UNITED STATES TO DUBLIN
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.
DUBLIN ARRIVAL & SIGHTSEEING
After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Then your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach. Stop for breakfast at the Man O’ War restaurant and pub which has been standing on a hill on original Dublin to Belfast Road since 1595. Then take an orientation drive around Dublin city center. Dublin is one of the liveliest capitals in Europe but there are plenty of historical places also. See the main thoroughfares of O’Connell Street and Nassau Street, the shopping streets and some lovely public parks. Stop to visit the Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits on how this world famous stout was first created and why it is so popular today. Finish your visit in the roof-top bar, Gravity, overlooking the city center where you can sample a draft Guinness and enjoy the view of the city. Next visit the Old Jameson Distillery where you can learn about distillation processes for this “water of life”. Displays explain how barley and water are combined, distilled, aged and bottled and at the end of the tour enjoy a sample. Then drive to your hotel and check in. After you settle into your room you may like to rest or explore some of the city on your own.
This evening head to the Abbey Tavern for dinner and a traditional ballad session. The drive to Howth, a suburb on the north side of the city will give you great views of Dublin Bay. Built on the site of an old abbey, this pub has been in business for over 200 years.
OVERNIGHT: MONT CLARE HOTEL, DUBLIN
LOCKES DISTILLERY & TULLAMORE DISTILLERY
Depart Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland and stop outside Kilbeggan for a tour of Locke’s Distillery. It was established in 1757 and today it is no longer used but preserved to show visitors how whiskey was distilled here. At the end of the tour, sample some whiskey. Then continue your drive a few miles south to Tullamore and enjoy a tour of the site of the original Tullamore Dew distillery. Learn about the area’s history of canals, merchant classes and of course the making of the legendary Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey. Enjoy a sample before checking into your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure for individual pursuits before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: TULLIMORE COURT HOTEL, TULLAMORE
BULMERS CIDER & DUNGARVAN
Leaving Tullamore travel south through the countryside. Stop for some home hospitality by sampling freshly baked scones served at a sheep farm. Cross into County Waterford stopping to tour Bulmers Cider House. Get a behind the scenes look at their time honored cider making tradition. Continue the lovely town of Dungarvan. After checking into your hotel, you may like to take a walk along the quay before dining on your own in the charming town.
OVERNIGHT: THE PARK HOTEL, DUNGARVAN
OLD MIDLETON DISTILLERY & ROSSCARBERY
This morning travel southwest to Midleton to visit the Old Midleton Distillery. Walk through the old buildings and see the largest pot still in the world while your guide explains how whiskey is made. At the end of your tour, enjoy a sampling of the finished product. Continue your drive along the heavily indented coastline of Cork, through many attractive little fishing towns such as Clonakilty and Skibbereen. Stopping in each for a bit of free time to relax or explore on your own. Continue to Rosscarbery and check into your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day free before joining your group for dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CELTIC ROSS HOTEL - ROSSCARBERY
BANTRY HOUSE & GARINISH ISLAND
This morning visit Bantry House which was built in 1740 for the Earls of Bantry. The house sits in a wonderful position on Bantry Bay encircled by mountains and contains furniture and objets d’art from all over Europe. The extensive and well-tended gardens are delightful to wander through and you may enjoy great views of Bantry Bay and the house from the gardens. Then drive to Glengarriff, which is located at the head of Bantry Bay. Sub-tropical vegetation thrives here due to the sheltered bay and relatively mild climate. Take a short boat ride to Garinish Island to visit the delightful gardens. These formal gardens have a collection of plants and trees from all over the globe that flourish in a scenic setting of mountains on the mainland and sea. Return to Rosscarbery and enjoy the balance of the day free for individual pursuits.
OVERNIGHT: CELTIC ROSS HOTEL - ROSSCARBERY
BEARA PENINSULA & DURSEY ISLAND
Today tour the Beara Peninsula to discover some of the wildest and most romantic scenery in this part of Ireland. Drive through Glengarriff with the Caha Mountains on one side and Bantry Bay on the other. At the tip of the Peninsula take a cable car to Dursey Island, the most westerly of West Cork’s inhabited islands. Enjoy some free time on this rugged island where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Peninsula and birdlife on the island. Return to the mainland and drive back to your hotel.
OVERNIGHT: CELTIC ROSS HOTEL - ROSSCARBERY
CRAG CAVE, ADARE & BUNRATTY
Drive north into County Kerry stopping near Castleisland visit the intriguing Crag Cave, discovered in1983 and said to be more than one million years old. Formed of limestone, it showcases massive stalagmites, stalactites and amazing caverns. Continue north into to the picturesque town of Adare and visit the Franciscan Friary, a characteristic example of the monasteries erected in Ireland during the 14th and 15th centuries. The remains include a tower, nave and part of the choir of the church as well as the cloisters and living quarters. After your visit drive to Limerick and check into your hotel. Tonight dine in the hotel with your fellow travelers.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CLARION HOTEL, LIMERICK
LIMERICK SIGHTSEEING & FREE TIME
This morning enjoy a panoramic tour if the city, which features the sights made famous in Frank McCourt’s biography, “Angela’s Ashes.” Stop to visit the 13th century King John's Castle in the center of the town. This imposing fortress with its massive walls and towers has guarded the River Shannon crossing for the past 700 years. See the Treaty Stone, which marks the treaty of Limerick signed in 1691 after the war between William III of Hanover of England and his Father in Law King James II. Follow part of the Medieval Heritage Precinct trail where you will see medieval parts of Limerick. After your tour enjoy the balance of the afternoon and evening at leisure for your independent activities and dining.
OVERNIGHT: CLARION HOTEL, LIMERICK
CRAGGAUNOWEN PROJECT & ENNIS SIGHTSEEINGSIGHTSEEING
This morning visit the Craggaunowen Project, near Quin, to see reconstructions of a Crannog, a Bronze Age lake dwelling, and a ring fort, where Iron Age farmers protected themselves and their animals. These displays illustrate how early settlers in Ireland lived. Also see the “Brendan,” the leather vessel in which Tim Severin crossed the Atlantic 30 years ago. Then drive to Ennis and embark on a walking tour to see the principal sights and learn some of the history of the area. Enjoy some free time in Ennis before returning to Limerick. Dinner is on your own.
OVERNIGHT: CLARION HOTEL, LIMERICK
RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
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.
