Famous Abbey Tavern singers and musicians with a lively performance of music, song and the very best of Irish dancing. Mont Clare Hotel - Dublin (B, D and Entertainment) Day 4: County Wicklow / Waterford Leave Dublin this morning and travel through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains and visit Glendalough. It was here that St. Kevin founded a monastery in the 6th century. From this beginning the site grew to become famous as a centre of learning throughout Europe. Indeed, Ireland was known as the “Island of Saints and Scholars.” With the ruins of seven churches and a round tower one can feel a powerful sense of peace and tranquility. The Visitor Centre explains the history of the region and the monastery. After lunch on our own, we continue the journey to Waterford from the Old Norse: meaning “windy fjord.” It is the fifth largest city in Ireland founded in 914 AD, by the Vikings. Waterford is synonymous with Waterford Crystal the world over, a legacy of one of the city’s most successful and enduring industries, glass making. Glass, or crystal, has been manufactured in the city since 1783. We visit the Waterford Crystal Factory for a tour that gives you an opportunity to witness how the crystal is produced, from molten crystal through to finished masterpieces. You will have time to shop the showroom. Granville Hotel - Waterford (B, D) Day 5: County Cork / Killarney Traveling west, we stop in Midleton, a tour of the Old Midleton Distillery is a journey through the story of Irish whiskey. View the largest pot still in the world prior to sampling the internationally renowned Jameson Whiskey in the bar. We travel on to Blarney Woolen Mills to shop a 30,000 square foot retail store housed in one of Ireland’s oldest and most authentic Irish woolen mills; and Blarney Castle for a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone. Legend has it that by kissing The Blarney Stone you will receive the gift of eloquence. After lunch on our own, we continue on to Killarney where we stay 3 nights. Dromhall Hotel - Killarney (B, D) Day 6: County Kerry After a full Irish breakfast we travel out around the “Ring of Kerry.” Poets, painters, writers and musicians have all tried to convey the beauty of this area. Mountains, valleys and lakes blend into a palette of scenic splendor. The roads are narrow and the views so spectacular the journey will be a memorable one. We visit Muckross House located on the Lakes of Killarney, a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyle of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the house. The gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty; in particular they are noted for their fine collections of azaleas and rhododendrons. Stroll through the beautiful Sunken Garden, Rock Garden, Stream Garden and the Walled Garden Centre. The centre opens out onto the Victorian Walled Garden. The Walled Garden Centre houses The Garden Restaurant, Mucros Craft Shop, Mucros Weaving and Mucros Pottery shop. Together, these elements combine to form a very attractive visitor complex. We return to Killarney and after our included dinner we can stroll the quaint streets or perhaps enjoy some traditional music at one of more than 40 pubs. Dromhall Hotel - Killarney (B, D) Day 7: County Kerry This morning, we meet our jarvey for a horse and Jaunting Car Ride through Killarney National Park. The park including the Muckross Estate was established in 1932 and now encompasses 39.8 square miles of mountains, woodland and the Lakes of Killarney. Then we board our motor coach for our journey out onto the Dingle Peninsula. The National Geographic Traveler has described it as "the most beautiful place on earth". Bounded on three sides by the sea, it combines in its landscape the ruggedness of rocky outcrops and cliffs with the soft shapes of hills and mountains, skirted by coastal lowlands. We explore the incredible beauty of the Dingle and return to Killarney later this afternoon. The rest of the day is free to explore Killarney on our own. Dromhall Hotel - Killarney (B) Day 8: County Clare We depart and travel to the picture postcard village of Adare, which is one of Ireland’s special places, with thatched roof cottages and Tudor style houses, beautiful gardens and ivy clad medieval churches in beautiful surroundings on both sides of the street on the river Maigue. We visit Bunratty Castle, Bunratty is Ireland’s most complete and authentic medieval castle. Built in 1425 and plundered numerous times it was fully restored to its former medieval splendor in 1954 and is now complete with all furnishings and tapestries. Within in the grounds of the castle is Bunratty Folk Park, where we can see people working as they would have in the 1800’s. Tonight we enjoy a Medieval Banquet and entertainment at the Corn Barn in Bunratty Folk Park. As in bygone times all visiting guests are invited to participate in and enjoy the company of the finest singers, dancers and musicians of the local villages. You will experience the homeliness, friendship and warmth of a true traditional Irish evening. No where else can you experience the fun of what the Irish do best – Enjoy themselves….you might even learn a step or two! This evening has something to offer everyone: stories of Ireland in bygone days, traditional and contemporary dancing and Irish music that will have your feet tapping and your hands clapping. As with all celebrations, no evening would be complete without sharing our festive meal. The wine is plentiful and the food is cooked in a traditional way with portions that challenge even the largest appetite. Bunratty Castle Hotel - Bunratty (B, D & Entertainment) Day 9: County Kildare Today we drive through the rolling midlands of Ireland to County Kildare. Here we visit The Irish National Stud Farm and Japanese Gardens. The Farm is home to some of the most beautiful horses in Ireland. The Gardens, planned to symbolize the ‘Life of Man,’ are now of international renown and are acclaimed as the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe. A special treat awaits us as we overnight at Barbarstown Castle. Built in the 13th Century, it is a 4-Star Castle hotel. All the bedrooms are elegantly and luxuriously appointed, laden with antique furniture. Barberstown Castle — Staffen (B, D) Day 10: Dublin Airport We transfer to the Dublin airport and our flight home (B) Note: This tour involves high altitudes. It is advisable to check with your doctor if you are affected by high altitude. Commercial Air: Book Now to ensure your place on this trip because this trip operates on commercial air. Space is limited and may not be available less than 90 days before departure. |
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Cancellation policy: if
insurance is not purchased, cancellation charges are:121
days and earlier:
full refund; 120-91 days before departure: $750; 90 and
less days prior to departure: no refund. A valid passport is required. |
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9 nights
