The Best of Ireland

• Itinerary
• Prices & Information

Day 1 Home to Shannon
Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic.
Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your
vacation.

Day 2 SHANNON to Killarney
After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon Airport, your Tour
driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you to the motorcoach.
Depart Shannonside and drive through the outskirts of Limerick
and south to Adare, which is famous for its main street of thatched
houses. After a stop for photos and a walk along the main street, journey
into the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney, settled beside
three lakes in the shadow of Ireland’s highest mountains. Take an oldfashioned
horse drawn jaunting car through the Killarney National Park,
which is closed to motorized vehicles. Drive along the shores of Lough
Leane to Muckross House, an elegant 19th century mansion set
beside the tranquil Muckross Lake. A guided tour around the 19th
century manor house will fill you in on some local history and the
family ties to the United States. Enjoy the elegant rooms and rich furnishings.
Return to Killarney with some free time to settle in to your
hotel or explore the town. In the evening join your fellow travelers
for dinner in the hotel restaurant.
Included Meals: Inflight Meals, Dinner
Hotel: Malton Hotel

Day 3 Killarney
Today admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches on
Ireland’s most popular drive. See a variety of natural beauty as you
drive 100 miles around this scenic route. Cross to Valencia Island
by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience, which describes the way
of life of early Christian monks who built their monastery on one of
the offshore islands. A number of stops will allow you to admire the
spectacular scenery and take a brief walk around the colorful village
of Sneem. Visit a sheep farm for tea and scones and learn about
farm life. Head back to Killarney through Moll’s Gap with stunning
views of the Lakes of Killarney. Enjoy a free evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Malton Hotel

Day 4 Killarney to Waterford
Drive through the mountains of Kerry and into the rich dairying
countryside of County Cork and onto Blarney. Visit Blarney Castle to
climb to the battlements where the “Stone of Eloquence” is located.
Enjoy some time to browse around the village and the Blarney Woollen
Mills before driving to Cobh, a port town to the east of Cork city.
Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the railway station where
emigrants transferred from train to set out by ship for the United
States. Learn about emigration patterns and the ships that called
to Cobh, including the “Titanic.” Motor along the south coast of
Ireland via Cork and Youghal to Waterford, home of the fine handcut
crystal. Visit the factory to see the cutting and blowing of the glass
and see a display of fine tableware and trophies in the showrooms.
Our home for the evening will be the beautiful Faithlegg House.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Faithlegg House

Day 5 Waterford to Dublin
This morning drive to Kilkenny for a guided tour around Kilkenny
Castle, home of the Butlers, Earls and Dukes of Ormonde. The castle
was first built in 1192 and added to over the centuries. Restored
to 1830’s splendor, it houses wonderful paintings and furniture.
Then head north into the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains
to Glendalough. Start your tour in the Glendalough Visitor
Centre where an audio-visual presentation will offer an insight into
the development and way of life in this early Christian settlement,
founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Then take a walk around
the site which is located between two peaceful lakes in a deep valley.
Here you will see a well-preserved round tower and the ruins
of some of the many churches. Drive north into Dublin and after
checking into your hotel, the remainder of the day is at leisure for
independent activities. There are plenty of museums of Irish interest
such as the National Museum, the National Gallery or the Writers
Museum. There are plenty of shops along Nassau Street and the
pedestrianized Grafton Street or Henry Street and you may like to
explore Temple Bar or visit some of the traditional pubs.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Davenport Hotel

Day 6 Dublin
Set off with a local guide who will show you around the prominent
historic buildings and monuments of Dublin. Dublin is an ancient
settlement, founded by the Vikings in the 9th century. The city has
been molded through the centuries with many architectural styles,
reflecting the economic, political, and artistic influences. Tour St.
Patrick’s Cathedral, almost as old as the city itself and famous for its
connections with the brilliantly eccentric Dean Jonathan Swift. In
Trinity College, view the 8th century Book of Kells, an illuminated
manuscript of the gospels. The afternoon is free to rest, shop or
explore on your own. This evening drive to the town of Rathfarnham
to The Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner followed by a lively show of
traditional Irish songs, dancing and music.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 Dublin to Sligo
Leaving Dublin travel across the country via the marketing centers of
Mullingar and Longford. Travel through farming country and a number
of small towns where you can see how many Irish people live.
Stop in Boyle to visit Boyle Abbey which was founded in 1161 and
used as a monastery for four centuries. The ruins contain a blend of
rounded Romanesque and pointed Gothic arches. Then head north
to visit the Belleek Pottery Factory. See how skilled craftspeople form
and decorate clay to produce delicate porcelain masterpieces. Drive
into County Sligo, a county of gentle mountains, lakes and coastline.
This area is associated with the great writer, W. B. Yeats. Visit
his grave at Drumcliffe Churchyard in the shadow of the Benbulben
mountain range before driving into Sligo town for a delightful two
night stay at the Hotel Sligo, as castle like hotel perfectly set on the
Atlantic Coast, with the spectacular Benbulben mountain in the
background. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Clairon Hotel Sligo

Day 8 Sligo
Drive north along Donegal Bay. Donegal, with its windswept hills
where only sheep can thrive, is renowned for wool production.
Continue through amazing scenery and visit Glenveagh National
Park where high walls and conifers provide shelter for an amazing
collection of exotic plants, trees and flowers gathered from all over
the world. Tour Glenveagh Castle which dates from the middle of
the 19th century and is filled with period furnishings. Drive west
and stop for lunch in the small fishing village of Burtonport. Enjoy
the Lobster Pot an awarding winning pub, owned by a couple from
Minnesota! This picturesque harbor town is one of Donegal’s important
fishing ports and is known for its quality seafood. Return to Sligo
for a free evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 Sligo to GALWAY
Leaving Sligo traveling south through County Mayo. Drive through
the Connemara region known for its constantly-changing skies and
subtle colors. Stop to visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-
Gothic mansion overlooking Kylemore Lake. Originally a private
residence, it is now a prestigious girls’ school. Visit the chapel and
the restored Victorian gardens, which have won awards. Return to
Galway for independent activities.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Clayton Hotel

Day 10 Galway
Drive around the shores of Galway Bay and through the Burren
Country, a unique region of limestone hills where many rare flowers
thrive in the sheltered crevices. Stop at the Cliffs of Moher, a wall
of rock that plunges 700 feet to the churning Atlantic Ocean below.
Return to your hotel with some independent time before dinner.
You may want to spend some time around Eyre Square, the hub of
the city. Most of the shops are within easy reach and there are also
many quaint pubs where Irish traditional music is played. Some may
want to stroll down to the JFK Memorial Park and people watch.
This evening head south to Kilgolgan for dinner at Moran’s Oyster
Cottage situated on an inlet of Galway Bay. The family owned
business dates back almost three hundred years. The picturesque
thatched cottage and superb food make a memorable evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 Return Home
Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day. Transfer to
Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight. You may
do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear
U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the
Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.
Included Meals: Breakfast