Itinerary

Day 1

October 10th- Depart for Shannon Ireland

Day 2

Arrive Shannon International. On the way to Galway our first stop will be the southern part
of The Burren where limestone gives away to black shale and sandstone to form the dramatic Cliffs of
Moher. Even when shrouded in mist, the Cliffs of Moher are breathtaking, rising to a height of 650 feet out
of the sea and extending for 5 miles. We will drive through The Burren, a unique botanical environment in
which Mediterranean and Alpine plants rare to Ireland grow side by Side.Then it is on to
Galway and Galway Bay for a Welcoming Dinner. Overnight Galway.(D)

Day 3

This morning we visit Cong and Cong Abbey. The most fascinating remains of this 12th century
Augustinian abbey are the Gothic chapter house, stone bridges and the monks' fishing-house
overhanging the river. Next we travel through the beautiful National Park in the heart of Connemara,
a combination of bogland, lakes and mountains. Along the way we visit Kylemore Abbey sheltered by the
slopes of the Twelve Bens, this lakeside castle is a romantic, battlemented Gothic Revival fantasy. Once we
return to Galway we will take some time to investigate the city before we enjoy a lovely Seafood Dinner.
Galway is the center for the Irish-speaking regions in the West and a lively university city. The center of the
city lies on the banks of the River Corrib which flows down from Lough Corrib. Overnight
Galway.(B,D)

Day 4

Our first destination today is Strokestown Park House, an 18th century mansion which has been
faithfully restored. It is unique in that it retains its original furnishings and professionally guided tours allow
visitors to browse freely through the stately surroundings. There is also a Famine Museum which uses a
combination of original documents and images from the Strokestown Park collection to explain the
circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840's. This afternoon finds us at Boyle to visit Boyle
Abbey, an impressive and well preserved Cistercian Monastery which was founded in the 12th century
under the patronage of the local ruling family, the MacDermotts. Although a ruin, Boyle Abbey
nevertheless retains its ability to impress the visitor as one of the most formidable of the early Cistercian
foundations in Ireland. Pub Dinner Sligo. Overnight Sligo.(B,D)

Day 5

This morning we visit the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery. Carrowmore is the largest
cemetery of megalithic tombs in Ireland. The tombs are spread out over 1.5 square miles in the shadow of
the Knocknarea and Misgaun Maeve(the name suggests that it was built for Maeve, the Iron
Age queen of Connacht) with each monument standing on its own little eminence. This afternoon we visit
Parke's Castle, a restored plantation castle of the early 17th century, picturesquely situated on the shores
of Lough Gill. After a lovely drive around the Lough we will find ourselves back in Sligo. Dinner on your
own in Sligo. Overnight Sligo.(B)

Day 6

This morning we visit the little border village of Belleek where the world famous Belleek Pottery
was founded in 1857. We will stop at the Visitors' Centre and Museum for a tour of the facility. Our next stop
is the Ulster-American Folk Park which is one of the best open-air museums of its kind! The park has
over 30 historic buildings examining why 2 million people emigrated to the States in the 18th and 19th
century. Then we are off to Derry where St. Columba founded a monastery beside the River Foyle in
546. The Walls of Derry are among the best preserved city fortifications in Europe. Dinner and
Overnight Derry.(B,D)

Day 7

Today we visit Bushmills and the Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest distillery in the world!
We will tour the distillery and end up with whiskey sampling in the 1608 bar. Next we take in the
Causeway Coast and The Giants Causeway where 37,000 basalt columns extend from the cliffs and
into the sea. No matter how many times I have seen this, the sheer wonder and magic of the columns never
fails to impress! We will continue along the coastline of Northern Ireland on our way to Belfast. We will
stop in Ballymena for Dinner. Overnight Belfast.(B,D)

Day 8

Today we spend in Belfast, Northern Ireland's largest city and one of my favorite European cities!
You will board an Open Top Bus for a Tour of the City. You can get off an on all day long with your
ticket. You may want to make a lunch stop at the Crown Liquor Saloon, a flamboyant Victorian
drinking palace. Belfast's downtown is full of wonderful shops. Other places of interest are City Hall,
The Linen Library and St. Anne's Cathedral. Dinner on your own in Belfast. Overnight
Belfast.(B)

Day 9

Today we stop in Lisburn and visit the Irish Linen Centre and Museum in a 17th century
Market House where in times gone by cottage weavers brought their cloth to sell. The centre tells the
story of the Irish Linen industry, with skilled demonstrations of hand spinning and handloom weaving
and a display of historic linen treasures. We will stop in Newry to visit Newry Cathedral, undoubtedly
the most commanding building in the City centre. Built in 1829 of local granite, it was the first Catholic
Cathedral opened after the granting of Catholic Emancipation. The interior marble work and
mosaics took five years with craftsmen coming from Italy to undertake the work. Dinner and Overnight
Ardee.(B,D)

Day 10

Our first stop of the day is at Newgrange Megalithic Passage Tomb. Newgrange was built
about 3200 BC. The kidney shaped mound covers an area of over one acre and is surrounded by 97
kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. Our next stop on the way to Dublin will
be The Hill of Tara. Tara was the political and spiritual center of Celtic Ireland and the seat of High
Kings until the 11th century. Dinner on your own in Dublin. Overnight Dublin.(B)

Day 11

Following a late breakfast you will tour the city aboard an Open Top Tour Bus with hop on
and hop off service all over Dublin. After the tour you will want to spend time shopping on Grafton
Street or taking in Trinity College and the Book of Kells. You can also visit St. Patrick's
Cathedral or Christ Church Cathedral. We'll meet this evening for a Farewell Dinner to say goodbye
to Dublin and our Ireland adventure. Overnight Dublin.(B,D)

Day 12

Following breakfast we are off to the Dublin International Airport for the return home.

Extra Information

Extras -

This tour is designed to accommodate only 8-10 people for a more personal experience to allow you to get the most of your Irish holiday. Keeping the tour size small gives us the opportunity to veer from the beaten path and take advantage of accommodations, restaurants and sightseeing venues that would not be available to larger groups. You may find yourself staying in a delightful city guest house, a small country house hotel, a comfortable farmhouse and an old coaching Inn all in the same visit. Our goal is to show you the real Irish people and some of the wonderful sights to be seen all over this beautiful country. You will not be rushed from venue to venue and we spend as little time on the bus as possible. Tour includes all accommodation in 3 or 4 star Irish Tourist Board Approved accommodations. Full Irish breakfast each morning, all meals listed in itinerary. Porterage of one suitcase per person. Minibus travel including tour guide. Knowledgeable guide for all tourist venues. All sightseeing as indicated in itinerary including any entrance fees. All taxes and service charges.