Ireland Tour

October 1 - October 11

10/01/2013    Departure

Group departure from Minneapolis / St Paul International Airport. Overnight transatlantic flight. Meals served on board.

10/02/2013    Dublin - Book of Kells - St Patrick's Cathedral

Mid-morning arrival at the hotel. Welcome to Dublin, Ireland's capital, located near the midpoint of Ireland's east cost, at the mouth of the River Liffey. Tea/coffee and scones on arrival at your hotel. After lunch, meet for a guided visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Then visit St. Patrick's Cathedral, which is said to be the earliest Christian site in Ireland, where St. Patrick baptized converts. Some free time to enjoy Dublin, relax and unwind. This evening enjoy dinner at Lanyon's Restaurant at the Davenport Hotel. Overnight in The Davenport Hotel.

10/03/2013    County Wicklow - Dublin

After breakfast, travel south to County Wicklow, know as "The Garden of Ireland." Arrive at the majestic Powerscourt Estate. On a 1000 acre estate, Powerscourt is one of the finest gardens in Europe. It was designed and laid out between 1745 and 1767. Powerscourt House, an 18th century manor house stood proudly on the site until it was gutted by fire in 1974. Today it houses the wonderful Avoca shop selling their famous woolen throws as well as other top quality Irish crafts and clothing. Stop into the Avoca self service restaurant for lunch (own expense). Just a short drive away is the village of Glendalough. Visit Glendalough Monastic Site, with its famous round tower, one of the most enduring images of County Wicklow. It is a truly beautiful location, which is steeped in history. It was here that St. Kevin founded a monastery in the sixth century. The surviving buildings date from the 8th and 12th centuries. Return to Dublin. Enjoy the rest of the evening and dinner at you own leisure. Suggested nearby pubs that are worth visiting include The Long Hall on South Georges Street (just 2 minutes walk from your hotel), O'Neill's Pub on Pearse Street, Kehoes Pub just off nearby Grafton Street or the one of oldest pubs in Dublin, The Brazen Head.

10/04/2013    Bru na Boinne Centre - Knowth - Althone - Clonmacnoise - Galway

Enjoy a scenic drive through the Irish countryside heading north to Boyne Valley, County Meath. Enroute to Galway, enjoy a visit to The Bru na Boinne Centre and the historic site of Knowth. Arrive at the Bru na Boinne Centre, designed to present the archaeological heritage of the Boyne Valley and which includes the world famous neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth. Take shuttle bus to the site of Knowth. Knowth is the largest of all passage grames situated within the Bru no Boinne complex. The site consists of one large mound (known as Site 1) and 17 smaller satellite tombs. Essentially Knowth is a large mound and contains two passages, place along an east-west line. The large mound has beeen estimated to date from between 2500 and 200 B.B. The passages are independent of each other, and each leads to a burial chamber. The eastern passage leads to a cruciform chamber, not unlike that found at Newgrange. It contains three recesses and basin stones into which the cremated remains of the dead were plaed. Some time to have lunch at Bru no Boinne Centre (own expense) and continue journey to Galway.

Continue to Clonmacnoise, an early Christian site founded by St. Ciaran in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10th-13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of early Chirstian grave slabs in Western Europe. Continue the journey to Galway city. Check into your hotel. The streets and buildings of this ancient town have many interesting features. Notable sights include the O'Conaire monument in Eyre Square, the Church of St. Nicholas, founded by the Normans in 1320, Lynch's Castle and the University College founded in 1845. Enjoy your evening meal in Connemara. Overnight at the Connemara Coast Hotel.

10/05/2013   Connemara - Kylemore Abbey - Killary Harbor - Roundstone - Galway

Travel through the Connemara region known for its constantly changing skies, subtle colors and vast landscape. Stop for a visit to Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion, which overlooks the Kylemore Lake. Vist the Abbey chapel. Celebrate a private mass with your fellow travelers in the Abbey chapel before driving along the steep shores of Killary Horbor, which borders counties Galway and Mayo. At the head of Killary Harbor, we pass through the village Leenane, often referred to as the "Gateway to Connemara". Enjoy a lunch at a local pub in Clifden (own expense) and some free time for shopping. Stop in the pretty village of Roundstone and visit Malachy, a local bodhran maker (Traditional Irish drum made of goats skin). Continue the scenic journey back to Galway. Evening free to enjoy some of Galway's great restaurants and pub grub! Some recommended pubs include The Kings Head, The Front Door, Buskers for live traditional Irish music. (Cate recommends McDonagh's.

10/06/2013   Cliffs of Moher - O'Brien's Tower - Bunratty

Travel on the coast of West Clare, where the famous Cliffs of Moher, defiantly stand as giant natural ramparts against the aggressive might of the Atlantic Ocean. O'Brien's Tower is located on Moher's highest cliff. From its exceptional vantage point, you can view the Clare coastline, Galway Bay, the Aran Islands and mountains as far apart as Kerry and Connemara. Continue through Ennis and arrive at Bunratty village. Enjoy a late lunch (at own expense) at "Durty Nellie's Pub". This 300 year old establishment is a real treat for all with impromptu singsongs and great food. Check into your hotel. Afternoon free to enjoy shops in Bunratty. Enjoy a visit to the 900 year old Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. This evening, enjoy a 4 course dinner served alongside fine wines and entertainment provided by the world renowned Bunratty entertainers. Overnight at the Bunratty Castle Hotel.

10/07/2013   Limerick - Glenstal Abbey - Adare - Killarney

Depart for Killarney in County Kerry. The journey will continue via the City of Limerick, which is magnificently sited on one of Europe's finest rivers, the River Shannon, to the village of Murroe near where the Glenstal Abbey is located. Glenstal Abbey is a Benedictine monastery set in a 500-acre estate with streams, lakes and woodland paths, surrounding the castle built in the romantic Norman style in 1830. The Abbey, which is dedicated to Saints Joseph and Columba, is home to a community of Benedictine monks. Continue on to Adare, which is considered one of Ireland's prettiest villages. Thatched cottages line broad streets. Adare dates from the time of the Norman conquest of Ireland and the village owes its current streetscape to its status as a model estate village developed by the third Earl of Dunraven in the mid-19th century. Some free time for lunch and to roam around the village and visit the beautiful village church. Continue the journey into the town of Killarney and check into your hotel. This evening you will enjoy dinner at the Petrus Restaurant at the Killarney Plaza Hotel. Overnight at The Killarney Plaza Hotel.

10/08/2013   Gap of Dunloe - Upper Lake - Innisfallen Island - Killarney

Enjoy a wonderful jouney to Kerry's Gap of Dunloe. On Killarney's doorstep - for over 200 years visitors to Killarney have been taking "The Gap Trip" which is, without doubt, one of the highlights of this area of Ireland. Depart from Killarney town via Beauford to Kate Kearney's Cottage, situated at the mouth of the Gap of Dunloe. Take a jaunting cart (pony & carriage) for a 7 mile journey through the scenic Gap, situated in the Macguillycuddy Reeks. Visit Lord Brandon's Cottage where a soup & sandwich lunch will be served. Lord Brandon's Cottage is located in the Black Valley and was built in the 1800's as a hunting lodge, and is set beside the Upper Lake of Killarney. Following lunch, take a boat trip through the Upper Lake, the most beautiful of the Three Lakes, through the Long Range channel and past Eagle's Nest Mountain, the last home of the golden eagle in Ireland. The boat ride continues passing under high mountains, rushing cascades, arched bridges and to Inisfallen Island, home to the ruins of Inisfallen stronghold. Return to Killarney. This evening, enjoy dinner at leisure in the town. Visit some of Killarney's wonderful pubs and restaurants, such as Mac's Pub, The Bricin, Danny Mann, O'Connor's, The Laurels and Charlie Foley's Pub.

10/09/2013   Blarney - Cobh - Cork

Enjoy a scenic journey via the town of Macroom before arriving into Blarney in County Cork. First stop is a visit to the 15th century Blarney Castle, famous for its stone, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow eloquence on all those who kiss it. Enjoy some free time in the Blarney Woolen Mills store which sells Irish gifts. Free time for lunch (own expense) in one of the pubs/restaurants in the village. Continue to the town of Cobh, a pretty riverside town, formerly know as Queenstown. It is from this port that many thousands of Irish emigrants left for the new world, America, and it was also the last port of call for the Titanic. Visit Cobh Heritage Centre where you will be taken through the story of Cobh's origins, its unique history and legacy. Photo opportunity of St Coleman's Cathedral which sits on top the hill dominating Cobh town and harbor. It was build between 1868 and 1949 and is a very large Gothic style building. Continue to Cork city to enjoy an overnight stay at The Imperial Hotel. This evening enjoy dinner at you own leisure and perhaps visit some of the city's finest and most traditional Irish pubs including Counihans, An Bodhran and Costigans. Overnight at the Imperial Hotel.

10/10/2013   Rock of Cashel - Dublin

Make your return journey to Dublin. Stop in the picturesque town of Cashel in County Tipperary, where you will visit the Rock of Cashel, which dominates the Tipperary countryside for miles. "The Rock" tells the tales of 16 centuries. It was the castle seat of the King of Munster at least as far back as 360 A.D., and it remained a royal fortress until 1101, whin King Murtagh O'Brien granted it to the church. Among Cashel's many great moments was the legendary baptism of King Aengus by St. Patrick in 448. Remaining on the rock are the ruins of a two-towered chapel, a cruciform cathedral, a 92-foot round tower, and a cluster of other medieval monuments. The views of and from the Rock are spectacular. Enjoy lunch in Rock House in Cashel before departing for your return journey to Dublin. Check in to the Mespil Hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your own leisure perhaps visiting the Guinness Storehouse, or the Jameson Distillery. Other notable sights of the city are Dublin Castle, Custom House, Four Courts and Christchurch Cathedral. Special farewell to Ireland dinner. Overnight at the Mespil Hotel.

10/11/2013   Return to Minneapolis

Following breakfast, check out from your hotel, return flight home.

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