Irish Greeting 2009

Tour Itinerary

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Day 1 - City Tour & St. Patrick´ Cathedral

Arrive at 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 is located on the banks of the River Liffey and close to the Custom House from which it takes its name. At 2:00 pm join a local guide, who will tell you about Dublin’s lore and legends as you drive around the city. See the shopping Mecca of Grafton and Nassau Streets, view the many elegant Georgian townhouses and pass the Dail where the government sits. Tour St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in the 12th century, and see memorials to many prominent people who contributed to Dublin life. Learn about Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and Dean of the cathedral. This evening meet your fellow travellers over a welcome drink and dine independently.

Day 2 - Strokestown Park House & Galway

Leave Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to visit Strokestown Park House in County Leitrim. There are three parts to see – the 18th century mansion with its original furnishings; the four-acre walled garden, restored to its former elegance with plantings and Georgian features; and the Famine Museum, which shows the circumstances of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840’s. Drive to Galway and drive around the main sights of the city before checking into your hotel, located overlooking Galway Bay and the Burren. (B, D)

Day 3 - Connemara & "The Quiet Man" Tour

Travel through the Connemara region renowned for its open landscape with constantly-changing skies and light effects. Drive along Galway Bay and stop in the village of Spiddal where the Irish language is still spoken. Continue to Maam Cross and past the Maamturk Mountains. Sheep wander freely and you will see tracts of bogland where people cut turf for fuel. Then drive to Cong for a brief walking tour around this village, which was made famous by the filming of "The Quiet Man" in 1952. Return to Galway in time to enjoy some of the facilities at your hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 - Cliffs of Moher & Killarney

Drive to the coast to view the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, which rise to almost 700 feet above the wild Atlantic breakers and stretch along the coast for five miles. Then head south for a short ferry ride across the River Shannon. Stop in the charming village of Listowel for a stroll around before continuing through the mountainous countryside to Killarney. Take a look around this bustling and compact town before checking into your country home and meeting your Irish family. In the evening drive to the Gap of Dunloe to Kate Kearney’s Cottage for dinner. Afterwards sit back and enjoy traditional Irish entertainment with popular songs, dances and a lot of laughs. (B, D)

Day 5 - Ring of Kerry & Muckross Gardens

Admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches on Ireland’s most popular drive – the 140 km Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. Stop near the Gap of Dunloe to view the Essence of Kerry AV show to learn about the region. As you travel along, there will be time for photos at the best vantage points. Drive through the villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville at the end of the peninsula. Take a brief walk around the colourful village of Sneem, pause at Moll’s Gap for stunning views and stop for a guided walk around Muckross Gardens on the shores of Muckross Lake. Return to Killarney to experience a home-style dinner with your Irish host family. (B, D)

Day 6 - Blarney & Titanic Walk

Leaving Killarney head to the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find excellent Irish-made merchandise. You will have time to walk around the village green or, if you feel energetic, you may like to climb Blarney Castle on your own to kiss the "Stone of Eloquence." Drive through the outskirts of Cork to the harbour town of Cobh, the last port of call for the Titanic. Take a walk around this picturesque waterside town and the dockside with a local historian to see places relating to the Titanic’s last stop. Travel east through the coastal towns of Youghal and Dungarvan and on to Waterford to meet and dine with your next host family. (B, D)

Day 7 - Waterford Crystal & Shindig

Tour the Waterford Crystal Factory to watch craftspeople transform molten glass into elegant hand-cut crystal. See magnificent trophies and a huge selection of crystal on display in the showrooms. Continue north to discover the lovely scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. 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 many church ruins and a round tower set in a deep valley. Continue into the metropolitan area of Dublin to your same hotel. In the evening attend a “Shindig” at the Old Jameson Distillery. See whiskey-making processes as you tour the distillery before sitting down to a dinner of Irish specialties, followed by a festive entertainment program. (B, D)

Day 8 - 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
• Accommodation with private bath/shower for 7 nights – Superior & first class hotels in Dublin and Galway; town & country homes in Killarney and Waterford
• Full Irish breakfast daily (B)
• 6 dinners (D) including
  • Dinner and show at Kate Kearney’s Cottage
  • "Shindig" dinner and show at the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin
  • 2 table d’hote dinners in Galway
  • 2 home-style dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• "The Quiet Man" walking tour of Cong
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• "Titanic" walking tour of Cobh
• Visits and admissions to St. Patrick‚s Cathedral, Strokestown Park House & Famine Museum, Cliffs of Moher, Essence of Kerry AV show, Muckross Gardens, Blarney Woollen Mills, Waterford Crystal Factory and Glendalough Monastic Site
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels

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Stay at the following (or similar):

• Jurys Customhouse Inn, Dublin (1 night)
• Galway Bay Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
• Town & Country Homes, Killarney (2 nights)
• Town & Country Homes, Waterford (1 night)
• Jurys Customhouse Inn, Dublin (1 night)

Departure Dates & Selling Price for 2009 season

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Single Room Supplement € 230.00. All Rates in euro.