2009 Irish Explorer
Highlights
Kate Kearney's Cottage Dinner & Show Celtic High Crosses at 6th Century Monasterboice Belleek China & Connemara Crystal Slieve League - Europe's Highest Sea Cliffs "The Quiet Man" Walking Tour Ring of Kerry Tour De Luxe Clontarf Castle Stay & Farewell Dinner
What's Included
" Group transfers on arrival and departure " Welcome get-together drink " Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout " Tour of Dublin with a local guide " Services of a professional Irish driver/guide " Minibus excursion to Slieve League Sea Cliffs " Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 8 nights " Handweaving demonstration with tea & scones at Triona Design " 8 full Irish breakfasts (B) " "The Quiet Man" walking tour of Cong " 7 dinners (D) including " Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Monasterboice, Belleek Pottery Factory, W. B. Yeats' Grave, Museum of Country Life, Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Muckross Gardens and Blarney Woollen Mills - Dinner & show at Kate Kearney's Cottage " Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap - Farewell dinner at Clontarf Castle Hotel " All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person - 5 table d'hote dinners
What's Included
Details
- Tour Operator
- CIE Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2008
- Duration
- 10 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Depart U.S. for Dublin | Depart U.S. for Dublin : Welcome aboard your overnight flight to Dublin. Relax with inflight meal service and entertainment. |
| Day 2 | Dublin | City Touring & Dublin Castle : Arrive at Dublin Airport in the morning, pass through immigration and collect your luggage. Head to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel, located in Ballsbridge on the south side of the city, between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than noon, you will transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm join a local guide for a half-day guided tour of Dublin to see Trinity College where the priceless 8th century Book of Kells is housed, elegant Georgian squares with colorful doorways and Leinster House where the government convenes. Visit Dublin Castle to see the richly decorated State Apartments, which feature prominently in Ireland's history. Enjoy a welcome drink to get to know your fellow travelers and talk about your trip. This evening is free and your tour director can advise on places to eat. |
| Day 3 | Donegal Town | Celtic Crosses & Belleek : Travel north from Dublin to visit the ruins of Monasterboice, which was founded by St. Buite in 521. See the round tower and the two most famous Celtic crosses - the Tall Cross measuring 21 feet high, and Muiredach's Cross with numerous well-preserved Biblical scenes. Drive north via Enniskillen and along the picturesque shores of Lower Lough Erne. Stop in Belleek to visit the Belleek Pottery Factory to see how the craftspeople mold, shape and decorate clay, creating the world-famous fine china. Continue to your hotel on the outskirts of Donegal town where you will have time to relax or use the extensive leisure facilities before dining with your group. (B, D) |
| Day 4 | Donegal Town | Slieve League Cliffs & Donegal : Donegal, with its windswept hills where only sheep can thrive, is renowned for wool production. |
| Day 5 | Furbo | Yeats' Grave & Museum of Country Life : Travel south around Donegal Bay and stop at Drumcliffe Churchyard to view the grave of W. B. Yeats, the Nobel prizewinning poet, who based many poems on the delightful countryside around Sligo. Continue through County Mayo to Castlebar to visit the Museum of Country Life. An open-plan building houses collections of domestic goods, once used as part of daily life from 1850 to 1950. Exhibits and a movie explain how Irish people made a living from the soil before the machine age. Drive to Galway, the capital of the west of Ireland. Check into your hotel, which overlooks Galway Bay, the Aran Islands and the Burren. (B, D) |
| Day 6 | Furbo | "The Quiet Man" Tour & Connemara : Tour Connemara to admire sweeping views of hills and sparkling lakes. Drive along the shores of Galway Bay and through Maam Cross, located in the heart of Connemara. Continue to the charming village of Cong, which was the location of the 1952 movie, "The Quiet Man." A local guide will escort you around places associated with the production and see movie memorabilia in the Quiet Man Cottage. In Moycullen visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, where skilled craftsmen hand-cut fine crystal with Celtic motifs. Drive to Galway to look around the city center before returning to your hotel on Galway Bay. (B, D) |
| Day 7 | Killarney | Flying Boat Museum & Killarney : Drive around Galway Bay and make a stop in Bunratty. Here you may visit the Bunratty Folk Park, have a drink in Durty Nelly's or shop at the Bunratty Woollen Mills. Continue through Limerick and along the Shannon Estuary to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum. During the 1930's and early 1940's, this was the landing place for Pan Am Clippers from the United States and Europe. The museum's displays recall the early days of aviation. Travel to Killarney and enjoy some leisure time. In the evening drive to the Gap of Dunloe to Kate Kearney's Cottage, a cozy venue for dinner and some lively traditional Irish entertainment. (B, D) |
| Day 8 | Killarney | Ring of Kerry Tour : Enjoy the Ring of Kerry drive where every bend in 100 miles of road reveals breathtaking views of mountains and Atlantic Ocean. Depart Killarney and travel through Killorglin and Cahirciveen. All along the route you will have opportunities to get out of the coach to admire or photograph scenic vistas. Return through the attractive village of Sneem and pause at Moll's Gap for a panoramic view of the Three Lakes of Killarney. Take a stroll through the elegant Muckross Gardens, set on the shores of Muckross Lake and containing fine specimens of mature trees. (B, D) |
| Day 9 | Dublin | Blarney & Clontarf Castle Hotel : Leave Killarney and drive via Ballyvourney and Macroom to Blarney to visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where quality Irish-made products are gathered under one roof. If you wish, you may climb the steps of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous stone independently. Drive north and pause at the Rock of Cashel for photos before continuing to Dublin once more. Check into Clontarf Castle, a luxurious haven located in a quiet area, yet just a short distance from the city center. The castle dates back to 1172 and is steeped in Irish history. Today it offers guests all the splendor and charm of a unique and royal experience. Enjoy a special farewell dinner in the hotel's old-world dining room. (B, D) |
| Day 10 | Dublin to USA | Dublin to USA : Complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin 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 stores before U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your flight for the journey home. (B) |
- Dates/Pricing
- Lodging
Herbert Park Hotel - Dublin - 1 night(s) Mill Park Hotel - Donegal Town, Co Donegal - 2 night(s) Connemara Coast Hotel - Furbo, Co Galway - 2 night(s) Killarney Avenue Hotel - Killarney, Co Kerry - 2 night(s) Clontarf Castle Hotel - Dublin - 1 night(s)
- Disclaimer
- Coach Tour and River Cruise prices are based on two people sharing rooms; for single prices.
- Taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges are not included.
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