Tripology

Tour departs: Shannon Airport one hour after the arrival of our selected flight(s). Travel from the airport to the mighty Cliffs of Moher, where towering, sheer headland plummets into the Atlantic Ocean. Journey through the Burren, which ranks among the eeriest landscapes in Ireland – a bare, hilly area that is devoid of trees and surface water.

Hotel

Ashford Castle is your final destination today, and is your home for the next two nights; it ranks consistently as one of the finest hotels in the world! Located on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of Loch Corrib, it is truly the quintessence of Old World elegance.

Join us this evening for a welcome dinner. The journey to Ashford Castle is long; those guests wishing to arrive earlier into Shannon should inquire at time of booking. Meals LD

Sightseeing

Drive through Connemara, a rugged region whose diverse scenery includes windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the rugged Atlantic coastline. See a Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle for the evening. Meals BLD

Sightseeing

Travel to Sligo today, the largest town in the northwest of Ireland. Enjoy time at leisure in Sligo, the Land of Heart’s Desire as it is described by W. B. Yeats. Visit Yeats’ final resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath legendary Ben Bulben. Spend the next two nights amidst the spectacular countryside of Donegal. Meals BD

Sightseeing

Donegal regales the visitor with its incredible scenery and the charm of its people. Meander today along the fringe of Donegal Bay, where you will wind, dip and weave your way along the coast through Killybegs, one of Ireland’s major fishing ports; as the road narrows, the farms and grazing lands become pictorial, as if they sprang from artists’ imaginations. Locals in the villages want you to linger; we wish you good weather today! Meals BLD

Sightseeing

En route to Dublin, see the emerald green landscapes Ireland is famous for, as well as grazing cattle, sheep, abandoned abbeys and castles reflecting a bygone era. Believe it or not, gardens with palm trees are found in many regions of Ireland, giving testimony to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. Arrive in Ireland’s capital city, where the rest of the afternoon is spent at your leisure.

Hotel

Your hotel is centrally located amidst this city of Georgian and Victorian architectural sites. Meals BD

Sightseeing

Dublin, Ireland’s largest city, evokes the great literary names of George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Jonathan Swift, James Joyce, and Brendan Behan. 21/2 -story brick Georgian row houses are famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways – and some of Ireland’s most beautiful parks, such as St. Stephen’s Green, provide a welcome retreat.

Sightseeing

Visit Trinity College, steeped in tradition and home to the Book of Kells. The afternoon and evening are yours to experience a bit of Dublin life. Meals B

Sightseeing

The Wicklow Mountains lie south of Dublin; they are a blend of peaks, forests, streams and verdant valleys. Travel to Powerscourt, whose gardens are considered to be among the best in Ireland; set at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, their design dates back to the 19th century.

Sightseeing

Visit the picturesque medieval city of Kilkenny, which is known around the world as a center for craft and design, en route to your hotel. Meals BD

Sightseeing

Visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to see the highly skilled glass blowers, engravers and cutters at work. Travel next to the scenic town of Cobh, a historic port that has played an important role in maritime history. Over 2.5 million people have emigrated from Ireland via Cobh; Sirius, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, departed from the harbor in 1838; Cobh was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912; and, in World War I, the tragic ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk very near Cobh, contributing to the U.S. entrance into the war. Visit the Cobh Heritage Center where exhibits detail these, and other, events. Spend the night in the heart of Cork. Meals BD

Sightseeing

Journey to 15th-century Blarney Castle, whose name is synonymous with the gift of the gab; the castle is set amidst beautiful grounds. Travel to County Kerry and Killarney for a visit to Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational colors. Enjoy panoramic views of Killarney’s lakes from your hotel. Meals BD

Sightseeing

Explore the ruggedly beautiful countryside along the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile circle around the Iveragh peninsula, and travel through some of Ireland’s most incredible scenery. Arrive in Kenmare for some time at leisure; a historic small town on the site where the Finnihy, Roughty and Sheen rivers converge into the Kenmare River, it boasts a rich Irish heritage. Return to the town of Killarney late in the afternoon. Meals BLD

Sightseeing

Discover the importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy farm, including a light Irish lunch. Travel to Dromoland Castle, a magnificent baronial estate; the site of the first O’Brien Castle, built in the 15th century, it remained in the O’Brien family for five centuries before being converted into one of Europe’s most renowned hotels.

We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD

Tour ends: Shannon Airport 21/2 hours prior to the departure of our selected flight(s). Persons who are departing at other times should secure their own transportation to the airport. Meals B