Irish Legends 2009

Tour Itinerary

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Day 1 - Dublin Tour & Kilmainham Gaol

Arrive at Dublin Airport, reclaim your baggage and head 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. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the hotel at their own expense. At 2:00 pm a local tour guide will introduce you to Dublin’s River Liffey, O’Connell Street, tranquil St. Stephen’s Green, the seat of government at Leinster House and other public buildings. See some of the elegant Georgian houses for which the city is famous and visit Kilmainham Gaol to understand the penal system in times past. See where many of Ireland’s leaders, including Robert Emmett, Eamon DeValera and Padraig Pearse, were imprisoned while striving to create an independent nation. Enjoy a welcome get-together drink with your fellow travellers in the Bleeding Horse Pub, next door to your hotel.

Day 2 - National Stud & Medieval Kilkenny

Depart Dublin this morning and travel to Kildare and visit the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens. As a nation, the Irish are very interested in horses and the Stud will tell you about the valuable breeding industry. See some of the magnificent horses before taking a walk around the delightful Japanese Gardens, established a century ago. Continue to Kilkenny, a medieval city where narrow streets still follow the ancient layout but are lined with attractive stores and restaurants. Drive to your country home, meet your host family and settle in for a 2-night stay. Enjoy a home-style dinner and learn about life in rural Ireland. (B, D)

Day 3 - Waterford Crystal & Irish Evening

Drive to Waterford to tour the Waterford Crystal Factory and watch skilled craftspeople create elegant masterpieces from molten glass. In the showrooms see a huge collection of tableware and trophies. Travel into the centre of Waterford, a port city founded by the Vikings. Here take a short walk around the narrow and ancient streets with a local guide who will make the city’s history come alive. Return to your country home to relax and head to nearby Brod Tullaroan, for a fun country-style evening. Learn about some local traditions, sports and entertainment as you enjoy a wholesome dinner followed by lively entertainment and music. (B, D)

Day 4 -Titanic Tour & Blarney

Travel south, pausing for photos at the Rock of Cashel, a magnificent collection of ruins perched on a rocky outcrop. Continue to Cobh, the main port for emigration from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. Take a “Titanic” walking tour to discover places, including the docks, associated with the famous liner which made its last scheduled stop in Cobh. Take a short drive to Blarney to visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which offers excellent Irish-made products. If you wish, you may climb Blarney Castle on your own to gain the “Gift of Eloquence” or walk around the village green. Drive through Macroom to Killarney and check into your hotel in the centre of town. (B, D)

Day 5 - Ring of Kerry & Muckross Gardens

Today experience the popular Ring of Kerry tour where the road winds between the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks mountains and the Atlantic coast. Stop at the Gap of Dunloe to view the “Essence of Kerry,” an audio visual showing many aspects of the region. As you drive along, panoramic vistas change constantly and frequent stops will permit plenty of photo opportunities. Pass through Killorglin and the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville. On the return, visit Muckross Gardens, located in the Killarney National Park, a few miles outside Killarney. The gardens were established in the 19th century and contain a wonderful collection of mature trees and shrubs. (B, D)

Day 6 - Cliffs of Moher & Galway

Leave Killarney and take a short ferry ride across the River Shannon to visit the Cliffs of Moher, majestic walls of rock which extend five miles along the coast. Walk up to O’Brien’s Tower for the best views and also catch a glimpse of the Aran Islands. Drive through part of the Burren, a unique region of rounded limestone hills, where rare wildflowers thrive in sheltered crevices. There are many prehistoric dolmens, large capstones erected on two uprights. Travel into the city of Galway and take a look around the city centre before checking into your charming hotel, surrounded by gardens. (B, D)

Day 7 - Aran Islands & Dun Aengus

Take a short ferry ride from Rossaveal to Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These rocky islands are renowned for the hardy islanders who maintained traditional fishing and farming methods and where the popular intricately-patterned fishermen’s sweaters originated. The Irish language is still spoken widely. Take a minibus ride to Dun Aengus, a huge pre-historic fortress perched on sheer cliffs, which fall away to the Atlantic below. In Kilronan, the main town, visit the Aran Heritage Centre to learn about unique local customs before returning by ferry to the mainland. Enjoy some leisure time and dine with your group in the hotel once more. (B, D)

Day 8 - Clonmacnoise & Abbey Tavern

Travel to the centre of Ireland to visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic site that St. Kieran founded in the 6th century. See elaborately-carved high crosses, round towers and picturesque church ruins on the banks of the River Shannon. Learn about the importance of the monastery and its location in early Christian times. Continue your drive into the greater metropolitan region of Dublin and check into your hotel on the city’s north side. This evening drive to the popular Abbey Tavern in Howth for a hearty dinner and an evening of traditional Irish songs and step dancing – a great way to celebrate your Irish holiday. (B, D)

Day 9 - Return Home from Dublin

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 8 nights – Superior & first class hotels in Dublin, Killarney and Galway; country homes in Kilkenny
• 8 full Irish breakfasts (B)
• 7 dinners (D) including
• Brod Tullaroan dinner and traditional Irish entertainment
• Traditional Irish evening with dinner and entertainment at the Abbey Tavern
• 1 home-style dinner
• 4 table d’hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• Walking tour of Waterford with a local guide
• “Titanic” walking tour of Cobh
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• Day tour to Inis Mor, largest of the three Aran Islands
• Visits and admissions to Kilmainham Gaol, Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens, Waterford Crystal Factory, Blarney Woollen Mills, Essence of Kerry AV show, Muckross Gardens, Cliffs of Moher, Dun Aengus Fort, Aran Heritage Centre and Clonmacnoise
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels

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Stay at the following (or similar):

• Camden Court Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
• Country Homes, Kilkenny (2 nights)
• Killarney Avenue Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
• Skylon Hotel, Dublin (1 night)

Departure Dates & Selling Price for 2009 season

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Single Room Supplement € 299.00. All Rates in euro.