Monday,
April 19, 2004
Departure
from Cincinnati, via Atlanta for overnight flight on Delta Airlines to
Dublin, Ireland. Meals en route.
Tuesday,
April 20, 2004
After an
early morning arrival in Ireland, we meet our guide and take a morning bus
sightseeing tour of historic Dublin before our hotel rooms are available.
We will stop at Trinity College to see the precious Book of Kells and also
St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Other sites from the bus will include Grafton
Street, O’Connell Street, St. Stephen’s Green, Merrion Square and
Fitzwilliam Square, with the famous Georgian doors, the Guinness brewery,
Dublin Castle, and Temple Bar. Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Morning departure for a guided coach tour north of Dublin in the Boyne
Valley. We will visit Bru na Boinne (palace of the Boyne) visitors center,
and Newgrange, one of the most spectacular prehistoric tombs in Europe. The
area dates to 1000 years before Stonehenge. Lunch at Newgrange Farm, prior
to our return to Dublin. Late afternoon free prior to our dinner and
traditional Irish entertainment in an authentic Irish atmosphere. Overnight
in Dublin.
Thursday, April 22, 2004
The day is
free in Dublin. To help your independent sightseeing we are providing a
day long Dublin city sightseeing bus ticket that allows “hop on/hop off”
at 20 different sites in the city center. Dinner on your own and
overnight in Dublin.
Friday,
April 23, 2004
Morning
departure from Dublin south into the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. We will
visit Glendalough, where St. Kevin founded a 6th century
monastic settlement. We will also stop in Wexford to visit the Kennedy
family homestead, prior to our arrival in Waterford. Dinner and overnight
in Waterford.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Morning visit to the Waterford Crystal factory to see master craftsmen
creating and cutting fine crystal. Afternoon visit to the medieval castle
of Kilkenny, with free time to shop at the Irish craft center and in this
interesting town. Dinner and overnight in Waterford.
Sunday,
April 25, 2004
Morning departure for a coach tour across southern Ireland to Tralee, with a
stop at the Rock of Cashel, associated with St. Patrick and the baptizing of
Ireland’s first Christian king. Dinner and overnight in Tralee.
Monday,
April 26, 2004
Morning coach tour of the scenic Dingle peninsula, with free time in Dingle
town. The area is among the most quaint in all Ireland, with the Irish
language widely spoken in the villages and towns. Afternoon return for free
time in Tralee. Dinner on your own and overnight in Tralee.
Tuesday,
April 27, 2004
Morning departure by coach to the nearby city of Killarney and a visit to
the beautiful Irish manor, Muckross House and Gardens. Afternoon at leisure
in Killarney. Dinner at the hotel in Tralee, prior to entertainment at
Siamsa Tire, the national folk theatre of Ireland, offering music, dance and
folklore that evolved in Ireland from earliest times. Overnight in Tralee.
Wednesday, April 28, 2004
Morning departure by coach for the Galway Bay area. We will visit thatched
roof Adare, said to be the most beautiful village in Ireland, Bunratty
Castle and Folk Park, then continue through the Burren Region. Here we will
stop at the majestic Cliffs of Moher on the Atlantic (weather cooperating).
Dinner and overnight at Oranmore, Galway Bay.
Thursday, April 29, 2004
Today we tour the rugged, spectacular Connemara region west of Galway.
Lunch is included at the quaint Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden. Upon our
return to Galway we will do a sightseeing drive through the city before
returning to our Oranmore hotel for dinner and overnight.
Friday,
April 30, 2004
Our morning departure is north to Sligo County, an area immortalized by the
poetry of W. B. Yeats, a Nobel Prize winner in 1923. On our way we will
pause at Knock, a Catholic pilgrimage site since the 1879 appearance of St.
Mary, St. Joseph, and St. John the Evangelist was recorded. We will also
stop at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, about 6000 years old with legends,
landscape, history and ancient burial techniques. Dinner and overnight on
the Atlantic Coast in Sligo County.
Saturday, May 1, 2004
We
enjoy a leisurely day of local sightseeing in Sligo County, including Yeats’
Drumcliffe church and cemetery, and a cruise on Lough Gill. We have some
afternoon free time in Sligo town, prior to dinner and overnight on the
Atlantic Coast.
Sunday,
May 2, 2004
Return to Dublin area with a stop en route at Strokestown Park House and
Famine Museum, offering the history of Irish famine and emigration in the
1840s. Dinner and overnight in Dublin. Some of us may wish to seek out a
pub this last night for traditional music and fun.
Monday,
May 3, 2004
Morning transfer to the Dublin Airport for our Delta flight home to
Cincinnati, via Atlanta.
Each day the
tour will offer a variety of interesting events. Ireland is a unique part
of Europe, with a varied landscape and endless shades of green. We have
balanced sightseeing with free time for independent activity in shops,
museums, pubs or golf courses. Best of all will be your opportunity to
interact with Irish people, and to speak a common language.
We hope you
will want to join us. Please call about your interest or with any
questions. Also, please invite your friends. Our business benefits from
your personal recommendations. We encourage you to sign up early. We will
deduct $50 from the tour price for those signing up prior to January 15,
2004, as this will aid us in confirming our seat reservations with Delta
Airlines. You can cancel without penalty up to the time we must confirm
names and purchase tickets from Delta Airlines—March 5, 2004.
