DAY 1—OCTOBER 5, TUESDAY
Board our overnight transatlantic flights to Dublin, Ireland.

DAY 2—OCTOBER 6, WEDNESDAY—DUBLIN/ ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL/ DUBLIN CITY TOUR/ YEATS EXHIBITION NATIONAL LIBRARY
Arrive Dublin—after clearing Customs & Immigration are meet by our Irish driver/ guide. 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; and a visit to the W.B. YEATS EXHIBITION at the National Library in Dublin which explores the Nobel prize winning author from his family roots to his literary genius as inspired by the women in his life and the historic fight for Ireland’s freedom. Our Irish driver/ guide will continue with a general overview 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: GRAND CANAL HOTEL (2 nights). Located in fashionable Ballsbridge the Grand Canal is convenient to all the capitol cities major attractions via a 15 minute walk to the lovely Merrion Square or via DART. This intimate yet modern and stylish property will welcome you home to Ireland.

DAY 3—OCTOBER 7, THURSDAY—BELFAST, N. IRELAND
Our day trip 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 your evenings continued exploration of Dublin.

ACCOMMODATION: GRAND CANAL HOTEL

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 4—OCTOBER 8, FRIDAY--ROCK OF CASHEL/ JAMESON DISTILLERY/ MIDLETON
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 at the warm and welcoming Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa.

ACCOMMODATIONS: RADISSON BLU HOTEL & SPA. This lovely 4* spa property lies just outside Cork City Centre and offers a modern, sophisticated accommodation for all its guests. In addition to a pool, facilities include a fitness centre and health club.

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 5—OCTOBER 9, SATURDAY—COBH/ CORK’S ENGLISH MARKET/ BLARNEY CASTLE/ ENNIS
We begin the day with a look back to the history of the Famine and Irish immigration presented by the COBH HERITAGE CENTRE last port of call for Titanic and departure point for countless Irish famine ships. Then back into the bustling city of Cork and the remarkable ENGLISH MARKET. A food paradise, this historic marketplace shows how Irish families for generations have chosen only the freshest local and imported foods for their table. Everything from cheeses to fresh fish to pastries—your chance to sample a bit of the local fare. We nead onto explore the world famous, historic and fanciful BLARNEY CASTLE (castle admission optional). You may want to join the thousands of folks who have tested their luck with a kiss of the famous stone said to grant the gift of Irish eloquence, or shop the incredibly diversity of the nearby BLARNEY WOOLEN MILLS. We then head up through the town of LIMERICK toward the west coast of Ireland and the intimate, cobbled stone streets of Ennis, home to some of the best Irish session music in the country.

ACCOMMODATIONS: ASHFORD COURT BOUTIQUE HOTEL. Located just a 5 min. walk from the city centre  the Ashford Court is a new boutique style hotel, each room equipped w/ satellite TV and computer/ internet access.                                                

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 6—OCTOBER 10, SUNDAY—THE BURREN/ CLIFFS OF MOHR/ COOLPARK / GALWAY
Our day 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. We’ll ramble along to the small community of Gort and a visit to COOL PARK, historic home of Lady Gregory, co founder of the Abbey Theatre with W.B. Yeats and close personal friend to the author. We end the day with our arrival in the City of Tribes GALWAY.

ACCOMMODATION: SALT HILL GUESTHOUSES—LISCARNA & CILL CUANA-- (2 nights) Located in Salt hill just a block from Galway Bay on a cul de sac laden with gardens you’ll share the ultimate intimate Ireland experience with overnight stays in the warmest of Irish welcomes— family owned guest homes. These charming residences of Kathleen Burke & neighbor Mary Curran are specially designed to welcome guests and will find you welcomed by the lady of the house, who each morning offers a cooked to order breakfast. Not the impersonal design of a standard hotel, but a real Irish home to add to the warmth of an insider’s view of Ireland.

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 7—OCTOBER 11, MONDAY—THE ARAN ISLANDS      (weather pending)
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. Note: This day is weather pending.  Optional day would be to visit Roundstone, home of the official maker of the Irish bodhran drums and nearby villages.

ACCOMMODATIONS: SALT HILL GUEST HOUSES

MEALS: Breakfast

DAY 8—OCTOBER 12, TUESDAY— MOYCULLEN/ SLIGO/ DRUMCLIFF/ BALLYBOFEY
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. 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 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

DAY 9—OCTOER 13, WEDNESDAY—DERRY, N. IRELAND
Our day trip into Northern Ireland introduces us to the modern day history and story of DERRY through our guided tour with educator Mr. Ronan McNamara. Walking the walls of Derry we learn of the 1970’s ‘troubles’ and the impact on modern Ireland. A compelling look into the not too distant past rounds out our image of how Ireland evolved into one of the world’s strongest economies from centuries of turmoil. We return to our overnight home in the Republic of Ireland’s lovely Ballybofey.

ACCOMMODATION: KEE’S HOTEL.

MEALS: Breakfast/ dinner

DAY 10—OCTOBER 14, THURSDAY— BELLEEK POTTERY/ DUBLIN
Leaving Ballyboffey we head back into Northern Ireland for a brief visit at the world famous artistry of BELLEEK CHINA. Our guided tour through the factory takes us right up to the artists creating the basket weave designs and delicate flowers of this amazing pottery china. We journey on then back across the breadth of Ireland to the capitol city and end as we began with a return to the Grand Canal hotel and a farewell dinner together in a locals favorite The Anglers Rest restaurant along the Liffey River.

ACCOMODATIONS: GRAND CANAL HOTEL

MEALS: Breakfast/ dinner

DAY 11—OCTOBER 15, FRIDAY—KILMAINHAIM GAOL/ DEPARTURE
Before departing Ireland we have one more stop--the historic grail of Irish independence with our private, guided tour of KILMAINHAM GAOL. As the scholarly and literary leaders of the 1916 Uprising meet their deaths here so had countless other political prisoners in years before, including the impoverished victims of the Great Famine. We then head to the Dublin airport and after a fond good bye to our Irish driver/ guide we board our transatlantic flights back to the U.S.