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9
DAYS • 10 MEALS
Explore the Emerald Isle from Dublin to Killarney, exquisite
castles and stunning vistas, where the grass grows “40
shades of green!” Come listen to the legends, hear
the music and experience the warmth of friendly Celtic hospitality.
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Dublin
- Contemporary, yet Filled with History and Tradition
Once a walled medieval city, Dublin is an eclectic mix of elegant
Georgian homes, wide streets and gracious squares. You’ll
feel the energy of Celtic tradition wherever you go. See the National
Museum, with collections of antiquities, decorative arts and history;
the National Gallery, which displays over 2,000 works; the Parliament
Building; and St. Stephen's Green. After this renowned district,
your tour continues past Trinity College, founded in 1591 by Elizabeth
I, whose library contains the Book of Kells, the famous 8th-century
hand-illuminated gospel manuscript. Travel along O'Connell Street
with its monuments to notable figures from Ireland’s turbulent
history as well as the General Post Office, site of rebel headquarters
in the 1916 Easter Rising. The Mespil Hotel, your home for the
next three nights, is convenient to Temple Bar, Dublin’s
cultural quarter and lively nightlife.
Optional:
Dublin’s Coastal Villages and Malahide Castle
Experience more of Ireland’s scenic beauty as you drive
through the seaside towns, just north of Dublin. Malahide Castle,
set on 250 acres of park land, was both a fortress and a private
home for nearly 800 years. See the beautiful period furniture
along with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings,
mainly from the National Gallery. Visit the town of Portmarnock,
home of the world-famous Portmarnock Golf Club. The quaint fishing
port of Howth with its Abbey, lighthouse and pier is your last
stop before returning to Dublin.
An
Evening of Irish Music, Dance and Song
Join us for traditional Irish cuisine, merriment and fun. Enjoy
a three-course dinner in an 18th-century pub, followed by a
musical performance by one of Ireland’s finest groups.
Next on the stage are traditional Irish dancers to mesmerize
you with their fast jigs and intricate steps.
The
Capital of Northern Ireland - Belfast
In recent years, Belfast has become a popular tourist destination.
The city’s architecture is rich in Victorian and Edwardian
buildings with elaborate sculptures over the doors and windows.
Your panoramic city tour includes Donegall Square, dominated
by the elaborate City Hall and Albert Clock. Drive through West
Belfast’s Protestant neighborhood of Shankill Road, and
the Catholic neighborhood of Falls Road, where large, vivid
murals painted on the sides of buildings express the feelings
that still run deep on both sides. Though the names of these
areas were much in the news during “the Troubles,”
the gate in the Peace Wall between them now stands open. Drive
by the infamous Titanic Quarter, home to colossal cranes of
Harland & Wolff where the RMS Titanic was built and launched.
Enjoy lunch on your own and chat with the locals at a pub.
Blarney
Castle -
Kiss the Stone for the Gift of the Gab!
Blarney Castle was built more than 600 years ago by the King
of Munster, Cormac MacCarthy, and is considered Ireland’s
greatest treasure. Legend has it that if you climb to the top
of the castle and kiss the “Stone of Eloquence,”
you’ll never be at a loss for words. It must be true as
everyone from Sir Walter Scott to American presidents and world
leaders have tried it. Get caught in its magical spell with
Wishing Steps, Witch’s Kitchen, Druid’s Cave and
other delights, telling a story of centuries past. After the
castle, you’ll have time to wander through the village
of Blarney, shop at the Blarney Woolen Mills and have lunch
on your own before continuing to Killarney.
Killarney - Ireland’s Most Beautiful Countryside
Renowned for the splendor of its scenery, Killarney has been
the inspiration of poets and painters for centuries. With sparkling
lakes, deep forests and jagged misty mountains as background,
this lively town will delight you with its pubs, craft galleries
and shops. See St Mary's Cathedral, built during the famine
by a people whose faith was stronger than their hunger. Muckross
House and Gardens are majestically situated on the shores of
Killarney National Park. Ride in a horse drawn Jaunting cart,
while listening to your “jarvey” (driver), whose
tall tales add hilarity to the tour. Ride along the shores of
the Lower Lake to the ruins of the 15th-century Franciscan Abbey.
Then shop for wool sweaters and fine crystal along charming
High Street.
The
Dingle Peninsula - One of the most beautiful places on earth
Staggering cliffs, rocky hills and sandy beaches create this
magnificent landscape representing more than 6,000 years of
archeological history. Learn about the Blasket Islands, scene
of many shipwrecks and once a close-knit fishing community.
Along the drive, you’ll see relics from both the Stone
Age and Bronze Age as well as the Ecclesiastical period, when
Ireland was known as the “land of Saints and Scholars.”
It’s easy to see why movies like Ryan’s Daughter
and Far and Away were filmed in this sweeping panorama. Enjoy
lunch and free time at a pub in the Gaelic town of Dingle.
Join
us on this incredible journey where the luck of the Irish will
be with you!
| 2010
Depart USA |
per
person twin |
Single
Room
Add |
| March
12** |
$1,249 |
$445
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| April
2* |
$1,195
|
$445
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| October
15, 29 |
$1,245
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$445
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*These
departures will operate from
Shannon/Killarney to Dublin
Call
for air rates and schedules from your
city to Dublin and from Shannon, Ireland
**St.
Patrick’s Day Departure
Join the Irish and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
while in
Killarney with a special dinner on March 17.
Space is limited
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For this tour, you are required to carry a valid passport
with an expiration date no less than six (6) months after
the scheduled return date.