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Irish Tradition 12 Day Coach Tour
Tour Highlights
- Traditional Irish evening in Dublin
- Giant’s Causeway
- Belfast City Tour
- Killary Fjord Catamaran Cruise
- Jaunting Car Ride in Killarney
- Irish Coffee at Foynes Flying Boat Museum
- Farewell Banquet at Bunratty Castle
Day 1: Shannon Arrival & Ennis Walking Tour
Land at Shannon Airport and transfer to the charming marketing town of Ennis. Complimentary transfers are 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. At 2:00 pm join a local guide for a walking tour around the main points of interest. Meet your fellow travellers and tour director over a welcome drink before dinner in your hotel. (D)
Day 2: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Travel to the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, a five-mile wall of limestone rising above the foaming Atlantic breakers. See the rounded limestone hills of the Burren and the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a huge stone monument marking a Neolithic burial place. Stop in the attractive village of Ballyvaughan and continue to Moycullen, just north of Galway. Head to Galway for a panoramic city tour before continuing to your hotel in good time for dinner. (B, D)
Day 3: Connemara & Catamaran Cruise
Today explore Connemara, a scenic region of misty hills and shimmering lakes. At Leenane embark on a catamaran cruise through Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. See steep hills where ridges of potato fields, reminders of the 1840’s Famine, are still visible and see mussel and salmon farms. Stop for photos at the Kylemore Abbey Visitor Centre and drive to Cong for a short walking tour around movie locations used in the 1952 production of “The Quiet Man. Visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, which specializes in intricate designs in coloured crystal” (B, D)
Day 4: Country life & Belleek China
Outside Castlebar tour the Museum of Country Life to see collections of domestic goods, used when most people lived by farming. Stop at Knock Shrine to see the church where locals saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1879. Cross into County Sligo and stop at the grave of W. B. Yeats before continuing to the Belleek Pottery Factory to watch skilled craftspeople create delicate china. Continue your journey past the hazy Blue Stack Mountains to Stranorlar. (B, D)
Day 5: Glenveagh Castle & Grand Atlantic Drive
Travel into the heart of Donegal to Glenveagh National Park where Captain Adair evicted 225 tenants to build Glenveagh Castle in 1870. Learn about the history of the mansion, owners and guests as you tour the rooms and walk around the extensive gardens filled with exotic plants. Then experience the glorious natural beauty of the Grand Atlantic Drive, which winds through Downings and Rosapenna and around the coastline. Return to Stranorlar in time for dinner. (B, D)
Day 6: Giant’s Causeway & Nine Glens of Antrim
In Derry join a local guide for a walking tour to see medieval city walls, the Diamond and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Drive along the north coast, pausing for photos at Dunluce Castle. Explore the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Experience wonderful scenery along the coastal “Nine Glens of Antrim” route. Drive into Belfast to your city centre hotel where you will have free time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 7: Belfast & Dublin Pub Evening
Tour central Belfast with a local guide to see Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built, Shankill and the Falls Road. Visit Down Cathedral to see the reputed burial place of St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. Also visit the St. Patrick Centre to learn about his life and times. Travel to Dublin and check in to your hotel. Head to dinner, which is followed by a show of traditional music and step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 8: Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
Tour Dublin city centre to see elegant Georgian squares with colourful doorways; pass the peaceful St. Stephen’s Green and the bustling shopping areas around Nassau Street; cross the River Liffey to O’Connell Street and view the General Post Office where the 1916 Rebellion started. Walk through the campus of Trinity College to view the 8th century manuscript of the Book of Kells. The afternoon is free for you to use independent vouchers for an open-top bus tour all around central Dublin and a visit to either Guinness or Jameson. (B)
Day 9: Farmhouse Tea & Blarney Castle
Drive south through prime agricultural country and pause at the impressive Rock of Cashel with its medieval ruins. Visit a nearby sheep farm to sample freshly-baked scones with tea and find out about country living. Continue south to Blarney and climb Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.” Shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills or take a look around the village green. Continue your journey to Killarney, famous for its beauty and check in to your deluxe hotel overlooking the mountains and lakes. (B, D)
Day 10: Jaunting Car Ride & Ring of Kerry Tour
Travel by traditional horse-drawn jaunting car to Ross Castle for views of Killarney’s largest lake, Lough Leane. Head off on the Ring of Kerry, a circular tour with amazing scenery and enjoy plenty of breaks to admire the natural beauty. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about early Christian monks who lived on the rocky offshore islands and about the prolific bird life today. Drive through Waterville and the colourful village of Sneem and stop at Moll’s Gap to view the Three Lakes of Killarney before returning to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 11: Irish coffee at Foynes & Bunratty Banquet
After a leisurely breakfast and late departure from Killarney, drive to Foynes to learn about the early days of flight at the Flying Boat Museum, when Pam Am Clippers from the United States and Europe landed here. This is the birthplace of Irish coffee so watch a demonstration before sipping one. Drive to Bunratty and spend free time in Durty Nelly’s Pub or the Bunratty Folk Park. In the evening head to 15th century Bunratty Castle’s Great Hall for a medieval-style banquet with wine and music to carry you to the Middle Ages in spirit. (B, D)
Day 12: Return from Shannon
Complimentary group transfers are provided to Shannon Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. After check-in, you’ll have time to shop at the duty-free shops before boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- Group transfers on arrival and departure
- Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
- Dublin open-top bus tour with complimentary visit and a drink at Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery
- Services of a professional Irish tour director
- Deluxe & superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 11 nights
- 11 full Irish breakfasts (B)
- 10 dinners (D) including:
- Dinner and traditional Irish show in Dublin
- Medieval Banquet and entertainment in Bunratty Castle
- 8 table d’hôte dinners
- Welcome get-together drink
- Walking tours of Ennis and Derry with local guides
- Catamaran cruise of Killary Fjord
- “The Quiet Man” walking tour of Cong
- Tours of Belfast and Dublin with local guides
- Farmhouse tea and scones with sheepdog display
- Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney
- Foynes Flying Boat Museum and an Irish coffee
- Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, Museum of Country Life, Knock Shrine, W. B. Yeats’ Grave, Belleek Pottery Factory, Glenveagh Castle & National Park, Giant’s Causeway, Down Cathedral, St. Patrick Centre, Book of Kells at Trinity College, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills and Skellig Experience
- 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):
- Old Ground Hotel, Ennis (1 night)
- Galway Bay Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
- Kee’s Hotel, Stranorlar (2 nights)
- Europa Hotel, Belfast (1 night)
- Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
- Brehon Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
- Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
Tour starts Tour ends 12 Day Shannon Shannon Mon Mar 11 Fri Mar 22 1898 Mon Mar 18 Fri Mar 29 1898 Mon Mar 25 Fri Apr 05 1898 Mon Apr 01 Fri Apr 12 2138 Mon Apr 08 Fri Apr 19 2138 Mon Apr 15 Fri Apr 26 2138 Mon Apr 22 Fri May 03 2248 Mon Apr 29 Fri May 10 2248 Mon May 06 Fri May 17 2398 Mon May 13 Fri May 24 2398 Mon May 20 Fri May 31 2398 Mon May 27 Fri Jun 07 2398 Mon Jun 03 Fri Jun 14 2398 Mon Jun 10 Fri Jun 21 2398 Mon Jun 17 Fri Jun 28 2398 Mon Jun 24 Fri Jul 05 2398 Mon Jul 01 Fri Jul 12 2398 Mon Jul 08 Fri Jul 19 2398 Mon Jul 15 Fri Jul 26 2398 Mon Jul 22 Fri Aug 02 2398 Mon Jul 29 Fri Aug 09 2398 Mon Aug 05 Fri Aug 16 2398 Mon Aug 12 Fri Aug 23 2398 Mon Aug 19 Fri Aug 30 2398 Mon Aug 26 Fri Sep 06 2398 Mon Sep 02 Fri Sep 13 2398 Mon Sep 09 Fri Sep 20 2398 Mon Sep 16 Fri Sep 27 2398 Mon Sep 23 Fri Oct 04 2398 Mon Sep 30 Fri Oct 11 2328 Mon Oct 07 Fri Oct 18 2195 Mon Oct 14 Fri Oct 25 2195 Mon Oct 21 Fri Nov 01 2098 Mon Oct 28 Fri Nov 08 2098 Single room supplement: $598