Ireland Group Tours - Traveling Around Ireland with Patricia Tunison Preston

Summer in Ireland Tour

August 15 - 24, 2010

With

Msgr. Charlie Coen and Pat & John Preston

A Leisurely Tour Featuring the West Coast of Ireland

10 Days – 8 Nights – 15 Meals
3 Nights in Killarney, 3 Nights in Galway,
1 Night in a CASTLE and Finale Night in Bunratty

Adare    Killarney    Ring of Kerry    Dingle Peninsula    Shannon River
Cliffs of Moher    The Burren     Galway   Connemara    Aran Islands    Cong
Carrick-on-Shannon Keadue Athlone Roscommon Clonmacnoise   Bunratty

Our Itinerary

Sunday, August 15 – Depart Newark International Airport and fly to Shannon, Ireland via Continental Flight #24 at 7 p.m. Dinner on board.

Monday, August 16 – Arrive Shannon Airport at 7 a.m., to be greeted by our CIE Tours driver/guide who will take us for a traditional “Irish Welcome” breakfast. Then we will board our luxury motorcoach and start our tour, heading south via Limerick for a stop at Adare, a picturesque place of thatched cottages known as “the prettiest village in Ireland.” We’ll continue southward via the Co. Limerick countryside into Co. Kerry, passing through Newcastle West, Abbeyfeale and Castleisland to Killarney, Ireland’s #1 resort, tucked amid lakes and mountains and known as “beauty’s home” and “heaven’s reflex.” We’ll check into our hotel on the main street and have free time to rest or enjoy a stroll. Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a short ride to Muckross House, a 19th century mansion in Killarney National Park. We’ll have time to explore the gardens and craft centre (pottery and weaving demonstrations) or just relax and get acclimatized to the natural beauty of Killarney. Then we’ll sample Killarney’s traditional mode of transport – horse-drawn jaunting cars, for a ride along the pristine lake shore and into town, arriving back at our hotel in old-world style. In the evening, we’ll be hosted to a “Welcome Drink” by CIE Tours, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Dinner & Overnight: Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Tuesday, August 17 – After breakfast at our hotel, the Iveragh Peninsula (more popularly known as the Ring of Kerry) – Ireland’s most scenic drive – awaits us today. It’s an ever-changing mix of coastal scenery including Carrantuohill, Ireland’s highest mountain, pristine beaches, cliffside vistas, and colorful palm tree-lined villages and gardens. We’ll stop at Kells to meet local farmer Brendan Ferris who will introduce us to a flock of his sheep and provide a sheepdog demonstration. Afterwards, we’ll continue along the Ring to Portmagee and Valentia Island to learn more about the 6th century Skellig Islands monastic settlements at the “Skellig Experience” Heritage Centre. Our tour continues with stops at Coomakista Pass, the colorful village of Sneem, and then through Molls Gap and back to Killarney for some free time. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to sample local restaurants and pubs.
Overnight: Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Wednesday, August 18 – Breakfast is at our hotel, and then we head to the nearby Dingle Peninsula, often called the “Ring of Dingle,” because it reaches out like a thumb plunging into the Atlantic, rimmed by Dingle Bay and Tralee Bay, with the mist-laced mountains of Slieve Mish and Mount Brandon visible at every turn. The western tip of the Dingle Peninsula is also home to the West Kerry Gaeltacht where the Irish language is readily spoken, and traditional music and crafts flourish. Highlights will include stops at Inch Strand, a vast four-mile expanse of sandy beach, and Slea Head, one of Ireland’s most-photographed spots, plus a visit to the Blasket Island heritage centre to learn more about the mysterious Blasket Islands, a cluster of seven offshore islands. The Dingle Peninsula is a “wow” place in every way. CNN-TV recently described the Dingle Peninsula as “the most beautiful place on Earth.” We’ll have free time to stroll in Dingle Town, known in Irish as An Daingean, before returning to Killarney. In the evening, we’ll travel to the Gap of Dunloe for dinner and Irish traditional music and dancing at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, an authentic 19th century pub.
Overnight: Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Thursday, August 19 – After breakfast, we’ll bid farewell to Killarney and travel via Listowel to Tarbert to board a ferry across the Shannon Estuary to Killimer in Co. Clare. We'll travel along the scenic Clare coast via Lahinch, the famed golf resort, to the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s natural wonders, rising over 700 feet above the Atlantic. After seeing the Cliffs (and time for lunch), our route takes us through the spectacular Burren region, a rock-strewn area known for its lunar-like landscape, and then to Ballyvughan, a picturesque town sitting on the southern shore of Galway Bay. We’ll stop and enjoy tea/coffee and home-baked scones while getting our first glimpse of Galway Bay. We’ll continue on via Kinvara, with views of 16th century Dun Guaire Castle, once the Royal seat of the King of Connaught, to Kilcolgan, Clarenbridge and then into Galway City, the “capital” of the West of Ireland. We’ll check into our Hotel on Eyre Square, in the heart of Galway. The rest of the afternoon is free to rest and relax, stroll the city, etc.
Dinner and overnight: The Meyrick Hotel, Galway, Co. Galway

Friday, August 20– After a full Irish breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head westward to beautiful Connemara. Its place name describes the region perfectly – from the Irish, Cuain na Mara, meaning “harbors of the sea.” Indeed Connemara is one continuous panorama of harbors and seascapes, surrounded by the awesome Twelve Bens mountains and dotted with glistening lakes and endless boglands. Sheep graze on the hillsides, the sweet aroma of turf permeates the air and road signs are painted in the Irish language.At Leenane, we’ll board a catamaran boat for a 90-minute cruise along Killary Harbor, Ireland’s only fjord. Afterwards, stop at Kylemore Abbey, a splendid castellated mansion overlooking a lake, with time for lunch, and to walk the gardens and groundsor visit the Gothic chapel and craft shop. Then it’s back to Galway via Spiddal with continuous vistas of Galway Bay.
Dinner & Overnight: The Meyrick Hotel, Galway, Co. Galway

Saturday, August 21 – Breakfast starts the day at our hotel. Then we are off on an all-day adventure to the Aran Islands via a luxury high-speed ferry from Rossaveal to Inishmore, 30 miles off the mainland. The name “Inishmore” is from the Irish language, Inis Mór, meaning Great Island. Once you arrive on the island, you can get around by walking at your own pace, or you may choose to rent a bike, horse-drawn cart, or take a minibus ride with a local guide. You may want to hike out to Dun Aonghasa, a massive stone fort dating back to the late Bronze Age (1000 to 700 BC). Or you might prefer to amble into a pub or café in Kilronan, the main town, and listen to the locals as they chat in the Irish language, go shopping for Aran-knit sweaters at the source, or visit the heritage centre to learn more about the history and lifestyle of the islands. It’s up to you – step back in time and live the simple life for a day. We realize that the all-weather outdoor activity of island life is not for everyone, so if you prefer to stay on our luxury motorcoach for the day, we’ll provide a tour of Galway City (including the old Town Walls, Galway Museum, the Spanish Arch, The Claddagh, Galway Cathedral, Salmon Weir Bridge, Salthill, and the famous Saturday Galway Farmers Market) with free time on your own for shopping or independent sightseeing. The evening is free to sample a local restaurant and perhaps a few pubs. Saturday night is a lively night in downtown Galway!
Overnight: The Meyrick Hotel, Galway, Co. Galway

Sunday, August 22 – Breakfast begins the day, with time for church before we depart Galway and northward into Co. Mayo. Our first stop is the intriguing village of Cong, where the classic movie The Quiet Man was filmed. We’ll take a walking tour with a local guide to trace highlights of the film including the pivotal Pat Cohan's Bar. Then we go north to Castlebar to visit the award-winning Museum of Country Life and get a glimpse of what life was like in early 20th century Ireland, a time when many Irish people immigrated to the US. In the afternoon, our route takes us through some off-the-beaten-path towns and villages such as Frenchpark, Co Roscommon, the home of Ireland’s first president; Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, considered “Ireland’s loveliest riverside town”; and Keadue, Co. Roscommon, an award-winning village where the well-known master harpist and bard Turlough O’Carolan composed most of his music in the 18th century. We finish our touring day in grand style as we check into Kilronan Castle at Ballyfarnon. Dating back to the early 1800’s, this multi-turreted Gothic revival castle sits amid 49 acres of gardens and pastures beside Lough Meelagh – land that was once part of St. Ronan’s 6th century abbey. Relax, roam the grounds, and savor this luxurious setting. Dine like royalty in the castle restaurant this evening!
Dinner and overnight: Kilronan Castle, Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon

Monday, August 23 – Breakfast is at the castle, followed by a drive along the Leitrim Lakes and Roscommon Town; and then beside Lough Ree to Athlone and on to Clonmacnoise, Co Offaly, one of Ireland’s great centers of learning founded by St. Ciaran in the 6th century. Sitting beside a bend of the Shannon River, it contains more than 200 points of interest including 10th century high crosses and a 62-ft round tower. Our route takes us next to Loughrea and Gort. We’ll stop for a break at Coole Park, once the home of Lady Augusta Gregory, co-founder of the Abbey Theatre, to look around the gardens, nature reserve, and famous “autograph tree,” signed by Ireland’s leading writers. Now it’s just a short drive to our hotel in Bunratty, situated across the street from the famous Bunratty Castle. In the evening, we’ll enjoy an “Irish Night” of dinner, music, song and dance. A festive finale to our tour!
Overnight: Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty, Co. Care

Tuesday, August 24– After a quick breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head to Shannon Airport for the flight home to Newark. We’ll arrive at the airport in plenty of time for check-in for Continental flight, reclaiming VAT refunds and duty-free shopping, plus clearing customs and immigration at Shannon – a new convenience which speeds up your arrival home. Our group flight is CO #25 at 9 a.m., arriving at 11:15 a.m. New York local time. Slan agus beannacht! (Good-bye and God bless you!)

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(If you are unable to open and print the sign-up form, send an email to patpreston@mac.com)

This tour is full with 35 tour members. We do have a wait-list. To add your name to the wait-list, send an email to Pat at patpreston@mac.com

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