“There was a rough beauty in the shadow of these hills that called to certain folks, that challenged them. It wasn’t a matter of taming it, but of accepting it for what it was--and all it could be.”

DAY 1, Saturday, July 3—DEPART U.S. FOR IRELAND
We’ll board our overnight transatlantic flight departing from Cincinnati to Dublin, Ireland.

DAY 2, Sunday, July 4—DUBLIN/ ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL/ DUBLIN CITY TOUR
Arrive Dublin—after clearing Customs & Immigration are meet by our Irish driver/ guide. We’ll begin with a tour of Dublin including admission and a docent guided tour of ST. PATRICK’S CATHDRAL where literary giant Jonathan Swift once served as church Dean. Our Irish driver/ guide will continue with a general city tour of the Republics vibrant capitol city of Dublin, including PHOENIX PARK home to the President of Ireland; the CUSTOMS and FOUR COURTS buildings and world famous TRINITY COLLEGE. The balance of the day and evening is on own to explore this world class city.

ACCOMMODATION: MONTE CLARE HOTEL
This modern and stylish property welcomes you home to Ireland. Centrally located just minutes from the National Museum center and Trinity College the Mont Clare is convenient to all the capitol cities major attractions via minutes walk to the lovely Merrion Square  .

DAY 3, Monday, July 5—POWERSCOURT/GLENDALOUGH/ AVOCA/ KILKEA CASTLE
Departing the capitol city we head south to Enniskerry in Co. Wicklow and the majesty of POWERSCOURT HOME & GARDENS. Originally an English manor home later gutted by fire in 1974 the formal gardens still remain a beautiful testament to this once proud home, complimented by the restoration of the ballroom and installation of specialty shops and cafes. Next we move onto the area known as the ‘valley of two lakes’ GLENDALOUGH. A seat of high learning as well as a 6th century monastic site our guided tour of the area boasts one of the most perfect examples of Ireland’s unique architecture—the round tower. We then travel a short distance onto the imaginary home of PBS’s Ballykissangel  AVOCA and our guided tour of Ireland’s oldest weaver and creator of this uniquely brilliant and soft woolen export AVOCA WOOLEN MILLS. The day ends with your arrival at Ireland’s oldest inhabited castle and your home for the evening.

ACCOMMODATIONS: KILKEA CASTLE.
Ireland’s oldest inhabited castle built in 118 now offers the best in modern comfort with the charm and elegance of the past retained. Included will be a fine dining experience in the castle’s d’Lacy Restaurant—no trip to the Emerald Isle is complete without a castle stay
MEALS: Breakfast/dinner

DAY 4, Tuesday, July 6 --ROCK OF CASHEL/ COBH HERITAGE CENTRE/ MIDLETON DISTILLERY/ KINSALE
Departing Dublin we head across the Irish midlands to the ancient, majestic ROCK OF CASHEL. Home to the High Kings of Ireland and special site of St. Patrick this impressive monastic ruin rises eerily from the landscape holding secrets of Ireland’s past. After our guided tour of the Rock we journey down the road a bit to the home of one of Ireland’s smoothest exports—‘the water of life’ as the Irish call JAMESON DISTILLERS. Here after our guided tour we enjoy our own angels share before adjourning for the evening to the romantic nooks and crannies of the ‘gourmet capitol of Ireland Kinsale

ACCOMMODATIONS: FRIAR’S LODGE GUESTHOUSE.
This 4 star award winning property lies in the heart of historic Kinsale. All rooms are a luxurious style offering guests every facility. A short stroll brings you to the world famous restaurants and lively pubs of this charming village.

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 5, Wednesday, July 7--  KINSALE/ BLARNEY CASTLE/ CORK/ KILLARNEY
Our day begins with a tour of Charles Fort overlooking the Celtic Sea. Said to haunted by the ghosts of lost love and perhaps the best-known historic attraction in Kinsale Charles Fort is one of the finest surviving examples of a 17th Century star-shaped fort, and much of the construction begun in 1678 remains. The fort has two enormous bastions overlooking the estuary, and three facing inland. Within its walls were all the barracks and ancillary facilities to support the fort's garrison. The fort continued in military use until 1922. We then travel away from the seaport town to the world famous McCarty Castle best known for granting the gift of eloquence to those intrepid visitors kissing its magic stone BLARNEY CASTLE. Also located on the grounds in the flagship BLARNEY WOOLEN MILLS and OLD MILL RESTAURANT. Three floors of Irish goods including crystal, linens, music, sweaters, jewelry all await your review. Then we’re off to the Kingdom of Kerry and our overnight destination for the next two evenings KILLARNEY.

ACCOMMODATIONS: ARUBUTUS HOTEL (2 nites).
A consistent guest favorite the Buckley’s of Killarney have hosted this family run jewel for generations. A Victorian warmth welcomes you to this ideally situated property city centre to all the magic of Killarney. A cooked to order Irish breakfast now a rarity in the country awaits your order and one of the best pubs in Ireland is just through the leaded glass door.

MEALS: Breakfast/ dinner

DAY 6, Thursday, July 8—KENMARE/ GLENGARRIF GARNISH ISLAND GARDENS/ GOUGANE BARRA
An easy day as we depart Killarney to journey through the gaily painted village of KENMARE to the beautiful gardens of the Garnish Island. ILNACULLEN GARDEN is a 37 acre island reached by a brief ferry ride across and silk smooth Bantry Bay. After time to wander these delightful Italianade gardens we travel a bit up the road to perhaps one of the most scenic spots in Ireland--Gougane Barra. The name Guágan Barra derives from St. Finbar, who according to tradition, built his monastery on the island here in the 6th century. Guágan was at one time part of the territories of the O'Leary's who lost possession of the land in the plantation that followed the Cromwellian wars.   Option: Muckross House and gardens upon return to Killarney.

ACCOMMODATIONS: ARUBUTUS HOTEL

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 7, Friday, July 9—DINGLE PENNINSULA/ LIMERICK/ ENNIS
Departing Killarney and Co. Kerry we head to the rugged beauty of the ‘last parish before Boston’—the Dingle Penninsula. Our cliff hugging route takes us past the ancient beehive huts smilingly considered “Ireland’s 1st b&b’s” in their use centuries ago by visiting Monks on retreat in this impossibly rocky and beautiful landscape. Back in DINGLE we spend a little time perhaps visiting the remarkable BRIAN D’STOR ‘gold factory’ home to the only Ogham jewelry in Ireland. Then up the west coast of Ireland through the village of Adair and city of Limerick to the home of Irish music ENNIS. Here our overnight accommodations in a charming family run b&b affords us the perfect spot from which to explore the dozens of pubs offering the best traditional Irish music sessions in the country. The evening is yours to find your own bit of foot tapping enjoyment.

ACCOMMODTION: ASHFORD COURT BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
Located just a 5 minute walk from the city centre this intimate boutique style hotel offers a modern design with award winning cuisine in its Juliana’s Restaurant featuring the best of local seafood and classic Italian dishes.

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 8, Saturday, July 10—THE BURREN/ CLIFFS OF MOHR/ ENNIS
Our departure from Ennis takes us to the wind swept CLIFFS OF MOHR the highest cliffs in Europe. Traveling on we cross the barren limestone dome that is THE BURREN. Home to species of horticulture only found together in one other place in the world the Burren offers a view of the desperate hardships faced by the Irish of western Ireland and the land that forged their personality and literature. Midway we’ll share a bit of lunch in the quaint village of Ballyvaughn at the BURREN HYLAND Hotel. We end the day with our arrival in the City of Tribes GALWAY.

ACCOMMODATIONS: RADISSON SAS (2 nites).
Classically modern this city centre property offers business travelers and guests alike immediate access to all Galway has to offer. Steps from Eire Square and the pubs and stores of Shoppe St. you’ll find the clean, elegance of the Radisson SAS a remarkable destination to call home.

MEALS: Breakfast/ lunch

DAY 9, Sunday, July 11—THE ARAN ISLANDS
We depart Galway heading along the Bay to the Rossaveal Ferry and our short ride across to the ARAN ISLANDS. Our guided tour on the island introduces us to a place where the language of Irish is still spoken everyday and a history was forged from ancient times now preserved in the stony remains of DUN AONGHASA. Time will be available to explore this bastion of real Irish country life and area of great importance to author John Synge, before catching the last ferry back to the mainland. Evening on own to explore the sites and shops of Galway.

ACCOMMODATIONS: RADISON SAS

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 10, Monday, July 12-- MOYCULLEN/ASHFORD CASTLE/ WESTPORT
Departing Galway we expand our education a bit beyond literary and historic ventures to the world famous export of Irish crystal with a visit to the family run home of the only colored crystal made in Ireland CELTIC CRYSTAL Here we learn how just the most humble of ingredients combine to become the sparkling elegance that is one of Irelands most famous exports. followed by a visit to another internationally known family business that being CONNEMARA MARBLE. Heading into ‘Quiet Man’ country film location of the international favorite movie we visit one of Irelands crown jewel castles. ASHFORD CASTLE will open its doors for tea as we visit this remarkable former estate of the Guinness family built in 1228. Then we wander a bit further to another historic landmark city WESTPORT and the famous CROAGH PATRICK. Legend has it St. Patrick banished the snakes from island from this mighty mountain top—while some the Irish say some politicians do still remain behind.

ACCOMMODATIONS: CASTLECOURT HOTEL & LEISURE CENTRE.
This family run property offers a gentle get away has earned its reputation as Ireland’s ‘home away from home’ as well as one of the largest leisure centre properties in the west of Ireland.

MEALS: Breakfast/ castle tea

DAY 11, Tuesday, July 13--SLIGO/BELLEEK POTTERY/ DONEGAL/ BALLYBOFEY
Heading north we move into ‘Yeats Country’ and the city of Sligo and nearby DRUMCLIFF final resting place of Yeats as he so dictated ‘in the shadow of Ben Bulben’. We head briefly into Northern Ireland for our visit at the world famous artistry of BELLEEK CHINA. Our guided factory tour takes us right up to the artists creating the basket weave designs and delicate flowers of this amazing pottery china. We finish the day on the eastern ridge of the Blue Stack Mountains in the charming County Donegal village of Ballybofey and our accommodation for the next two nights amid the warmth of Kee’s Hotel.

ACCOMMODATIONS: KEE’S HOTEL (2 nights).
A combination of charming family run facilities, caring staff and intimate ambiance makes this a perfect accommodation for exploring Co. Donegal’s treasures.

MEALS: Breakfast/ dinner

DAY 12, Wednesday, July 14—GLENVEAGH NATIONAL PARK
Glenveagh is one of only six national parks in Ireland with its 16,000 acres lying in the Derryveagh Mountains situated in the northwest of Co. Donegal. The scenery here is reminiscent of a Scottish highland and unlike any other in the Emerald Isle. Situated within the park is GLENVEAGH CASTLE a 19th century mansion inspired by the Victorian romance of a highland retreat. Our guided tour of the castle leaves plenty of time to explore the magnificent flower gardens surrounding the manse and the secluded little alcoves of green secret gardens. Returning to Ballyboffey we have the evening to wander this twin village area.

ACCOMMODATIONS: KEE’S HOTEL

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 13, Thursday, July 15—DERRY/ GIANTS CAUSEWAY/ DUNLUCE CASTLE-- N. IRELAND
Our route takes us to Northern Ireland and an exploration of the modern history that is Derry. A town still encircled by it’s medieval walls our guided city tour will include the TOWER MUSEUM, ST. COLUMB’S CATHEDRAL, THE DIAMOND and THE GUILD HALL whose stained glass windows illustrate episodes in Derry history. We depart Derry for our excursion to the top of the North of Ireland and the geological wonders of the world famous GIANTS CAUSEWAY. Over 40,000 hexagonal columns formed 60 million years ago are either an incredible display of nature, or the steps of the legendary Finn McCool--it’s yours to decide.

ACCOMMODATIONS: ADELPHI PORTRUSH.
Opened in 2007 this luxury accommodation operates as a small boutique hotel. On sith health suite and treatment salong as well as fully licensed bistro make for a delightful destination in the Portrush area.

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 14, Friday, July 16—BELFAST, N. IRELAND/ DUBLIN
Our day begins moving a bit south to Northern Irelands capitol city includes visits to Queens College, the government building of Stormont (subject to availability) and the shipyard where the legendary and doomed Titanic was constructed. Now an energetic, vibrant city our guided tour gives insights into how the Troubles have left Belfast stronger and more cosmopolitan than ever before. We return to the Republic of Ireland late afternoon for our farewell evening dinner together in Dublin.

ACCOMMODATION: MONTE CLARE.

MEALS: Breakfast/ dinner

Day 15, Saturday, July  17 —DEPART IRELAND
Bidding a fond farewell to our driver/ guide and the Emerald Isle we board our transatlantic flight for our return to America.

“Don’t forget that nobody is happy tomorrow—only today counts”.
An Irish Love Story

TOUR LAND PACKAGE: Includes all ground transfers and deluxe ground transportation in Ireland; services of Irish driver/guide and MKL tour escort; all accommodations as indicated above or at like properties in twin bedded ensuite rooms; 18 meals; portage of 1 piece of luggage throughout tour; all local taxes & gratuities; admissions to all attractions and entertainment listed above; MKL travel document holder and flight bag. Itinerary subject to alteration only with like accommodations and attractions. Reservations due JANUARY 30, 2010 with deposit of $500 per person.
Group airfare quotes upon request.

DUBLIN                                    2 nites                         ENNIS                          1 nite
KILKEA CASTLE                  1 nite                           GALWAY                   2 nites
KINSALE                                  1 nite                           WESTPORT              1 nite
KILLARNEY                           2 nites                         BALLYBOFFEY       2 nites
                                                                                             PORTRUSH               2 nite

PACKAGE COST:  
15 guests or less       $3,050 per person DOUBLE occupancy                   $650 SINGLE supplement
16-24 guests               $2,830 per person DOUBLE occupancy                    SAME
+24 guests                  $2,650 per person DOUBLE occupancy                     SAME.