ITINERARY

 

DAY 1  DEPART BURLINGTON, VT (or other)

 

DAY 2  ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELAND

Céad míle fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! Check into your hotel. At 3:00 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation. Drive down revered O’Connell Street (Irish: Sraid Ui Chonail). With a colorful history, the designated Architectural Conservation Area is lined with low granite walls, obelisks and elegant Georgian squares. Continue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College and return to the hotel for a relaxing welcome dinner.

Dinner

 

DAY 3 DUBLIN–KILDARE–CASHEL–LIMERICK–ENNIS

Horse-racing country awaits this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD & GARDEN in Tully, County Kildare. Home to magnificent thoroughbreds, respected and sought after throughout the world. Even Queen Elizabeth II (2011), wanted to personally view where the winners of five Classics for her Family were produced. Lots more to see:  The Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached; Tipperary, made famous in a wartime marching song; and Limerick, where an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691.  Partake in Tonight’s optional dinning offering and attend a medieval banquet, hosted in an historic castle!

 Breakfast

 

DAY 4 ENNIS-WEST COAST EXCURSION

Your day excursion along Ireland’s spectacular Atlantic coastline begins with a drive to the 668-foot iconic CLIFFS OF MOHER. Savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. A scenic route across the limestone plateau of The Burren takes you to Galway. A popular and picturesque seaside destination with a buzzing cosmopolitan center, including colorful shops, bustling cafés and bars reflecting Irish culture and history.  This afternoon, enjoy a special treat at RATHBAUN FARM: try your hand at SCONE BAKING, and learn from local farmers about sheep shearing and herding. Afterwards, enjoy an Irish coffee and your own scones, fresh from the oven.

 Breakfast

 

 

DAY 5 ENNIS-RING OF KERRY-KILLARNEY

After a short drive through Clonderlaw Bay to Killimer, cross the Shannon estuary by FERRY. Continue on to Killorglin on Dingle Bay to join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Stop for photos at the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View, then spend the night in the popular resort of Killarney. Before dinning at your hotel, why not take a horse-drawn jaunting cart ride along the national park to Ross Castle? Yes Please!

 Breakfast Dinner

 

DAY 6 KILLARNEY-BLARNEY-WATERFORD

Across the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, renowned for its magical Stone. Enjoy a quaint lunch in town and shop for traditional Irish gifts and handicrafts.  Walk the beautiful grounds to the castle, and if heights aren’t an issue...lean back and kiss the famous Blarney Stone!  Next, you’ll proceed via Irelands second largest City Cork, to Waterford.  Founded by the Danish Vikings and known for it’s legacy of glassmaking and crystal, a private guide will escort you through the legendary HOUSE of WATERFORD CRYSTAL in the center of Viking Quarters.  Return to the hotel for dinner this evening and enjoy a post-meal IRISH COFFEE DEMONSTRATION.

 Breakfast Dinner

 

DAY 7 WATERFORD-AVOCA-GLENDALOUGH-DUBLIN

An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca, where you watch the WEAVERS at work; the Wicklow Mountains; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your local guide show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. Return to Dublin for a fitting farewell to Ireland, an optional cabaret evening with dinner, dance, song, and laughter.

 Breakfast

 

DAY 8  DUBLIN

Address your postcards and savor your Ireland adventures over breakfast. Depart for the airport.

 Breakfast

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