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Irish Heritage 7 & 8 Day Tour
Tour Highlights
- Bunratty Castle Banquet
- Traditional Pub Dinner & Show in Dublin
- Cliffs of Moher
- Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
- Foynes Flying Boat Museum & Irish coffee
- Stay at 5* Dromoland Castle Hotel on 8-Day Tour
Day 1: Bunratty & Medieval Banquet
Start your tour at Shannon Airport with a group transfer to your hotel, available between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than 12:00 noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. This afternoon you are at leisure to rest after your journey or take a stroll on your own through Bunratty Folk Park, which is located close to your hotel. Join your fellow travellers for a welcome drink before heading to the 15th century Bunratty Castle for a medieval-style dinner and entertainment. (D)
Day 2: Cliffs of Moher & Irish Coffee
Drive west through Ennis and Lahinch to see the Cliffs of Moher, which rise almost 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf. Then cross the wide River Shannon Estuary on a short ferry ride to Tarbert and travel along the river shore to Foynes. Visit the Flying Boat Museum, which recalls the early days of air travel, during the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Irish coffee was first created here to warm frozen, weary travellers and you will learn how to make a perfect one and then drink it. Drive south to Killarney, a world-famous town due to its exquisite location beside lakes and mountains. Check in to your hotel in the town centre and enjoy free time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 3: Killarney & Ring of Kerry Tour
Embark on Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, for great views of mountains, open Atlantic Ocean, beaches and cliffs. Enjoy plenty of breaks to admire the natural beauty and take photos. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience and learn about early Christian monks who lived on the isolated, rocky islands and about the prolific bird life today. Pass through Waterville, where Charlie Chaplin loved to holiday, and the colourful village of Sneem. Stop at Moll’s Gap for great mountain vistas and tour 19th century Muckross House to admire elegant antiques and learn about the history of the mansion. Take a walk through the lovely gardens before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 4: Blarney Castle & Cobh Heritage
Depart Killarney and travel through Macroom to visit the famous Blarney Castle where you may climb to the top to kiss the fabled “Stone of Eloquence.” Browse through the Blarney Woollen Mills for quality Irish-made goods. Bypass Cork city as you drive to the port town of Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration from Ireland to new worlds. Learn about travel conditions for the many Irish emigrants on early sailing ships and steam vessels. Follow the coastal route via the town of Youghal to Waterford and check in to your hotel. In the evening take a gentle walk with a local historian who will reveal Waterford’s Viking and medieval past. (B, D)
Day 5: Waterford Crystal & Glendalough Monastic Site
This morning tour the House of Waterford Crystal to learn about glass blowing and cutting and see one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Leave Waterford and head north through the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains on the way to Glendalough. Learn about St. Kevin’s 6th century monastery in the Glendalough Visitor Centre and walk through the site to see its round tower, church ruins and Celtic crosses. Continue to your next hotel, an elegant Victorian mansion, which overlooks Dublin Bay and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Dine on Irish specialties at a Traditional Irish pub, followed by a lively show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 6: Dublin Tour & Kilmainham Gaol
Relax on a half-day guided tour of Dublin, originally founded by Vikings over 1,000 years ago. See elegant Georgian townhouses and colourful doors and cross the River Liffey to view the wide thoroughfare of O’Connell Street with the General Post Office where the 1916 Rebellion started. Pause to view the gaunt figures at the Famine Memorial before visiting Kilmainham Gaol to see how penal establishments were operated in past centuries. Learn about the leaders of the 1916 Uprising who were imprisoned and shot here, changing Irish history. The afternoon is free so that you may use your independent open-top bus tour and Guinness or Jameson vouchers. Dine on your own this evening. (B)
Day 7: Return Home or Dromoland Castle Hotel
Passengers on our 7-day tour will take complimentary group transfers to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. (B)
Those on the 8-day tour will leave Dublin and drive to the Irish National Stud to see some of Ireland’s finest horses and learn about breeding techniques. Also take a walk around the Japanese Gardens, laid out to represent life from the cradle to the grave. Drive through the centre of Ireland to the imposing and deluxe Dromoland Castle Hotel. Relax in the elegance and surroundings of this wonderful fairytale resort. Then experience an elegant farewell dinner in the oak-panelled dining room – a fitting way to spend the last evening of your Irish tour. (B, D)
Day 8: Home from Shannon
Take a group transfer to nearby Shannon Airport where your tour concludes at either 7:30 am or 10:30 am. Check in for your flight in good time and you may like to shop at the duty-free shops. If you need to arrive at Shannon Airport for an earlier flight check-in, a taxi service can be arranged but you are responsible for the cost. (B)
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- Group transfers at start and end of tour
- Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
- Dublin open-top bus tour with complimentary visit and a drink at Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery
- Professional tour director throughout
- Deluxe & superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 6 or 7 nights
- Full Irish breakfast daily (B)
- 5 or 6 dinners (D) including:
- Medieval banquet and entertainment in Bunratty Castle
- Dinner and traditional Irish show in Dublin
- Farewell dinner at Dromoland Castle (8-day tour only)
- 3 table d’hote dinners
- Welcome get-together drink
- Ferry ride across the River Shannon
- Foynes Flying Boat Museum & an Irish coffee
- Walking tour of Waterford
- Tour of Dublin with a local guide
- Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Skellig Experience, Muckross House & Gardens, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre, House of Waterford Crystal, Glendalough Visitor Centre, Kilmainham Gaol and Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens (8-day tour only)
- Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
- All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
YOUR HOTELS
Stay at the following (or similar):
Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
Malton Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (2 nights)
Dromoland Castle Hotel, Newmarket-on-Fergus (1 night – 8-day tour only)
Please see 2013 departure dates and prices below (all prices in USD)
Tour Starts Tour Ends 7 Day 8 Day Shannon Dublin Mon Mar 04 Sun Mar 10 1238 1576 Mon Mar 11 Sun Mar 17 1238 1576 Mon Mar 18 Sun Mar 24 1238 1576 Mon Mar 25 Sun Mar 31 1238 1576 Mon Apr 01 Sun Apr 07 1376 1732 Mon Apr 08 Sun Apr 14 1376 1732 Mon Apr 15 Sun Apr 21 1376 1732 Mon Apr 22 Sun Apr 28 1376 1732 Mon Apr 29 Sun May 05 1498 1945 Mon May 06 Sun May 12 1568 2098 Mon May 13 Sun May 19 1568 2098 Mon May 20 Sun May 26 1568 2098 Mon May 27 Sun Jun 02 1568 2098 Mon Jun 03 Sun Jun 09 1568 2098 Mon Jun 10 Sun Jun 16 1568 2098 Mon Jun 17 Sun Jun 23 1568 2098 Mon Jun 24 Sun Jun 30 1568 2098 Mon Jul 01 Sun Jul 07 1568 2098 Mon Jul 08 Sun Jul 14 1568 2098 Mon Jul 15 Sun Jul 21 1568 2098 Mon Jul 22 Sun Jul 28 1568 2098 Mon Jul 29 Sun Aug 04 1568 2098 Mon Aug 05 Sun Aug 11 1568 2098 Mon Aug 12 Sun Aug 18 1568 2098 Mon Aug 19 Sun Aug 25 1568 2098 Mon Aug 26 Sun Sep 01 1568 2098 Mon Sep 02 Sun Sep 08 1568 2098 Mon Sep 09 Sun Sep 15 1568 2098 Mon Sep 16 Sun Sep 22 1568 2098 Mon Sep 23 Sun Sep 29 1568 2098 Mon Sep 30 Sun Oct 06 1488 1928 Mon Oct 07 Sun Oct 13 1398 1758 Mon Oct 14 Sun Oct 20 1398 1758 Mon Oct 21 Sun Oct 27 1398 1758 Mon Oct 28 Sun Nov 03 1318 1678 Mon Nov 04 Sun Nov 10 1248 1588 Mon Nov 11 Sun Nov 17 1248 1588 Mon Nov 18 Sun Nov 24 1248 1588 Mon Nov 25 Sun Dec 01 1248 1588 Mon Dec 02 Sun Dec 08 1188 1498 * 8 day tour returns from Shannon one day later than shown above Single room supplement: 7 day $378, 8 day $686