Irish Classic 2009

Tour Itinerary

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Day 1 - Arrive Ireland & Dublin Castle

Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel, an elegant Victorian mansion, overlooks Dublin Bay and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. At 2:00 pm tour the city centre to see elegant Georgian squares with rows of townhouses and their famous colourful doors, pass the colourful St. Stephen’s Green, see Trinity College where the priceless 8th century Book of Kells is housed and much more. Visit Dublin Castle’s State Apartments (if available to visit) to view historical portraits and superb furnishings. In the evening meet your fellow travellers over a welcome drink and your tour director will assist you in choosing a charming local restaurant to dine independently.

Day 2 - 6th Century Glendalough & Traditional Music

This morning discover the Wicklow Mountains, located south of Dublin. Drive through the lovely scenery and visit Glendalough, a 6th century monastic site founded by St. Kevin. Learn about life in early Christian Ireland in the Visitor Centre and walk through the ruins of the many churches and a round tower. Return to Dun Laoghaire where the afternoon is at leisure for independent activities. In the evening drive to a popular Dublin venue for a great dinner of Irish specialties, which is followed by a lively show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 3 - Downpatrick & Mount Stewart

Drive north past the Mourne Mountains to Downpatrick. Visit the St. Patrick Centre to learn about Ireland’s patron saint and see his reputed burial place in Down Cathedral. Cross Strangford Lough by ferry to visit Mount Stewart House and Gardens. The famous gardens at Mount Stewart were planted in the 1920’s by Edith, Lady Londonderry, and have been nominated a World Heritage Site. The house tour includes world-famous paintings and stories about the prominent political figures to which the Londonderry family played host. Check into your hotel in Belfast. (B, D)

Day 4 - Belfast, Giant’s Causeway & Derry

See the highlights of Belfast with a local guide, including Victorian buildings, the Harland and Wolff Shipyards, where the Titanic was built and areas around the Shankill and Falls Road. Drive north along the “Nine Glens of Antrim,” a scenic drive with views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Stop at the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. The enormous rocks have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Drive to Derry and join a local guide for a short walking tour around the ancient city centre, surrounded by the medieval city walls. (B, D)

Day 5 - Donegal & Belleek China

Journey south to Ballybofey and through the scenery of the Blue Stack Mountains to Ardara. Stop at Triona Design to see how locally-produced wool is spun and woven. Enjoy tea and scones before driving to Donegal town. Take a guided tour around the Belleek Pottery Factory to see craftspeople making delicate and ornate pieces in fine china. Travel through Sligo, often referred to as “Yeats’ Country”, and the rocky landscape of Mayo. Continue to Westport where your hotel is located in the central square. (B, D)

Day 6 - Achill Island Excursion & Westport

After a late breakfast travel around Clew Bay, reputed to have 365 islands, and across the Curraun Peninsula to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by a bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of nearly 100 stone cottages abandoned around the time of the 1840’s Famine. Also see stretches of windswept bogland and golden beaches. Return to Westport in time to take a stroll to explore this attractive estate town, which was laid out in 1780. (B, D)

Day 7 - Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Banquet

Travel to Galway City and take a tour to see the main sights. Spend some time on your own before driving through the Burren, limestone hills with unique flora and prehistoric stone monuments. View the majestic Cliffs of Moher, a rocky wall that rises nearly 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. Drive to Bunratty and check into your hotel, right beside Bunratty Castle, the Bunratty Folk Park and Durty Nelly’s Pub. In the evening head to 15th century Bunratty Castle for a medieval-style dinner where the Lords and Ladies serenade you with favourite songs. (B, D)

Day 8 - Flying Boat Museum & Killarney’s Lakes

Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and along by the River Shannon to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum. In the early days of flight, 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 recreates the infancy of aviation through displays of memorabilia. Journey into the mountainous scenery of County Kerry and stop in Listowel. This picturesque town is renowned as the birthplace of J. B. Keane, a popular 20th century playwright. Continue to Killarney and check into your hotel in the centre of town. (B, D)

Day 9 - Jaunting Car Ride & Moll’s Gap

Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle to view Lough Leane, largest of Killarney’s lakes. Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where traditional buildings are gaily painted and enhanced with flowers. At Moll’s Gap, a wonderful vantage point, stop to view the mountains. Continue along part of the Ring of Kerry route to enjoy the scenery. Pause at Ladies’ View and stop at Muckross Gardens. Take a walk around the charming gardens, laid out along the lakeshore in the 19th century. Admire wonderful mature trees and shrubs, as well as colourful flowers, before returning to Killarney. (B, D)

Day 10 - Cobh Heritage & Waterford Crystal

Drive through the mountains of Kerry and make a brief stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Next visit Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the old train station through which all emigrants passed when travelling to the New World. Displays show the many hardships that travellers endured. Continue to Waterford to tour the Waterford Crystal Factory and watch how this popular crystal is created. In the showrooms see a wide range of tableware and special trophies. Check into your hotel, after dinner; join a local guide for a stroll around the historic city centre. (B, D)

Day 11 - Medieval Kilkenny & National Stud

Drive north to Kilkenny and stop to look around the town. In medieval times the town was a prosperous trading centre and the narrow streets still follow ancient routes. Travel north to Kildare and visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. As a nation, the Irish are very interested in horses and the Stud will tell you about the valuable breeding industry. The Japanese Gardens symbolize the “Life of Man” through plants and rocks. Then head to the village of Dunboyne, on the outskirts of Dublin. Check into Dunboyne Castle Hotel and relax for a while before enjoying a farewell dinner with your group. (B, D)

Day 12 - Homeward bound

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 shops before boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)

Your Tour Includes

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• Group transfers on arrival and departure
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Services of a professional Irish driver/guide
• Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 11 nights
• 11 full Irish breakfasts (B)
• 10 dinners (D) including
• Dinner and traditional Irish entertainment in Dublin
• Medieval banquet and entertainment at Bunratty Castle
• Farewell dinner at Dunboyne Castle Hotel
• 7 table d’hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Ferry ride across Strangford Lough
• Tour of Belfast with a local guide
• Walking tours of Derry & Waterford with local guides
• Hand weaving demonstration with tea & scones at Triona Design
• Day tour to Achill Island
• Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney
• Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Glendalough Visitor Centre, St. Patrick Centre, Down Cathedral, Mount Stewart House and Gardens, Giant’s Causeway, Belleek Pottery Factory, Cliffs of Moher, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Muckross Gardens, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre, Waterford Crystal Factory and Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels

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Stay at the following (or similar):

• Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin (2 nights)
• Europa Hotel, Belfast (1 night)
• City Hotel, Derry (1 night)
• Hotel Westport, Westport (2 nights)
• Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
• Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
• Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, Dunboyne (1 night)

Departure Dates & Selling Price for 2009 season

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Single Room Supplement € 425.00. All Rates in euro.