2010 Ireland Tour with native son Monsignor Liam Barr
Date(s):
September 16, 2010
thru
September 27, 2010
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Ireland from this point of view. This tour will see the standard highlights as well as the the hidden jewels and will be escorted by Monsignor Liam Barr.
Itinerary:
Thu, Sept. 16 UNITED STATES TO DUBLIN
Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.
Fri, Sept. 17 DUBLIN ARRIVAL & SIGHTSEEING
Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Your hotel is superbly located near Trinity College and Merrion Square, the most famous Georgian area. In the afternoon join a local guide on a city center tour to see public buildings such as Trinity College, General Post Office and St. Patrick's Cathedral. End with a visit to Kilmainham Gaol where many of Ireland's leaders, including Robert Emmett, Eamon DeValera and Padraig Pearse, were imprisoned during the 19th and early 20th centuries while striving to create an independent nation. The tour shows how penal systems operated in times past. In the evening meet your group over a welcome drink and your tour guide will assist you in selecting a restaurant.
OVERNIGHT: MONT CLARE HOTEL, DUBLIN
Sat, Sept. 18 MALAHIDE CASTLE & ABBEY TAVERN
Take the coastal route to Malahide Castle, which was owned and inhabited by the Talbot family from 1185 until 1973. Visit the main chambers, rich with furnishings and portraits to learn about the long history of the castle. Next take a guided tour around the National Botanic Gardens founded in 1790. The devastating potato blight virus was first recorded here on August 20, 1845. See wonderful Victorian glasshouses and many different types of gardens. The afternoon is at leisure and in the evening head to the popular Abbey Tavern for Irish cuisine and a lively session of traditional songs.
OVERNIGHT: MONT CLARE HOTEL, DUBLIN
Sun, Sept. 19 "TITANIC" WALK & CORK CITY
Depart Dublin this morning and travel to Kildare and visit the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens. As a nation, the Irish are very interested in horses and the Stud will tell you about the valuable breeding industry. See some of the magnificent horses before taking a walk around the delightful Japanese Gardens, established a century ago. Continue south through farming country, pausing for photos at the Rock of Cashel, a stately limestone outcrop topped with medieval ruins. Continue to the harbor town of Cobh, the last port of call for the Titanic. Take a walk around this picturesque town and the dockside with a local historian to see places relating to the Titanic's last stop. Then visit St. Colman's Cathedral, an exquisite gem of neo-Gothic architecture by the architects Pugin and Ashlin. It took 47 years to build, starting in 1868. The gothic grandeur of the interior, the delicate carvings, the beautiful arches and the mellow lighting combine to lift the human spirit. The carvings recall the history of the Church in Ireland from the time of St. Patrick to the present century. After your visit, drive along the coast to the town of Kinsale and check into your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: TRIDENT HOTEL, KINSALE
Mon, Sept. 20 BLARNEY & MUCKROSS GARDENS
Leaving Kinsale drive north through County Cork to visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, offering excellent Irish-made products all under one roof. If you wish, you may climb to the top of Blarney Castle independently or walk around the village. Continue through Macroom to Killarney and check into your centrally-located hotel. Drive to the Killarney National Park for a guided walk around Muckross Gardens, set out along the shores of Muckross Lake. The gardens contain many fine trees planted in the 19th century as well as colorful shrubs and flowers. Head back to Killarney to look around the town before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY
Tue, Sept. 21 DINGLE PENINSULA TOUR
Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies that showcased the scenery - "Ryan's Daughter" and "Far & Away." Drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach and rocky headlands. Pause in Dingle before continuing to the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming and fishing. Return to Killarney and enjoy free time to use the hotel's leisure facilities or walk around town. After dinner you may like to visit the cozy pubs featuring live music.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY
Wed, Sept. 22 BUNRATTY VILLAGE & CLIFFS OF MOHER
Travel north from Killarney and through Limerick to the village of Bunratty. Stop for a look around on your own - shop, visit Durty Nelly's Pub or tour the Bunratty Folk Park. Head to the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of rock that rises 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Continue through the hilly Burren region and around Galway Bay to Galway. See the main places of interest and browse around the city center, full of specialty shops, cafes and pubs. Then check in to your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and settle in before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: GALWAY BAY HOTEL, GALWAY
Thu, Sept. 23 CONNEMARA, KYLEMORE ABBEY & 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. Stop to visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion overlooking Kylemore Lake. Originally a private residence, it is now a prestigious girls' school. Visit the chapel and the restored Victorian gardens, which have won awards. After your visit continue your drive to 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. Return to Galway and enjoy some time at leisure before dining in your hotel.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: GALWAY BAY HOTEL, GALWAY
Fri, Sept. 24 ‘QUIET MAN’ WALKING TOUR & KNOCK SHRINE
Today drive north from Galway via Headford to Cong, a place made famous by the 1952 movie of “The Quiet Man” featuring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Discover places featured in the movie on a brief walking tour around this tranquil village and see some of the movie memorabilia in the Quiet Man Heritage Cottage. Then travel northeast to the pilgrimage town of Knock. Visit Knock Shrine, one of the world's leading shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. See the shrine and modern basilica before traveling to the town of Ballina to check into your hotel. Enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: DOWNHILL HOUSE HOTEL, BALLINA
Sat, Sept. 25 FATHER PEYTON MEMORIAL CENTRE & INNISCRONE BEACH
This morning board the coach and travel a short distance southeast to Attymass to visit the Father Peyton Memorial Centre which honors the late Father Patrick Peyton, one of Ireland's most famous priests who was internationally known as the 'Rosary Priest.'
The Fr Peyton CSC Memorial Centre was officially opened and dedicated on October 10, 1998 and commemorates the life and apostolic work of Fr Peyton CSC. Celebrate Mass with your fellow travelers at the Centre and enjoy some time to browse independently.
The Centre is a place of respite, prayer and peace. Then travel north to visit Inniscrone Beach and enjoy some free time to relax or do some independent exploring. Return to Ballina and freshen up before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: DOWNHILL HOUSE HOTEL, BALLINA
Sun, Sept. 26 CLONMACNOISE & DUNBOYNE CASTLE
Travel southeast from Ballina to the center of Ireland 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. Learn about the history of the site through an audiovisual presentation and take a walk around to see the ancient monuments and the entire area. Continue your drive through farming country and marketing towns to the village of Dunboyne, just to the north west of Dublin, where your delightful hotel is located. Arrive in time to enjoy some of the facilities and relax in elegant surroundings. In the evening join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner in the hotel restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: DUNBOYNE CASTLE HOTEL, DUNBOYNE
Mon, Sept. 27 RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Transfer from Dunboyne 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.
For additional information about this tour, contact
Paul Glenn, Executive Travel, 1212 O Street, Lincoln, NE
402-435-8888, fax 402-435-2735, email paulg@executivetravel.com