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2009 Irish Classic
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 Highlights
Bunratty Castle Medieval BanquetNine Glens of Antrim & Giant's CausewaySt. Patrick Centre & GraveBelfast HighlightsAchill Island TourCobh Heritage CentreHistoric Derry & Waterford WalksJaunting Car Ride beside Killarney's Lakes
What's Included
Group transfers on arrival and departureWelcome get-together drinkSightseeing by luxury coach throughoutFerry ride across Strangford LoughServices of a professional Irish driver/guideTour of Belfast with a local guideSuperior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 11 nightsWalking tours of Derry & Waterford with local guides11 full Irish breakfasts (B)Handweaving demonstration with tea & scones at Triona Design10 dinners (D) includingDay tour to Achill Island- Dinner and traditional Irish entertainment in DublinHorse-drawn jaunting car ride in Killarney- Medieval banquet and entertainment at Bunratty CastleVisits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Glendalough Visitor Centre, St. Patrick Centre, Down Cathedral, Mount Stewart House and Gardens, Giant's Causeway, Belleek Pottery Factory, Cliffs of Moher, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Muckross Gardens, Blarney Woollen Mills, Cobh Heritage Centre, Waterford Crystal Factory and Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens- Farewell dinner at Dunboyne Castle HotelDeluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap- 7 table d'hote dinnersAll local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
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| Details | | CIE Tours | | Offer valid through 4/30/2009 | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | Depart U.S. for Dublin | Depart U.S. for Dublin : Welcome aboard your overnight flight to Dublin. Relax with dinner and entertainment. | | Day 2 | Dublin | Arrive Ireland & Book of Kells : Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Your hotel, an elegant Victorian mansion, overlooks Dublin Bay and Dun Laoghaire Harbour. At 2:00 pm tour the city center to see elegant Georgian squares with rows of townhouses and their famous colorful doors, pass the colorful St. Stephen's Green and cross the River Liffey to drive along the wide O'Connell Street. Visit Trinity College's Old Library where the priceless 8th century Book of Kells is housed. Learn about the monastic tradition of creating Biblical manuscripts and see the intricate workmanship of the book itself. In the evening meet your fellow travelers over a welcome drink and your tour director will assist you in choosing a charming local restaurant to dine independently. | | Day 3 | Dublin | 6th Century Glendalough & Traditional Music : This morning discover the Wicklow Mountains, located south of Dublin. Drive through the lovely scenery and visit Glendalough, a 6th century monastic site founded by St. Kevin. Learn about life in early Christian Ireland in the Visitor Centre and walk through the ruins of the many churches and a round tower. Return to Dun Laoghaire where the afternoon is at leisure to relax or take your independent bus tour. In the evening drive to a popular Dublin venue for a great dinner of Irish specialties, which is followed by a lively show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing. (B, D) | | Day 4 | Belfast | Downpatrick & Mount Stewart : Drive north past the Mourne Mountains to Downpatrick. Visit the St. Patrick Centre to learn about Ireland's patron saint and see his reputed burial place in Down Cathedral. Cross Strangford Lough by ferry to visit Mount Stewart House and Gardens. The famous gardens at Mount Stewart were planted in the 1920's by Edith, Lady Londonderry, and have been nominated a World Heritage Site. The house tour includes world-famous paintings and stories about the prominent political figures to whom the Londonderry family played host. Check into your hotel in Belfast. (B, D) | | Day 5 | Derry | Belfast, Giant's Causeway & Derry : See the highlights of Belfast with a local guide, including Victorian buildings, the Harland and Wolff Shipyards, where the Titanic was built and areas around the Shankill and Falls Road. Drive north along the "Nine Glens of Antrim," a scenic drive with views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Stop at the Giant's Causeway, hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. The enormous rocks have spawned legends about the mythical giant, Finn McCool. Continue to Derry and join a local guide for a short walking tour around the ancient city center, surrounded by the medieval city walls. (B, D) | | Day 6 | Westport | Donegal & Belleek China : Journey south to Ballybofey and through the scenery of the Blue Stack Mountains to Donegal town. Visit Donegal Castle, built by the O'Donnell chieftains in the 15th century, remodeled in the 17th century and today is furnished throughout. Take a guided tour around the Belleek Pottery Factory to see craftspeople making delicate and ornate pieces in fine china. Travel through Sligo, often referred to as "Yeats' Country", and the rocky landscape of Mayo. Continue to Westport where your hotel is located in the town center. (B, D) | | Day 7 | Westport | Achill Island Excursion & Westport : After a late breakfast travel around Clew Bay, reputed to have 365 islands, and across the Curraun Peninsula to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by a bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of nearly 100 stone cottages abandoned around the time of the 1840's Famine. Also see stretches of windswept bogland and golden beaches. Return to Westport in time to take a stroll to explore this attractive estate town, which was laid out in 1780. (B, D) | | Day 8 | Bunratty | Cliffs Of Moher & Bunratty Banquet : Travel to Galway City and take a tour to see the main sights. Spend some time on your own before driving through the Burren, limestone hills with unique flora and prehistoric stone monuments. View the majestic Cliffs of Moher, a rocky wall that rises nearly 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. Drive to Bunratty and check into your hotel, right beside Bunratty Castle, the Bunratty Folk Park and Durty Nelly's Pub. In the evening head to 15th century Bunratty Castle for a jolly medieval-style dinner where the Lords and Ladies serenade you with favorite songs. (B, D) | | Day 9 | Killarney | Flying Boat Museum & Killarney's Lakes : Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and along by the River Shannon to Foynes to visit the Flying Boat Museum. In the early days of flight, during the 1930's and early 1940's, this was the landing place for Pan Am Clippers from the United States and Europe. The museum recreates the infancy of aviation through displays of memorabilia. Journey into the mountainous scenery of County Kerry and stop in Listowel. This picturesque town is renowned as the birthplace of J. B. Keane, a popular 20th century playwright. Continue to Killarney and check into your hotel in the center of town. (B, D) | | Day 10 | Killarney | Jaunting Car Ride & Moll's Gap : Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Ross Castle to view Lough Leane, largest of Killarney's lakes. Drive to the delightful town of Kenmare where traditional buildings are gaily painted and enhanced with flowers. At Moll's Gap, a wonderful vantage point, stop to view the mountains. Continue along part of the Ring of Kerry route to enjoy the scenery. Pause at Ladies' View and stop at Muckross Gardens. Take a walk around the charming gardens, laid out along the lakeshore in the 19th century. Admire wonderful mature trees and shrubs, as well as colorful flowers, before returning to Killarney. (B, D) | | Day 11 | Waterford | Cobh Heritage & Waterford Crystal : Drive through the mountains of Kerry and make a brief stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Next visit Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the old train station through which all emigrants passed when traveling to the United States. Displays show the many hardships that travelers endured. Continue to Waterford to tour the Waterford Crystal Factory and watch how this popular crystal is created. In the showrooms see a wide range of tableware and special trophies. Check into your hotel, once the home of Thomas Francis Meagher, first governor of Montana. After dinner, join a local guide for a stroll around the historic city center. (B, D) | | Day 12 | Dunboyne | Medieval Kilkenny & National Stud : Drive north to Kilkenny and stop to look around the town. In medieval times the town was a prosperous trading center and the narrow streets still follow ancient routes. Travel north to Kildare and visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. As a nation, the Irish are very interested in horses and the Stud will tell you about the valuable breeding industry. The Japanese Gardens symbolize the "Life of Man" through plants and rocks. Then head to the village of Dunboyne, on the outskirts of Dublin. Check into Dunboyne Castle Hotel and relax for a while before enjoying a farewell dinner with your group. (B, D) | | Day 13 | Dublin to U.S. | Dublin to U.S. : Complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. After check-in, you'll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your flight for the journey home. (B) |
| | | Royal Marine Hotel - Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin - 2 night(s) | | Europa Hotel - Belfast City, Belfast - 1 night(s) | | City Hotel - Derry City, Co Derry - 1 night(s) | | Hotel Westport - Westport, Co Mayo - 2 night(s) | | Bunratty Castle Hotel - Bunratty, Co Clare - 1 night(s) | | Killarney Plaza Hotel - Killarney, Co Kerry - 2 night(s) | | Granville Hotel - Waterford City, Co Waterford - 1 night(s) | | Dunboyne Castle Hotel - Dunboyne, Co Meath - 1 night(s) |
| | Coach Tour and River Cruise prices are based on two people sharing rooms.Taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges are not included. Click here for more details.This list indicates brochure rates and dates. If your date of choice is marked "On Request" or appears in the brochure but not on this page please contact your travel agent .Air price is based on departures from New York. The air inclusive prices below are for general information only and not a reflection of current seat availability.Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline's checked baggage policies.We highly recommend that you review our general conditions page for full details on terms, conditions, and penalties. |
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732-280-7015 
