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Itinerary(Click to Open & Close)
Click Here for Printable Version Fri. April 16 - UNITED STATES TO DUBLIN Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Sat. April 17 - DUBLIN ARRIVAL & GALWAY After landing at Dublin Airport, you will complete customs and immigration formalities. Your CIE Tours driver/guide will then welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach. Depart Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and is delightfully set on the banks of the River Shannon. Continue your drive to Galway and embark on a panoramic tour to see the principal sights of the city. A drive around will take you to the large modern cathedral set on an island on the River Corrib. See the Spanish Arch in the Claddagh area, formerly a fishing village, the City Museum, National University of Galway and the Cathedral of Our Lady, which is built on the site of the former county jail. Then check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. You may choose to relax in your hotel or spend some time around Eyre Square, the hub of the city. Most of the shops are within easy reach and there are also many quaint pubs where Irish traditional music is played. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: SALTHILL HOTEL, GALWAY Sun. April 18 - CONNEMARA & CELTIC CRYSTAL Today tour Connemara and admire the sweeping views of boglands and misty mountains. Stop in the quaint village of Spiddal, which retains the Irish language and many traditional lifestyles. As you drive along you will see many sheep that graze freely and also tracts of bogland where some people hand-cut peat for home heating. On the return, stop in the town of Moycullen to visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory. This family business specializes in designs based on the shamrock, Claddagh ring and harp, often in colored crystal. Watch a craftsman demonstrate the cutting of designs and see the full range of products in the showrooms. Drive to Leenane for a short catamaran cruise aboard the “Connemara Lady” through Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. You can see great views from this narrow inlet, which is surrounded by hills and cliffs. Also observe the seabirds, seals and otters that live in the waters. Return to Galway and enjoy some time at leisure before dining in your hotel. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: SALTHILL HOTEL, GALWAY Mon. April 19 - CLIFFS OF MOHER & KILLARNEY Drive around Galway Bay and through the Burren Country, a unique region of limestone hills renowned for its flora and prehistoric stone monuments. Stop to view the majestic Cliffs of Moher, a rocky wall that rises nearly 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. Take a short ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary to the mountainous countryside of Kerry. Arrive in Killarney and check into your hotel. Then you will have the afternoon free to relax or stroll around town before dinner. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY Tue. April 20 - RING OF KERRY TOUR Today explore the Ring of Kerry 100 miles of marvelous scenery consisting of the highest peaks in Ireland on one side and a coastline scattered with golden beaches and rocky headlands on the other. Enjoy plenty of stops to view the scenery and take photos. Travel through Glenbeigh and Cahirciveen and on to Waterville and the colorful village of Sneem. Stop at Moll’s Gap for a view of the three lakes of Killarney with the mountains and the town in the background. Return to Killarney for some free time to look around the town before dining in your hotel. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY Wed, April 21 - GLENGARRIFF & KINSALE Leaving Killarney travel south through lovely mountain scenery to Glengarriff and Bantry Bay where the mild climate allows sub-tropical vegetation to thrive. Continue along the coast through peaceful fishing towns to Kinsale, nowadays a popular yachting center. Upon arrival take a brief walking tour with a local guide to learn the history of Kinsale. The town traces its origins back to 1177 when the Anglo-Normans founded a town in a small walled area close to the water. It grew as a port town during the 18th century and today the harbor is favored by yachtowners. The town has steep, narrow streets with many fine Georgian houses. Today it is renowned as “the gourmet capital” of Ireland as there are many award-winning restaurants and pubs. Then check into your hotel and enjoy some time to settle in before joining your group for dinner. DINNER & OVERNIGHT: ACTONS HOTEL, KINSALE Thurs. April 22 - BLARNEY CASTLE, CASHEL & DUBLIN Depart Kinsale this morning and travel north through the rich farming country of Cork to Blarney and stop to climb to the battlements of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. They will ship and insure goods for you. Then drive via the outskirts of Cork city and into County Tipperary to reach Cashel. Stop at a local farmhouse to sample freshly-baked scones with tea. You will have an opportunity to chat to the owners and learn how Irish farms are run. Then you will have an opportunity to take photos at the nearby Rock of Cashel, majestic church ruins which are clustered high on a limestone outcrop overlooking the surrounding countryside. Then board the coach and drive through the midland region where you will see many farms and marketing towns. Your route will take you past the towns of Portlaoise and Kildare and into the metropolitan area of Dublin. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to settle in before dinner. This evening head to the Abbey Tavern for dinner and a traditional ballad session. The drive to Howth, a suburb on the north side of the city will give you great views of Dublin Bay. Built on the site of an old abbey, this pub has been in business for over 200 years. OVERNIGHT: ASHLING HOTEL, DUBLIN Fri, April 23 - DUBLIN SIGHTSEEING & BRAZEN HEAD DINNER This morning enjoy sightseeing around Dublin, an elegant and artistic city with spacious Georgian squares. Visit the Old Jameson Distillery where you can learn about distillation processes for this “water of life”. Displays explain how barley and water are combined, distilled, aged and bottled and at the end of the tour enjoy a sample. Next visit the Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits on how this world famous stout was first created and why it is so popular today. Finish your visit in the roof-top bar, Gravity, overlooking the city center where you can sample a draft Guinness and enjoy the view of the city. The afternoon is at leisure so that you can browse, shop and sightsee independently. This evening enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers at The Brazen Head Pub which is located on Bridge Street. Established in 1198, the Brazen Head is over 800 years old and is the second oldest pub in Ireland. OVERNIGHT: ASHLING HOTEL, DUBLIN Sat. April 24 - RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Transfer to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear security and claim your VAT refund. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and fly west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.
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