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Day 1 -
HAGLEY MUSEUM/PHILADELPHIA AIRPORT
Following departure drive north to Newark, NJ Airport for overnight
flight to Dublin.
Meals D in flight
Day 2 -
DUBLIN
Your driver/guide will greet you and escort you to his motorcoach.
Enjoy
breakfast at a local venue before setting off on an orientation drive
around the fair city of Dublin. Make a stop at Trinity College to
view the 8th century Book and Kells, an
illuminated manuscript of the gospels. Check-in at your hotel,
relax a while or perhaps explore the city on your own. This
evening dinner and entertainment at a
local cabaret.
Meals BD
ALEXANDER HOTEL
Day 3 -
POWERSCOURT AND DUBLINIA
Drive south from Dublin through the mountains to Powerscourt Gardens, a superb collection of trees, shrubs and flowers
gathered from around the world. This former home of Lord Powerscourt is a delightful
experience with terraced Italian gardens and abundant floral displays.
Visit Dublinia, a medieval heritage center where
history comes to life through life-sized figures and many artifacts from
nearby Viking
excavations. Balance of the day at leisure for independent
activities and dining in Dublin.
Meals B
ALEXANDER HOTEL
Day 4 - TEA WITH
DESMOND GUINNESS/DUBLIN
Drive inland to Leixlip Castle in county Kildare. Visit the
castle, where the Honorable Desmond Guinness has created a lovely
garden within the ancient walled enclosure of his medieval home.
Mr. Guinness set up the Irish Georgian Society and is a well known writer.
See the garden and enjoy tea with Mr. Guinness himself. Return to Dublin to visit the Guinness
Storehouse to see exhibits about how this famous stout was first created. Finish your
visit in the roof-top bar, Gravity, overlooking the city. Return
to our hotel. Meals B and
tea
ALEXANDER HOTEL
Day 5 - ROCK OF CASHEL
AND KINSALE
Travel through the Irish countryside and stop at the Rock of Cashel for a guided tour of
these majestic church ruins which are clustered high on a limestone
outcrop. Of particular note are the highly decorated Cormac's
Chapel built during the 12th century, and the large cruciform cathedral
from the 13th century. Travel south to the town of Kinsale for a
brief guided walking tour. The town dates back to
1177 when the Anglo-Normans founded it. It grew as a port town and
today the harbor is favored by yacht owners. Check into your hotel
and relax before dinner. Meals BD
TRIDENT HOTEL
Day 6 -
"TITANIC TRAIL" TOUR AND ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS
Drive a short distance to Cobh
(pronounced Cove), the harbor town for large ships. A guided
walking tour, the Titanic Trail, will show you around the streets
of Cobh, revealing locations and incidents
directly connected to the Titanic. The actual building in which
the White Star Line Office was will be visited as well as the pier where
Titanic passengers departed from. Then drive to the town of Ballincollig to visit
the Royal Gunpowder Mills which was set up in 1794 by Charles
Henry Leslie and later became one of Ireland's most successful
industries, producing gunpowder for the military, most notably during
the Napoleonic Wars. After our visit, return to Kinsale for a free
evening.
Meals B
TRIDENT HOTEL
Day 7 -
BANTRY HOUSE, GLENGARRIFF AND KILLARNEY
Leaving Kinsale travel the coastline of Cork through many attractive
little fishing towns such as Clonakilty and Skibbereen to Bantry.
Stop to tour Bantry House, which was built in 1740 for the Earls of Bantry.
The house contains furniture and objects d'art from all over Europe.
The extensive, well-tended gardens are delightful to wander through and
you can enjoy great views of Bantry Bay and the house from the gardens.
Continue your drive through Glengarriff, renowned for sheltered bays
where sub-tropical plans flourish. You will see s surprising
number of palm trees around here! Cross the Caha to Kenmare and on
to Moll's Gap for views of Killarney, its three lakes and mountains.
Arrive in Killarney in time to relax before dinner. Meals BD
KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL
Day 8 - RING OF
KERRY TOUR
Explore the Ring of Kerry - 100 miles of Ireland's
highest peaks and a coastline of golden beaches and rocky headlands.
A local farmer will provide a sheepdog demonstration with his flock of
sheep! Cross to Valencia
Island to visit the Skellig Experience which describes a way of life of early Christian monks.
Take a brief walk around the village of Sneem before heading back to Killarney. Meals BD
KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL
Day 9 - CLIFFS OF
MOHER AND BURREN
Travel north to Tarbert and take a 20 minute ferry ride across the River
Shannon estuary to view the Cliffs of Moher, a magnificent rock
formation. Pass through Burren Country, an area of rocky limestone hills,
dolmens and prehistoric monuments. See Galway Bay shoreline before
arriving at your hotel in Galway. Afternoon at leisure.
Meals BD
RADISSON SAS HOTEL
Day 10 - CONNEMARA
AND FJORD CRUISE
Tour Connemara for sweeping views of boglands, misty mountains and areas
where the locals cut peat for home heating. At Leenane take a short catamaran cruise
aboard the "Connemara Lady" through Killary Harbor, Ireland's only fjord.
Seabirds, seals and otters live in the waters. Return to Galway. Meals BD
RADISSON SAS HOTEL
Day 11 - COOLE
PARK/HUNT MUSEUM
Travel round the shores of Galway Bay sightseeing enroute to Limerick to
tour the Hunt Museum, a private collection of art and artifacts dating from classical Egypt, Greek,
and Roman eras to 19th century including many Irish treasures.
Continue to Bunratty for hotel check-in and an evening of fun and
feasting at a medieval-style banquet.
Meals B&BANQUET
BUNRATTY CASTLE HOTEL
Day 12 - RETURN TO
THE UNITES STATES/HAGLEY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY
Morning transfer to Shannon Airport where you will clear U.S.
immigration before boarding your flight to Newark where
transportation will be waiting to return you to Wilmington. Meals B
Tour inclusions:
Roundtrip transportation from Hagley Museum and Library to Newark, NJ
Airport * Roundtrip air Newark/Dublin-Shannon/Newark *
Airfare, government taxes and fees (subject to change until ticketed) * Accommodations for
10
nights in first class and superior hotels based on double occupancy * Admission to all sightseeing
as per itinerary * Meals include full Irish breakfast daily plus
breakfast on arrival in a local venue, 5 dinners and a farewell banquet,
plus meals in flight
* Taxes and gratuities for hotels, included meals, luggage handling *
Services of a driver/guide throughout the tour.
Not included:
Some beverages with meals, alcoholic beverages, trip
cancellation insurance, phone calls, gratuity to driver/guide.
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