Irish Spirit 2009

Tour Itinerary

---

Day 1 - Dublin Tour & Old Jameson Distillery

Arrive at Dublin Airport, proceed through immigration and pick up your baggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where personnel will arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than noon, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel is located in Ballsbridge, one of Dublin’s most prestigious addresses. At 2:00 pm join your group and a local guide for an introductory look around central Dublin. See the fashionable shopping areas around Grafton and Nassau Streets, view the many elegant Georgian townhouses and pass the Dail where the government convenes. Visit the Old Jameson Distillery to see the different stages of whiskey making and enjoy a sample at the end of the tour. Back at your hotel meet with your guide and fellow travellers for a welcome drink and discuss your itinerary.

Day 2 - Rock of Cashel & Blarney Woollen Mills

Depart Dublin to travel through the Irish countryside where you can see the “Forty Shades of Green” as you pass many farms. Visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster in 977. See the 12th century, highly decorated Cormac’s Chapel, the large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Just outside Cork shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills, renowned for their quality Irish merchandise or take a walk around the charming village green. While it is not included in the tour, you will have time to climb to the ramparts of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous stone. Continue your drive to your hotel in the centre of Killarney. After dinner you may like to sample one of the many singing bars. (B, D)

Day 3 - Ring of Kerry & Muckross Gardens

Today you will discover the wonderful scenery of Killarney as you drive around the famous Ring of Kerry. The road winds between the Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountains, and the varied Atlantic coast. You will be amazed at the breathtaking views and you will stop for photos at the most dramatic scenes. Continue through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville. On the return, pass through the colourful village of Sneem and stop at Moll’s Gap to view the Three Lakes of Killarney. Stop for a stroll through the splendid Muckross Gardens on the shores of Muckross Lake. Enjoy some free time in Killarney before dinner in your hotel. (B, D)

Day 4 - Cliffs of Moher & Galway

Depart Killarney and travel north through the village of Listowel to Tarbert. Take a short ferry ride across the River Shannon and drive along the coastline of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher. This wall of limestone rises to heights of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs to O’Brien’s Tower for great views. Drive through the Burren, an area of rounded limestone hills where rock has weathered into amazing rock formations and around the shores of Galway Bay. Take a short orientation tour around central Galway before checking into your hotel. (B, D)

Day 5 - Connemara & Kylemore Abbey

Today explore another of Ireland’s famous scenic regions—Connemara, where the constantly-changing cloud formations give hills, lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Travel alongside Galway Bay to Spiddal where most locals speak the Irish language. Pass the granite hills and sparkling lakes of the Inagh Valley on the way to Kylemore Abbey. This 19th century mansion, set beside a charming lake, is today a prestigious girls’ school. Stop in Moycullen at the Celtic Connemara Crystal Factory, which specializes in Celtic designs cut into coloured creations. Watch skilled craftsmen cut the crystal and learn about the symbolism of the motifs before returning to Galway for some leisure time before dinner. (B, D)

Day 6 - 6th Century Clonmacnoise & Abbey Tavern

Drive to the centre of the country to visit Clonmacnoise. This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Ciaran in 545 AD, when Christianity flourished throughout Ireland. See round towers, church ruins and Celtic crosses with elaborate carvings, all in a picturesque setting on the banks of the River Shannon. Continue to the greater metropolitan area of Dublin once more and check into the same hotel. In the evening drive to the Abbey Tavern for a hearty dinner followed by a lively show of traditional music, songs and step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 7 - Depart for Home

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

---

• Group transfers on arrival and departure
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Services of a professional Irish driver/guide
• First class hotels with private bath/shower for 6 nights
• Full Irish breakfast daily (B)
• 5 dinners (D) including
  • Traditional Irish evening with dinner and entertainment at the Abbey Tavern
  • 4 table d'hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• Whiskey tasting and tour of Old Jameson Distillery
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• Visits and admissions to Book of Kells at Trinity College, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory and Clonmacnoise
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels

---

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Mespil Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
• Killarney Towers Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
• Academy Hotel, Dublin (1 night)

Departure Dates & Selling Price for 2009 season.

---

Single Room Supplement € 238.00. All Rates in euro.