Day 1 Tuesday, May 10
Check into Boston airport for overnight transatlantic flight to Ireland.
Day 2 Wednesday, May 11
We will leave Shannon Airport and head towards the Ring of Kerry, stopping for a
hearty Irish Breakfast on the way. After Breakfast we will drive the breath-taking Ring
of Kerry! The drive will include stops in some of the western-most towns in Europe.
One of the many stops will be at the Ladies View, a popular place for professional
photographers to capture the beauty of Kerry. Driving back to Killarney to check into
the 4 Scotts Hotel for lunch and rest. We will have time in the afternoon to visits shops,
pubs and restaurants in Killarney before our dinner in the hotel. After dinner we will
have some time to meet in a local Killarney Pub for traditional Irish entertainment.
Day 3 Thursday, May 12
Today we visit the Killarney National Park. We start with Mass in Killarney Cathedral
and then take a jaunting car through the woodlands and a boat trip on the lakes. On
the edge of the park you can visit St. Mary Cathedral which is at the burial site of
many locals who perished during the potato famine. There will be an opportunity
to walk part of the Gap of Dunloe and continue up to Aghadoe Heights to view the
magnificent Lakes of Killarney. Return back to the hotel in Killarney for some rest or
shopping before dinner.
Day 4 Friday, May 13
After breakfast in the hotel we will drive to Blarney, Co. Cork. Climb the Castle and
kiss the famous Blarney Stone to receive the gift of eloquence. With our new found
eloquence we continue on to Cashel in Co. Tipperary and see the impressive Rock
of Cashel seat of the Kings of Munster, visited by St. Patrick in A.D. 450. Hear the
story of the Devils Bit and see the wall tomb of Archbishop Myler McGrath. Reboard
our coach and continue to the Capital city, Dublin and check into the Clayton
Hotel for 2 nights with dinner and breakfast.
Day 5 Saturday, May 14
After breakfast we will depart for a city tour of the nations capital. Among the sites are the
General Post Office on OConnell Street, the place of the 1916 uprising, Phoenix Park, St.
Stephens Green and the Hapenny Bridge. Continue to the Church of Mary Immaculate
to celebrate Mass at the Lourdes Grotto. In the afternoon we will visit the famous Book
of Kells in Trinity College before continuing to the Guinness Brewery in St. James Gate.
After a tour of the Brewery and a pint of stout we will return to the Hotel. Tonight we will
enjoy an evening dinner-cabaret show at the Merry Ploughboy.
Day 6 Sunday, May 15
After breakfast, we get an early start to the day as we leave Dublin to cross the country
to County Mayo. There we will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock where the
Blessed Mother appeared to the locals on the back of the Church gable in a driving
rain storm. We will be able to have Mass at the site of the apparition and have the
chance to walk around the beautiful grounds and visit the shops. After our visit, we
will take in the restored ruins of Ballintubber Abbey and visit one of St. Patricks
Wells where many were converted to Christianity. Later in the afternoon we arrive
in Galway, the City of the Tribes. We check into the 4 House Hotel in the city centre
and have time to have a look around. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.
Day 7 Monday, May 16
This morning we will tour the Galway Cathedral and then begin the ride through the
bog lands of Connemara, where Irish is still the spoken language. This rugged and
rural part of Ireland was the setting for the movie The Quiet Man. We will have the
chance to visit the cottage used in the movie. We will stop at Kylemore Abbey and the
Connemara Marble Factory. The afternoon is free to explore Galway City. Stroll the
Prom along Salt Hill or visit the medieval collegiate Church of St. Nicholas. Be sure
to catch the historical marker showing the place from which Christopher Columbus
left to discover the new world!
Day 8 Tuesday, May 17
This morning we will travel to the ferry port of Rossaveal where we will take a ferry
to Inis Mor, one of the three Aran Islands. Inis Mor is criss-crossed by dry stone
walls and the landscape is bleak with soaring cliffs rising out of the Atlantic. Aran
has retained much of the old Gaelic culture and Gaelic is still the spoken language of
the Islanders. Traditional music and song have been well preserved there. From the
traditional pubs, prehistoric Christian forts and heart warming locals, its not hard
to wonder why this is the most popular of the Aran Islands. Explore the patchwork
fields on foot, take a guided tour from a local resident, or hire a bicycle for the day
for something a bit more independent. There is plenty to do and see whichever path
you choose! Return to the main land and have dinner in the hotel back in Galway.
Day 9 Wednesday, May 18
After breakfast we visit the Cathedral and celebrate Mass. See the Salmon Weir,
Spanish Arch and Eyre Square. Continue to The Burren an area of 50 square
miles of bare limestone rock with very little soil, but remarkable amounts of various
flora. We next arrive at one of Irelands outstanding features the Cliffs of Moher,
towering 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Stroll along the cliffs to OBriens Tower
and visit the interesting visitor centre. Travel via Lahinch to Bunratty and check
into the Bunratty Castle Hotel for our final night. This evening we enjoy a Medieval
Banquet with Irish entertainment in Bunratty Castle. To finalize our tour, in true
Irish style, enjoy a Pint of Guinness in Durty Nellies famous pub.
Day 10 Thursday, May 19
A hearty breakfast begins the day. Mid-morning we board the bus for the short ride
to Shannon Airport we will board our flight home.
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