Spetacular West 2009

Tour Itinerary

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Day 1 - Dublin City & 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. At 2:00 pm join your group and a local guide for an introductory look around central Dublin. View the many elegant Georgian townhouses, public buildings and fashionable shopping areas. Visit Dublin Castle for a guided tour around the elegant Georgian State Apartments

Day 2 - Ulster American Folk Park & Donegal

Travel north through Monaghan and Tyrone to visit the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. The Park traces the story of Ulster emigrants by showing how they lived in the “Old Country” and sailed across the Atlantic to settle in the “New World” in Colonial times. Drive into the hilly region of County Donegal to Donegal town. Meet your Irish homeowners as you check in for your home stay and sit down to dinner with your hosts. (B, D)

Day 3 - Day 3: Slieve League Cliffs & Donegal Tweed

Drive to the fishing port of Killybegs and on to Teelin to view Slieve League sea cliffs, which drop straight down to the wild Atlantic waves below. The highest point reaches 1,972 feet making them the highest in Europe. Continue west to Glencolumbcille and Malinbeg and through the majestic Glengesh Pass to Ardara to visit Triona Design. Donegal is renowned for wool production and here you will see demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting and enjoy tea with scones. Enjoy free time in Donegal town and in the evening head to a cosy restaurant for dinner followed by some traditional live music. (B, D)

Day 4 - Belleek & Museum of Country Life

Journey south visit the Belleek Pottery Factory to see how the craftspeople mold, shape and decorate clay, creating the world-famous fine china. Drive around Donegal Bay and stop to view the grave of the Nobel-winning writer, W. B. Yeats, before continuing through Counties Sligo and Mayo. Visit the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar to see collections of domestic goods, once used as part of daily life from 1850 to 1950. Exhibits and a movie explain how people used to live throughout the country. A short drive takes you to Westport to your hotel, which is located in the centre of this interesting town. (B, D)

Day 5 - Achill Island & Deserted Famine Village

This morning travel around Clew Bay to reach Achill Island joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful, wild views of steep mountains and stretches of golden beaches. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of 100 cottages abandoned in the 1840’s Famine. Return to Westport in good time to take a look around the town on your own. The estate town was laid out in 1780 and has many fine Georgian houses and a tree-lined mall. After dinner in your hotel you may like to explore some of the lively pubs. (B, D)

Day 6 - Connemara & Kylemore Abbey

Drive past the pilgrimage mountain of Croaghpatrick and the spectacular coastal route via Louisburg to Leenane at the head of the narrow inlet of Killary Harbour to enjoy a mini cruise of this inlet. Travel into Connemara, one of Ireland’s wonderful scenic regions with misty hills and open countryside. Stop at Kylemore Abbey, originally a 19th century private residence, which is now a prestigious girls’ school for a photo stop. Drive through Connemara’s Inagh Valley for wonderful sweeping views of the Twelve Bens on the way to Clifden, known as the “Capital of Connemara.” Check into your hotel in the heart of the town. Dinner this evening is served in the Station House Pub offering a cosy atmosphere and some local music. (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. Return by ferry to the mainland and your hotel in Clifden in good time for dinner in the hotel restaurant. (B, D)

Day 8 - Ennis Friary & Walking Tour

Drive through another part of Connemara on the way to Galway city to take a look at the main points of interest, including the Spanish Arch and Galway Cathedral. Spend some time exploring on your own before driving south to Ennis, the main marketing town for County Clare. Take a short walk with a guide through Ennis Friary and the narrow streets to learn about local history. Take a 20-minute ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary to County Kerry. Stop in Listowel, birthplace of J. B. Keane, a popular playwright, before driving to Killarney. Check into your hotel, located overlooking Lough Leane, the largest of Killarney’s famous lakes. (B, D)

Day 9 - Jaunting Car Ride & Moll’s Gap

Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle for a view of Killarney’s lakes and mountains. Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where traditional buildings are gaily painted and enhanced with flowers and then up through Moll’s Gap, a wonderful vantage point, and stop to view the mountains. Travel along part of the Ring of Kerry route to enjoy the best of the scenery. Stop at Ladies’ View and take a walk around the photogenic Muckross Gardens, laid out along the lakeshore in the 19th century. Admire wonderful mature trees and shrubs from all around the globe before returning to Killarney. (B, D)

Day 10 - Sheep Farm Visit & Abbey Tavern

Leave Killarney’s lovely mountains and drive north through rich dairying country of Counties Cork and Tipperary, known as the “Golden Vale.” Stop near Cashel to visit a sheep farm for tea and home-made scones and see a demonstration of sheepdog skills. Stop for photos at the Rock of Cashel, a stately limestone outcrop topped with medieval ruins. Continue into the metropolitan area of Dublin to your hotel on the north side of the city. A short drive will take you to the fishing village of Howth for a fun evening with a traditional dinner and rousing Irish music at the Abbey Tavern. (B, D)

Day 11 - 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 10 nights – Superior & first class hotels in Dublin, Westport, Clifden and Killarney; town & country homes in Donegal
• 10 full Irish breakfasts (B)
• 9 dinners (D) including
• Traditional Irish evening with dinner and entertainment at the Abbey Tavern
• Restaurant dinner with live music in Donegal
• Pub dinner with live music in Clifden
• 1 home-style dinner
• 5 table d’hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• Minibus excursion to Slieve League Sea Cliffs
• Hand weaving demonstration with tea & scones at Triona Design
• Day tour to Inis Mor, largest of the Aran Islands
• Walking tour of Ennis with a local guide
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• Horse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney
• Tea and scones at a sheep farm
• Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Ulster American Folk Park, Belleek Pottery Factory, W. B. Yeats’ Grave, Museum of Country Life, Dun Aengus Fort, Aran Heritage Centre, Ennis Friary and Muckross 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):

• Bewley’s Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
• Town & Country Homes, Donegal (2 nights)
• Westport Inn Hotel, Westport (2 nights)
• Station House Hotel, Clifden (2 nights)
• Castlerosse Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Skylon Hotel, Dublin (1 night)

Departure Dates & Selling Price for 2009 season

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Single Room Supplement € 330.00. All Rates in euro.