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 & DROGHEDA 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. Depart Dublin and travel north along the coast to Drogheda. Visit Monasterboice which dates from the 5th century and is famous for its collection of Celtic high crosses which are intricately decorated. Next visit St. Peter's R.C. Church, which is world famous for housing the shrine of St. Oliver Plunkett. The first Church on the site was built in 1791 to a design by Francis Johnston and the present church incorporates part of that building and it was opened in1884. The facade is an imposing structure in the Gothic style, built of local limestone. Plunkett’s preserved head forms the centerpiece of the shrine. After your visits, transfer to your hotel and check in. Enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner.
EXCURSION TO ARMAGH After breakfast this morning travel north via Dundalk to the town of Armagh, which has been the spiritual capital of Ireland for over 1,500 years and the seat of both Catholic and Protestant archbishops. Visit both cathedrals which are named in honor of St. Patrick. The Protestant cathedral dates from the 5th century and was restored by Francis Johnston in the 1770s. Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, is buried in the graveyard. The Catholic cathedral is located across the valley and decorated in blue with depictions of many angels and Irish saints. After your visits, return to Drogheda where the balance of the afternoon is at leisure before dinner.
CLONMACNOISE & GALWAY Depart Drogheda and journey across the rolling astures of Ireland’s heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and is delightfully set on the banks of the River Shannon. Then continue your drive to Galway and embark on a panoramic tour to see the principal sights of the city. A drive around will take you to the large modern cathedral set on an island on the River Corrib. See the Spanish Arch in the Claddagh area, formerly a fishing village, the City Museum, National University of Galway and the Cathedral of Our Lady, which is built on the site of the former county jail. Then check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. You may choose to relax in your hotel or spend some time around Eyre Square, the hub of the city. Most of the shops are within easy reach and there are also many quaint pubs where Irish traditional music is played. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel.
TOUR TO THE ARAN ISLANDS Today visit the Aran Islands, which are located in Galway Bay 30 miles west of Galway city. Irish is still the vernacular in this isolated setting and the islanders retain many traditional ways of farming and fishing. The land is extremely stony and the islanders have formed dry stone walls to protect the windswept fields. The popular hand-knit aran sweaters evolved from unique patterns used by each family and the oiled wool repelled the rain. Take a ferry from Rossaveal on the mainland to Aran Mor, the largest of the three islands. Travel around the island by minibus with a local driver who will explain many of the island traditions to you. At the western end of Inis Mór visit Dun Aengus. This vast fortification is perched on the side of a cliff that falls to the Atlantic Ocean 300 feet below. The site consists of three concentric enclosures and dates back to 1,000 BC or earlier. Return to Galway in time for dinner.
KNOCK SHRINE & BALLINTUBBER ABBEY Today drive north towards Castlebar to reach Ballintubber Abbey. Ballintubber Abbey - known as "the Abbey that refused to die" - has the unique status of being Ireland's only royal Abbey, which has been in continuous use for more than 780 years. In 1653 the Abbey was left roofless after destruction and burning by Cromwell's army but for 250 years the local people of the area attended Mass in wind, rain and snow. Ballintubber Abbey today retains an air of ancient beauty and spirituality enhanced by its simple but elegant restoration. There is a video display and an interpretive center at the Abbey and the grounds are landscaped to portray spiritual themes. Then travel east to the pilgrimage town of Knock. Here visit Knock Shrine, one of the world's leading shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. See the shrine and modern basilica before returning to Galway in time to freshen up and relax before dinner.
ST BRIGID'S WELL & CLIFFS OF MOHER Depart Galway this morning and travel around the shores of Galway Bay. Continue to the town of Liscannor to visit St. Brigid’s Well. The well as it exists today, is found within a stone well house where pilgrims continue to leave a great variety of votive offerings. Within the well house is a modern statue of St. Brigid where people kneel to say prayers and perform other ritualized worship activities. Next visit the Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock that plunges 700 feet to the churning Atlantic Ocean below. After some free time to explore the Cliffs and the nearby visitor centre, board the coach and travel inland through the Shannon region. Continue through the outskirts of Limerick and the village of Adare, which is famous for its main street of thatched houses and colorful gardens. Then journey into the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney, settled beside three lakes in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountains. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy the balance of the day free to explore on your own before dinner.
DINGLE PENINSULA TOUR Depart Killarney and drive via Killorglin and out along the Dingle Peninsula. Journey along the scenic road which winds along portions of the shoreline and through hilly country, enjoying spectacular views of mountains and coast, with new vistas opening up at every turn in the road. You can also see the Iveragh Peninsula to the south. Stop in the town of Dingle before driving to the very tip of the peninsula to see the primitive stone “beehive” huts of the early monks and the Gallarus Oratory, built in the 6th century of unmortared stone and watertight after 14 centuries. Return along the peninsula to the town of Tralee. Then travel south back to Killarney and relax before dinner.
ROCK OF CASHEL & DUNBOYNE Leaving Killarney drive through the rich dairy country of Cork and Tipperary, past the gentle slopes of the Galtee Mountains and stop at the Rock of Cashel for a guided tour of these majestic church ruins which are clustered high on a limestone outcrop overlooking the surrounding countryside. Of particular note are the highly decorated Cormac's Chapel which was built during the 12th century, the large cruciform cathedral from the 13th century and a round tower. Drive through the midland region where you will see many farms and marketing towns. Your route will take you past the towns of Portlaoise and Kildare and into the town of Dunboyne. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner. This evening drive to the town of Rathfarnham to The Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner followed by a lively show of traditional Irish songs, dancing and music. Return to Dunboyne for your overnight stay.
RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Transfer from Dunboyne to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear security and claim your VAT refund. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and fly west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.
