Enchanting Ireland Trip
May 9-22, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
[nominal Day 1 of tour]
The Shelbourne
Dublin, A Renaissance Hotel
Monday, May 11, 2015
[nominal Day 2 of tour]
The Shelbourne
Dublin
Odysseys Unlimited Enchanting Ireland Tour
http://www.odysseys-unlimited.com/tours/europe/enchanting-ireland
We arrive in the intimate, and beautiful, Irish capital
today and check in at our hotel located right on St. Stephen’s Green. Tonight we
enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. D
Tuesday, May 12,
2015
The Shelbourne
Dublin
Day 3 of tour: Dublin This morning’s city tour
includes a visit to Trinity College, home of the stunning 8th-century Book of
Kells illuminated manuscript; and to St. Patrick’s, the national cathedral
of the Church of Ireland. This afternoon is free to explore this enchanting
capital as we wish. After dinner on our own we embark on an informal walking
tour (led by our tour director), passing some of the haunts and hiding places of
Ireland’s beloved literary sons. B
[Note: visit the “long room”
at Trinity College]
Wednesday, May 13,
2015
Day 4 of tour: Dublin/Galway
The Twelve Hotel, Bearna Village, Galway, Ireland
Dublin/Galway We leave Dublin this morning for
Galway in the West, the region some consider to be the “most Irish part of
Ireland.” En route we stop for tea and coffee at Tyrrellspass Castle then
continue on to 6th-century Clonmacnoise, Ireland’s most important early monastic
site. After lunch on our own we resume our journey, reaching Galway City this
afternoon. We dine at our hotel located in the village of Bearna just outside
the city. B,D
Thursday, May 14,
2015
The Twelve Hotel, Bearna Village, Galway
Day 5 of tour: Galway/Connemara. A day of
scenic highlights is in store as we travel through western County Galway in the
legendary region known as Connemara, a rugged, silent landscape of mountains,
glacial lakes, endless roads, and uninhabited bog lands. Our first stop is at
beautiful Kylemore Abbey, built as a private home in 1861 and one of Ireland’s
most photographed castles. We continue on through this singular landscape,
stopping for lunch en route. Tonight we enjoy dinner with traditional Irish
entertainment at Padraicins overlooking Galway Bay. B,D
Friday, May 15, 2015
The Twelve Hotel, Bearna Village, Galway
Day 6 of tour: Galway/Aran Islands Today we embark
on an excursion to Inismor, the largest of the fabled Aran Islands, whose unique
culture and history has been an inspiration to artists, writers, and
film-makers. Sitting across Galway Bay in the midst of the Atlantic, the islands
feature primitive stone forests, early Christian churches, and medieval castles
– as well as shops, galleries, and restaurants. An islander guides our tour
here, imparting local lore along the way. We stop at Dun Aenghus Fortress, the
three prehistoric stone walls crowning the tallest cliffs of Inismor; have lunch
in a local pub; and enjoy some free time before returning to the mainland and
our hotel late this afternoon. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant in the
village of Bearna. B,L,D
Saturday, May 16,
2015
Day 7 of tour: Galway/County Clare/Killarney
Killarney Royal Hotel, College Street, Killarney,
Co. Kerry, Ireland
Phone: 011-353-646-631853; Fax: 011-353-646-634001
Galway/County Clare/Killarney Another day of
breathtaking scenery as we leave Galway for Killarney, traveling south along the
fabled coastline of County Clare. We visit the Cliffs of Moher, the majestic
flat-topped “mountains” that rise vertically from the sea and stretch for five
miles from north to south. And we pass through The Burren, the 116-square mile
“rocky place” of craggy gray karst (limestone) formations that stretch
endlessly in all directions. After stopping at a local restaurant for lunch on
our own, we cross by ferry into County Kerry, arriving in Killarney, set in
beautiful Killarney National Park, late this afternoon. This evening we enjoy
dinners in local family-run B&Bs. B,D
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Killarney Royal Hotel, College Street, Killarney,
Co. Kerry, Ireland
Day 8 of tour: Killarney Our exploration of this
attractive town, founded as a resort in the 18th century, begins with a
jaunting-cart ride from the center of town to 15th-century Ross Castle, the last
stronghold to fall to Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1652. Then we travel by boat
to Muckross House, a 19th-century Elizabethan-style manor with the Kerry
Folklife Centre showcasing the art and craft of bookbinding, pottery, and
weaving. We tour the elegantly furnished rooms, as well as the informal garden.
Lunch is on our own here before we return to Killarney mid-afternoon. B
Monday, May 18, 2015
Killarney Royal Hotel, College Street, Killarney,
Co. Kerry, Ireland
Day 9 of tour: Killarney/Ring of Kerry Today we
experience one of Ireland’s most popular attractions, the stunning mountain and
coastal scenery of the Ring of Kerry, a 110-mile route connecting Dingle,
Iveragh, and Beara peninsulas. This is the Ireland of postcards and pictures,
with tiny villages dotting the breathtaking landscape; we stop in one of them
for an Irish sheep dog demonstration and in another for lunch. We return to
Killarney late this afternoon. Dinner tonight is on our own in this charming
town. B,L
Tuesday, May 19,
2015
Day 10 of tour: Blarney/Cashel/Kilkenny
The Pembroke Hotel, 11 Patrick Street, Kilkenny,
Ireland
Blarney/Cashel/Kilkenny On our way to Kilkenny this
morning we stop in the small town of Blarney to visit the ruins of the
15th-century castle, with its celebrated Blarney Stone believed to bestow the
“gift of gab” on those who kiss it. We also visit the Blarney Woolen Mills,
housing an excellent selection of Irish crafts as well as knits and woolens of
all kinds. After lunch on our own in Blarney, we continue on to the Rock of
Cashel, the celebrated – and beloved – archaeological complex (c. 432 ce) of
medieval ruins atop a limestone outcropping that presides over the surrounding
plain. Late this afternoon we return to Kilkenny and our hotel, where we dine
tonight. B,D
Wednesday, May 20,
2015
The Pembroke Hotel, 11 Patrick Street, Kilkenny,
Ireland
Day 11 of tour: Kilkenny Today is devoted to
Kilkenny, a well-preserved medieval city known as Ireland’s cultural capital –
and the country’s smallest city. We tour 12th-century Kilkenny Castle,
considered one of the country’s most beautiful, then embark on an informal
walking tour of Kilkenny itself, noting the many buildings of “black” or
Kilkenny marble, quarried locally. After lunch together at a local pub, the
remainder of the day is at leisure. B,L
Thursday, May 21,
2015
Finnstown Castle Hotel: Newcastle Road Lucan, Co.
Dublin Ireland
Phone: 011-353-1-601-0700
Day 12 of tour: Kilkenny/Dublin We leave Kilkenny
this morning to visit the National Stud Farm, the center of Ireland’s horse
racing industry. Mid-afternoon we reach our hotel outside Dublin; tonight we
celebrate our adventure over a farewell dinner. B,D
Friday, May 22, 2015
Fly home