7 Day Introduction to Ireland

Tour Highlights

Dublin and the scenic best of the Irish Republic await you on this beautiful journey, a top seller. In Dublin enjoy a visit to Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College as part of an orientation drive around this vibrant city. A scenic ride through horse-racing country leads you to the National Stud and then to Limerick. Next, savour the breathtaking views of the Cliffs of Moher and the Clare Coast, and enjoy Irish hospitality at Rathbaun Farm. After taking a ferry across the Shannon, a panoramic drive takes you around the stunning Ring of Kerry. The world famous Waterford Crystal Factory, Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca, Glendalough, and the scenic Wicklow Mountains conclude your Irish journey. This holiday is ideal for first-time visitors to Ireland with only a little time to spare.

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Clarion Hotel, Dublin (SF)
• Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis (F)
• Holiday Inn, Killarney (F)
• Scotts Hotel, Killarney (F)
• Tower Hotel, Waterford (F)
• Hilton Kilmainham, Dublin (SF)

Hotel Classifications: Deluxe (D), Superior First Class (SF), First Class (F)

Tour Includes

• DUBLIN: Orientation drive, welcome dinner.
• KILDARE: Guided tour of the Irish National Stud.
• ROCK OF CASHEL: Take photographs of this famous landmark.
• LIMERICK: Orientation drive.
• CLIFFS OF MOHER: Savour the spectacular views.
• GALWAY: Orientation.
• CONNEMARA: Visit a marble workshop.
• RATHBAUN FARM: Visit and afternoon tea.
• KILLIMER-TARBERT: Cross the Shannon estuary by ferry.
• RING OF KERRY: Scenic peninsula drive.
• KILLARNEY: Visit the popular resort town.
• BLARNEY: Visit the famous woolen mills.
• WATERFORD: Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory showrooms.
• AVOCA: Guided tour of the handweaving mill.
• GLENDALOUGH: Guided tour of St. Kevin’s centre of Irish Christianity.

Tour Meals

• Full Irish breakfast (B); 3 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin.

Itinerary

Day 1: Dublin, Ireland.

Check into your hotel. At 3 pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Day 2: Dublin – Kildare – Limerick – Ennis.

Horse-racing country this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose fine thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Lots more to see: the Rock of Cashel where St. Patrick preached; Tipperary, made famous in a wartime marching song; and Limerick, where an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the Stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. Tonight’s suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)

Day 3: Ennis. West Coast Excursion.

Your day excursion along Ireland’s spectacular Atlantic coastline begins with a drive to the 204 metre (668 foot) CLIFFS OF MOHER, where you savour the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. A scenic route across the limestone plateau of The Burren takes you to GALWAY, a vibrant city with a great seafaring tradition where you hear about the infamous Lynch Stone, commemorating the day Mayor James Lynch Fitzstephen hanged his son for murder. Drive into the unspoiled region of Connemara and at Moycullen, visit the Joyce family at their MARBLE WORKSHOP. This afternoon a special treat: at RATHBAUN FARM watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog. Then, enjoy a traditional tea in the 150-year-old thatched farmhouse.(B)

Day 4: Ennis – Ring Of Kerry – Killarney.

After a short drive via Clonderlaw Bay to Killimer, cross the Shannon estuary by FERRY. Continue on to Killorglin on Dingle Bay to join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Take your photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View, then spend the night in the popular resort of Killarney. (B/D)

Day 5: Killarney – Blarney – Waterford.

Across the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, and look forward to a visit to the world-famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY SHOWROOMS. Before dinner, why not join an optional pub tour? (B/D) PLEASE NOTE: Facilities at the Waterford Crystal Factory are currently under redevelopment. If the factory showrooms are unavailable, the visit will be replaced by a walking tour of Waterford with a local guide.

Day 6: Waterford – Avoca – Dublin.

An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; the Wicklow Mountains; GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your Local Guide show you the remains of the ecclesiastical settlement. Back in Dublin tonight, your Tour Director will have recommendations for a fitting farewell to Ireland. (B)

Day 7: Dublin.

Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Dates and Pricing for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist