grand circle travel ireland in depth

Ireland in Depth 2017 14-Day Grand Circle Tour

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip Northern Ireland

Post-Trip Ennis , Adare & Limerick

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary Grand Circle Travel

Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and oth- ers. But our most impressive reviews come from our travelers. More than one million people have traveled with us, and 96% say they’d gladly do so again.

Included in Your Price

»» Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s »» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward airfare, and your airport transfers, your next Grand Circle trip—an average government taxes, fees, and airline fuel of $224 surcharges are included. Or, make your own air arrangements

»» Accommodations for 12 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths

»» 21 meals: 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 6 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch)

»» 17 included features: 12 guided tours and 5 exclusive Discovery Series events: Hurling demonstration • Home- Hosted Lunch • Irish history & culture discussion • School visit • Sheepdog demonstration

»» Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no more than 42 travelers)

»» Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers

»» Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip

»» Private motorcoach land travel

»» Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. What This Trip is Like Pacing »» 5 locations in 13 days

Physical Requirements »» Walk 2 miles unassisted and participate in 1.5-2.5 hours of physical activities daily, including stairs

»» Agility, balance, and stair-climbing are required to kiss the Blarney Stone

»» Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters

»» Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids must travel with a companion who can assist them

»» We reserve the right for Program Directors to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

Terrain & Transportation »» Uneven walking surfaces, including unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and cobblestones

»» Travel by 45-seat motorcoach, jaunting car (horse-drawn carriage), ferry, and boat

Climate »» Daytime temperatures range from 48- 67°F during touring season

»» June-August are the warmest months

»» Weather in Ireland can be unpredictable and change quickly

»» Rain is common and should be expected

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Ireland in Depth 2017

Post-Trip Ennis, Adare & Limerick

Delve deep into the magic of the Emerald Isle, a land rich in history, romantic legend, verdant land- scapes, and stirring music and song. From the natural splendor of the coastal Cliffs of Moher and the captivating Burren, to the celebrated blend of past and present on the streets of Dublin and Galway, the unforgettable heart of your journey is the warmth and charm of the Irish people.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Detailed Itinerary

Your Grand Circle Program Director

During your exclusive Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times from an on-site Grand Circle Travel Program Director. Your Program Director is fluent in English and can give you an inside perspective on your destinations. He or she is supported along the way by local tour guides, who guide you expertly through particular sites and cities.

Many Grand Circle Program Directors are graduates of professional education programs for travel guides. In addition, they receive specialized training directly from Grand Circle, training that is based on what we’ve learned from thousands of past travelers about how to make the trip most enjoyable. Your Program Director offers both a deep knowledge of the region and a commitment to make this a very pleasant, informative, and rewarding travel experience for you.

Your Program Director will provide sightseeing trips, handle all travel details, reserve optional tours you choose to take, oversee your Discovery Series events, and provide any other as- sistance you may need. You will be in the company of a Program Director throughout your vacation.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. pre-trip extension. After your arrival, your Depart from the U.S. today and travel to Program Director will take you for a vicinity Ireland, arriving on Day 2. Please refer to walk to explore the area around your hotel, your individual air itinerary for exact depar- and provide suggestions on how to maximize ture and arrival times. your day and explore on your own. Tonight, get to know your fellow travel- DAY 2 Dublin, Ireland ers over a Welcome Drink, followed by a Welcome Briefing. Then sit down for your Arrive in Dublin today and begin your first dinner together at your hotel. Ireland tour. A Grand Circle representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to Dinner your hotel, where you’ll meet your Program Director and your fellow travelers, including those returning from their Northern Ireland

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. DAY 3 Dublin • Optional Then travel to Kilmacanogue, where you’ll Traditional Irish Night have the opportunity to seek out lunch on your own at the Avoca store located here. After breakfast today, you’ll begin your Enjoy lunch prepared from locally sourced, discoveries of Dublin, Ireland’s political and premium ingredients from one of the shop’s cultural center. Dublin is amazingly rich in award winning cafes, and browse world literary history—Yeats, Shaw, Beckett, Joyce renowned Avoca products at the indoor and other literary immortals have walked its market. The site also features a plant nurs- streets—and its architecture and museum ery that you can browse at your leisure. collections are second to none. After lunch, continue to Glendalough, where Begin your discoveries with a guided you’ll tour the famous monastery, founded panoramic tour of the city’s sights, which in the sixth century by St. Kevin. Among the will include a stop at Trinity College to view monks’ great achievements was manuscript the ancient Book of Kells. Believed to have writing and copying, including the creation been crafted in AD 800, the Book of Kells is a of the spectacular Book of Glendalough around stunningly illustrated collection of the four 1131. Now at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, Gospels of the New Testament. the book—containing historical chronicles, After your tour, you’ll have the rest of the genealogies, and religious poems—is one day to spend in Dublin as you please, and of the most important and beautiful Irish enjoy lunch and dinner on your own. Your manuscripts from the pre-Norman period. Program Director will be happy to give you After your tour, continue on to Kilkenny, suggestions on how to make the most of where you’ll arrive later today and check into your time in the city. your hotel before an included dinner with Or, join us for an optional Traditional Irish your fellow travelers. Night, for a hearty three-course meal accom- Breakfast, Dinner panied by lively tunes from local musicians. Feel free to raise your voice and join in the chorus as the merriment takes you away into DAY 5 Kilkenny • Hurling demonstration the evening. Kilkenny city straddles both banks of the Breakfast River Nore in the center of County Kilkenny, and you’ll explore it this morning on an included walking tour with your Program DAY 4 Dublin • Guinness Storehouse Director. Your tour will take you to the • Glendalough • Kilkenny sprawling gardens of Kilkenny Castle , an This morning, learn about the history of 800-year-old stronghold that lords over the Ireland’s famous brew during a tour of the city center. Though originally designed to Guinness Storehouse, a seven-story museum defend a crossing over the River Nore, the located in a former brewing factory inside castle’s grounds today provide a peaceful the St. James’s Gate Brewery. You’ll also place for locals and visitors alike to stroll have a chance to observe the technique about and admire the impressive artisanal behind pouring a perfect glass of “the black floristry on display. stuff” during a pint-pulling demonstration.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Later, partake in an exclusive Discovery Arrive in Cork late this afternoon, setting Series event as you learn about hurling, an off on an orientation tour around your hotel energetic and uniquely Irish sport, similar after checking in. Dinner is included tonight. to field hockey or lacrosse, with traditional Breakfast, Dinner Gaelic roots. The Irish have been playing the game since the Celts invented it 2,000 years ago, and today you’ll watch as a local crafts- DAY 7 Cork • Cobh • Home-Hosted Lunch man demonstrates the art of hurl making. This morning, ride to Cobh (pronounced After your demonstration, enjoy an included “cove”). This picturesque town long served lunch. The rest of the day is yours to spend as the main harbor for the city of Cork, and at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight. is dominated by the spire of St. Colman’s Cathedral, which contains the largest carillon Breakfast, Lunch in Ireland. A local historian will give you some insight into Cobh’s history during an DAY 6 Kilkenny • Waterford Crystal included tour this morning. factory • Cahir Castle • Cork Cobh was a major emigration point for fami- Travel from Kilkenny to the city of Cork lies who left the country during the Great today, stopping en route to visit Waterford Potato Famine, when some two-and-a-half and Cahir Castle . million emigrants departed this port for North America. Here you’ll discover the story In Waterford, you’ll tour the Waterford of Irish emigration and the era of the great Crystal factory, prized the world over as the ocean liners, when Cobh was a very active standard for the highest quality lead-cut port. This was the last place the RMS Titanic crystal. Founded in 1783 by George and dropped anchor before heading across the William Penrose, the Waterford branch of Atlantic on her tragic journey in 1912. the company is now part of a worldwide operation that includes such notable brands Here you can also pay tribute to the victims as Wedgwood and Royal Doulton. You’ll of the RMS Lusitania at a quayside memorial. learn about the organization’s history, and In 1915, this ship was sunk by a German witness a glassblowing demonstration before submarine off the coast of Cobh, with a free time to explore further or shop their fine loss of 1,196 passengers, including 127 products. Americans. This action helped bring America into World War I. Then depart for Cahir, where you’ll have time for an independent lunch upon arrival, After your tour, you’ll have some time at followed by a tour of Cahir Castle. In its time leisure, followed by an opportunity to learn (13th-15th centuries), Cahir Castle featured about contemporary life in Ireland—and a state-of-the-art defensive design, and is savor a traditional meal—during a Home- now one of Ireland’s best-preserved castles. Hosted Lunch in a local home. Situated on a rocky island in the River Suir , the castle still boasts its keep, tower, and much of its original structure. The last Lord Cahir died in 1961, at which point the castle came into state stewardship.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. In the late afternoon, return to Cork, where Then, continue your transfer to Killarney the rest of the day is yours to explore inde- and check in to your hotel, where dinner is pendently. Shuttle service is available to aid included this evening. After dinner, enjoy an your exploration of the city. exclusive Discovery Series discussion with a local resident on rural Irish life and growing Breakfast, Lunch up on a small farm in the 1950s.

Breakfast, Dinner DAY 8 Cork • Blarney Castle • Sheepdog Demonstration • Irish history & culture discussion • Killarney DAY 9 Killarney • Optional After breakfast this morning, bid Cork Dingle Experience tour farewell and begin your transfer to Killarney. Your day is at leisure to pursue your own interests. On the way, stop for a visit to Blarney Castle, where a 129-step staircase leads up a tower Or, join us on an optional tour as we venture to the famed Blarney Stone . According to out along the Dingle Peninsula. You’ll stop legend, anyone who manages the backward first at Tralee’s Kerry County Museum, lean to kiss it receives the “gift of the where you’ll enjoy the fascinating experience gab”—a smooth, soothing way with words of a recreated medieval street. Then follow that at best mean nothing. the rugged Dingle Peninsula with its wild mountains and some of the most spectacular The word “blarney” was coined by Elizabeth coastline Ireland has to display. You’ll see I to describe her endless and fruitless the famed Blasket Islands, rising like jewels discussions with Dermot McCarthy over his from the Atlantic Ocean. One of Ireland’s surrender of the castle to the Crown. The largest Irish-speaking areas, the peninsula McCarthys built the present castle with its has attracted many writers and artists for 85-foot-high keep in 1446, replacing an the inspiration the wild landscape offers. earlier castle. Though the Blarney Stone gets The movies Ryan’s Daughter and Far and Away all the publicity, the castle’s tower house were made here. We will stop in the fishing and surrounding gardens are superb in their town of Dingle to enjoy locally caught fish own right. The castle’s grounds also include (and chips) for lunch, included with the cost caves, dungeons, and a rock garden of of the optional tour. ancient trees and weathered stones. Breakfast After your tour, you’ll travel to the town of Macroom , where you’ll have free time for lunch on your own before setting off for an DAY 10 Killarney • Ring of Kerry • • School exclusive Discovery Series event at a working visit • Jaunting car ride • Optional sheep farm to see Ireland’s finest border National Folk Theatre performance collies in action at a sheepdog demonstra- On this morning’s included tour, you’ll tion. Please note: This is an outdoor event and discover the Ring of Kerry, a drive that is weather-dependent. It will not be conducted in traces the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula wet, muddy conditions. and offers breathtaking views. There is always something new to appreciate in the

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. combination of ocean, islands, mountains, performance by the National Folk Theatre, light, and ever-changing weather patterns. the country’s only repertory company, with We ride most of the way, making scenic an included three-course dinner. Using tra- stops. ditional Irish disciplines, the group offers a cultural experience dramatizing the essence The first town along the route is Killorglin, of Irish culture. Please note: This optional where an elegant eight-arched bridge crosses tour is available on late May-early September the River Laune. Then you’ll advance to the departures only. water’s edge at Kells, an attractive fishing village with panoramic viewing points. Breakfast, Lunch

The next stretch is one of the highlights of the Ring, with outstanding views of the DAY 11 Killarney • Cliffs of Moher coastline. On the return to Killarney, the & the Burren • Galway route takes you through the picturesque vil- After breakfast, bid farewell to Killarney lage of Sneem, where you’ll have an included and begin your transfer to Galway, stopping lunch, and Ladies View, named after Queen along the way to discover a few more trea- Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting. The vistas of sures of the Emerald Isle. lakes and mountains remain magnificent today. First, ferry across the River Shannon and drive along the coast of County Clare to Upon returning to Killarney, you’ll visit St. visit the majestic Cliffs of Moher. These Oliver’s School (when in session), an el- precipitous rock formations—towering more ementary school supported in part by Grand than 700 feet above the crashing ocean surf Circle Foundation. Here, during an exclusive at their highest point—offer breathtak- Discovery Series event, you’ll have the op- ing panoramic views of Ireland’s Atlantic portunity to meet the students and faculty, coast, and provide nesting sites for tens of and observe the work that the foundation— thousands of seabirds. If the wind is strong, with the help of your travel dollars—has the sea foam and spray flies up and over done here. One such project is a vegetable the cliffs along with the rain; while on clear garden, developed by local asylum seekers sunny days, fantastic views can be seen from in order to help provide healthy meals for every angle. the children, and to give the asylum seekers an opportunity to help integrate into the Over the centuries, people have also made community. their mark, with towers, quarries, and well-worn paths, but they’re almost lost in After your school visit, you’ll return to the scale and grandeur of the sea cliffs. One Killarney and ride on a jaunting car (a tradi- that does stand out is O’Brien’s Tower, a tional Irish horse-drawn carriage) for a tour huge structure built to house the guests of of the forested hills of Killarney National Cornelius O’Brien, County Clare’s legendary Park, and the Kenmare Estate, a former Member of Parliament from the 1830s until residence for an Irish noble family. he died in 1857. The rest of the day is yours to explore Then travel along a scenic coastal road to Killarney independently, and dinner tonight discover another natural Irish wonder, the is on your own. Or, join us for an optional Burren. Its name is derived from a Gaelic

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. word meaning “stony place,” and it is like Or, join us for an optional journey through no other place in Ireland. Instead of peat the Connemara region of Galway. Once home bogs and pastures, you’ll find a surreal to more than two million Irish, it still retains moonscape full of huge limestone crags. its regional heritage, as you will discover while we ramble around its lakes, moun- Despite this seemingly inhospitable setting, tains, and bogs. We’ll visit the former Gothic a diverse array of plant life—including wild mansion of Mitchell Henry, now the home orchids and rock rose—thrives here. Alpine of Benedictine nuns and better known as plants nestle in crevices beside temperate Kylemore Abbey. You’ll have time to wander species. The white, deeply crevassed lime- both the mansion and the Victorian gardens. stone conceals “micro-environments” rich Then cruise Killary, a charming fjord. You’ll in potholes and hollows. The ample rainfall enjoy lunch while cruising. On your return, and strange topography have resulted in a we’ll travel through the Inagh Valley to the paradoxical profusion of arctic and semi- coast, where we’ll see the deserted village tropical vegetation growing side by side. of Clough Na Mara and discover a sense of Finally, you’ll arrive in Galway later today, hardship the Irish experienced in the 18th where, after a sightseeing tour and orienta- and 19th centuries. Today, only the shells of tion walk, you’ll check into your hotel. their homes remain—set amidst hundreds of This evening, join your fellow travelers for miles of stone walls. an included dinner, with entertainment Dinner is on your own this evening. provided by a local musician. Breakfast Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 13 Galway DAY 12 Galway • Optional Connemara & Kylemore Abbey tour This morning, your Program Director will introduce you to Galway on a walking tour Spend the day at leisure, exploring Galway through the city. You have the remainder of on your own. The city’s compact center the day at leisure to explore Galway on your spans both sides of the River Corrib. own. This enchanting city is a medley of In the center of Eyre Square stands the narrow lanes, wood and stone shop fronts, Quincentennial Fountain, constructed in and bustling restaurants and pubs. Originally 1984 to mark the 500th anniversary of the presided over by the local O’Flahertys, Royal Charter granted by King Richard III Galway was taken over by Anglo-Normans that created Galway as an independent city- and became a thriving center of trade and state. Nearby are some of the oldest streets commerce by the 14th century. in Galway, narrow winding lanes that curve in and around old wooden buildings, often Your tour will also take you to Galway bay, meandering off toward the Corrib and the which once was regularly “home” to Spanish docks. Yet turn a corner and you will find galleons during their western voyages. modern Galway—certainly one of the liveli- Galway declined after being damaged in est cities in Europe. Artists and musicians battle with the forces of Oliver Cromwell in crowd the sidewalks and almost every pub the mid-17th century, but regained its pros- seems to offer live music. perity and vitality in modern times. Today,

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Galway remains a merchant town, but it is also a burgeoning center for technology and a lively bohemian mecca.

This evening, gather with your Program Director and fellow travelers at your hotel for an included Farewell Dinner.

Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14 Galway • Return to U.S. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home. Or continue your discover- ies of the Emerald Isle on an optional post- trip extension in Ennis, Adare & Limerick.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Optional Tours

During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Program Director. He or she will ask you to confirm the payment for these tours by filling out a payment form. Optional tours can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.

In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.

Please note: Optional tour prices include gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers, are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication, and are subject to change. Optional tours may vary.

Traditional Irish Night of Dingle, to enjoy locally caught fish (and (Day 3 $105 per person) chips) for lunch.

Enjoy a night of craic (a ubiquitous Irish word with no real English equivalent, loosely National Folk Theatre performance translated to “having a good time”) at a (Day 10 $95 per person) local restaurant as you savor a hearty three- Enjoy a performance of Siamsa Tíre—the course dinner, followed by an evening of National Folk Theatre of Ireland, and the lively entertainment. A group of local musi- country’s only repertory company. Using cians takes the stage after dinner to play traditional disciplines, Siamsa Tíre offers a some traditional Irish music into the night. cultural experience dramatizing the essence of Irish culture. You’ll also enjoy a three- Dingle Experience course dinner before the show. (Day 9 $95 per person) Please note: This optional tour is available on Venture out along the Dingle Peninsula, late May-early September departures only. stopping at Tralee’s Kerry County Museum, where you’ll experience a re-created Connemara & Kylemore Abbey medieval village. Then follow the rugged (Day 12 $95 per person) peninsula with its wild mountains and some of Ireland’s most spectacular coastline. One Once home to more than two million Irish of Ireland’s largest Irish-speaking areas, the residents, Connemara retains its regional wild landscapes continue to inspire writers heritage, as you will discover while rambling and artists. We’ll stop in the fishing port around its lakes, mountains, and bogs. Visit the former Gothic mansion of Mitchell

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Henry, now the home of Benedictine nuns and better known as Kylemore Abbey. You will have time to wander both the mansion and the Victorian gardens. Then cruise Killary Harbor, a charming fjord-like inlet. You will enjoy lunch while cruising. Lastly, you’ll see the deserted village of Clough Na Mara, where only shells of 18th- and 19th- century houses remain—set amid hundreds of miles of stone walls.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Pre-trip Northern Ireland

»» Accommodations for 5 nights »» Gratuities on this extension for local guides and motorcoach drivers »» 6 meals: 5 breakfasts and 1 dinner »» All transfers »» 7 included tours: Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Londonderry, Ulster American Folk Park, Monasterboice, Drogheda, Battle of the Boyne site

»» Exclusive services of a Grand Circle Program Director

Itinerary, Pre-Trip Extension

Northern Ireland beckons with rich history and natural beauty. In a truly timeless extension, you’ll lift your eyes before the mighty Giant’s Causeway rock formation and bow your head in a rustic churchyard, pausing along the way to stroll the cobbled streets of Londonderry. On this enhanced 2017 extension, you’ll also discover historic Drogheda, the site of the Battle of the Boyne, and more.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. and the forested slopes of Cave Hill. Belfast Depart from the U.S. today on your flight to was the catalyst of the industrial revolution Belfast, Northern Ireland. in Ulster, and specialized in the development of industries like linen, rope-making, and shipbuilding, with the world’s largest dry DAY 2 Belfast, Northern Ireland dock. The city’s Victorian heritage can be Arrive this morning in Belfast. You’ll be met seen in the stately buildings of this area and at the airport by a Grand Circle representa- at Belfast’s Grand Opera House. tive who will assist you with the transfer This afternoon, get acquainted with the to your hotel. Belfast is a robust northern area around your hotel on an orientation metropolis of nearly half a million people. walk. The balance of the day is free for you This is a scenic city, situated between the to relax after your overseas flight. Gather in waters of Belfast Lough, the Belfast Hills,

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. the late afternoon with your fellow travelers DAY 4 Belfast • Derry for a Welcome Drink and briefing from your Today, travel from Belfast to Londonderry, Program Director, followed by a Welcome or simply Derry as the locals refer to it. Dinner. On the way, we’ll stop to view the Giant’s Dinner Causeway, an amazing geologic formation of approximately 40,000 basalt stones—some as tall as 130 feet, and mostly hexagonal in DAY 3 Belfast shape.

On a panoramic city tour this morning, As Northern Ireland’s premiere landmark, you’ll see Belfast’s compact center in and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll Donegall Square, which is dominated by the be free to decide for yourself whether the elaborate City Hall. We will drive through Causeway is a result of accelerated cooling West Belfast’s Protestant neighborhood of of lava outflows 60 million years ago. Or is Shankill Road, and the Catholic neighbor- it the work of the legendary Irish giant, Finn hood of Falls Road, where large, vivid murals MacCool, in his attempts to a) woo a distant painted on the sides of buildings express the lady giant, or b) meet a Scottish giant in feelings that still run deep on both sides. battle to determine who was the stronger Though the names of these areas were much giant? in the news during “the Troubles,” the gate in the Peace Wall between them now stands You’ll arrive in Derry in the afternoon, open. where you’ll set off on a guided walk atop the city’s walls, which have stood around the Spend the remainder of the day exploring city since the 17th century. Belfast on your own. The city’s main shop- ping district is just north of Donegall Square The remainder of the day is yours to spend along several pedestrian-only streets. at leisure. Dinner will be on your own this Belfast’s most famous historic pub, the evening. Crown Liquor Saloon, is also in this area (it’s Breakfast always packed, but worth a look for its gaslit Victorian architecture even if you can’t get a seat). DAY 5 Derry • Optional Or you might head for Belfast’s Golden Inishowen Peninsula tour Mile neighborhood or the beautiful Botanic Today is yours to spend in Derry at leisure. Gardens, with the campus of Queen’s You might visit the Tower Museum, with University nearby. exhibits illustrating the maritime history of Derry, or the Guildhall built in 1890 and in Your evening is free for your own explora- the Gothic architectural style, similar to its tions. You can ask your Program Director London counterpart. Today, it’s the seat of for suggestions for dining on your own this the local government. evening. Or, join an optional half-day excursion to Breakfast the Inishowen Peninsula, a peaceful place of pastoral solitude jutting out into the Atlantic on Ireland’s northern edge. First, you’ll visit

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. the Grianan of Aileach , an Iron Age stone Following your tour, head south to ring fort resting atop a high hill. You’ll learn Drogheda, your next destination, stopping about the origins of the structure, which on the way for a visit to Monasterboice dates back to 1700 BC, and admire the views for an included tour. Monasterboice is an from the hilltop vantage. important Irish spiritual site dating back to the 5th century AD, founded by Saint Buithe, Then you’ll travel to Fort Dunree, a coastal a disciple of Saint Patrick. The holy grounds fortification situated on top of a cliff which were an important place of congregation for has protected Lough Swilly (a glacial fjord local Christians for more than 500 years. leading to the Atlantic) from invaders over the centuries. The fort boasts one of As you tour the ruins of the monastic site, the world’s largest collections of coastal take note of its magnificent high crosses, artillery, as well as breathtaking panoramic carved with biblical images depicting scenes views over the water. from both the Old and New Testaments. The crosses combine form and function—in Your optional tour ends with relaxation and addition to being beautiful works of art, refreshment as you enjoy some tea, coffee, they allowed contemporary worshippers and scones before returning to your hotel in who could not read to follow along with the Derry, where the rest of the day is yours to Bible’s stories. do as you please. Lunch and dinner are on your own today. Later today, you’ll arrive at your hotel in Drogheda, where the rest of the day is at Breakfast leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Breakfast DAY 6 Derry • Ulster American Folk Park • Monasterboice • Drogheda After breakfast today, set out to discover the DAY 7 Drogheda • Battle of Ulster American Folk Park on an included, the Boyne site • Dublin self-guided tour. This fascinating facility After breakfast, set off on a walking tour tells the story of emigration from Ulster to of Drogheda. As you stroll the lanes of this America in the 18th and 19th centuries and old fortified town on the banks of the River provides visitors with a “living history” Boyne, you’ll learn about the triumphs and experience on its outdoor site. In the Folk tragedies it experienced throughout history, Park, costumed guides and craftspeople including two devastating sieges in the recreate the past in an outdoor museum that 17th century—first at the hands of Oliver includes a weaver’s cottage, forge, school- Cromwell during his Irish conquest in 1649, house, log cabin, church, and a 19th-century and then again in 1690 following the Battle Ulster street. The Ship and Dockside Gallery of the Boyne, which you’ll learn more about features a full-size reconstruction of an later today on another included tour. early 19th-century sailing ship of the type Following your tour, you’ll have some free that carried thousands of emigrants across time to spend in the city and seek lunch on the Atlantic. A major indoor exhibition, your own. There’s plenty to see and do in “Emigrants,” complements the outdoor site. the city today; delve deeper into history by visiting St. Peter’s Church or the Millmount

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Museum, pop into a pub for a pint, or sit idly by the River Boyne and watch daily life unfold.

This afternoon, travel to the battlefield where the historic Battle of the Boyne was fought. Here on the banks of the river, the forces of the Netherlands’ William of Orange and England’s James II did battle for the throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland, in a fierce melee which would see the Protestant William emerge the victor over the James’ Catholic forces. You’ll tour the battlefield and the visitor’s center, learning more about how the epic battle unfolded, and how its consequences affect the fate of Ireland to this day.

After your tour, you’ll transfer to Dublin to begin your main Ireland in Depth tour.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. optional tours on Pre-trip

Inishowen Peninsula (Day 5 $60 per person)

Tour the peaceful Inishowen Peninsula, starting at the Grianan of Aileach, a hilltop stone ringfort whose origins trace back to the Iron Age. You’ll tour the fort and admire the views from atop the high hill, before setting off for your next destination, Fort Dunree. Here, from a high cliff overlooking Lough Swilly, you’ll tour one of the world’s finest collection of coastal artillery, and take in the view of the sea below before enjoying some tea, coffee, and scones.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Post-trip Ennis, Adare & Limerick

»» Accommodations for 3 nights »» All transfers

»» 4 meals: 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner

»» 4 included tours: Bunratty Castle, Ennis, Adare, Frank McCourt Museum

»» Exclusive services of a resident Program Director

»» Gratuities on this extension for local guides and motorcoach drivers

Itinerary, Post-Trip Extension

On this new 2017 post-trip extension, journey to a historic region of western Ireland renowned for its charming and cheerful people, and its reverence for old traditions. From the bustling market town of Ennis, to the medieval-style village of Adare, this extension takes you back in time to show you the Emerald Isle as it once was.

DAY 1 Ennis • Bunratty fought over frequently, as it could allow its Castle • Ennis city tour occupants to block water access to Limerick. The castle has been restored to its late After breakfast, join your fellow travelers Middle Ages glory, with period tapestries and for a Welcome Briefing about what you can furnishings on display inside. expect from your post-trip extension over the next few days, and then set off for Ennis, After your tour, you’ll have free time for stopping en route to tour Bunratty Castle . lunch on your own in Bunratty, and then continue your transfer to Ennis, arriving this Bunratty has been settled since the Vikings afternoon for a walking tour. of the 10th century. The castle you’ll tour is the fourth Bunratty Castle, the first three The word “Ennis” is the short version of the destroyed in battles with the Normans. Gaelic town name, which translates lyrically Built in the 15th century, this castle was to “island of the long rowing meadow."

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Divided by the River Fergus, which runs DAY 3 Ennis • Adare • Frank through the city’s heart, Ennis was once a McCourt Museum bustling trade route for sailboats and was a This morning, set out upon a walking tour hub of commerce for the entire region. of Adare, hailed by many as Ireland’s pret- The city’s identity as a market town can tiest village. You’ll amble along cobblestone still be seen today in Market Square, streets, lined with some of the village’s which continues to fill with vendors every original medieval thatch-roofed cottages, Saturday, some selling produce as their still maintained and used by local busi- families have for several centuries, as well nesses. After your tour, you’ll pop into a as artisans offering home goods and textile local coffee shop to recharge your batteries makers as well. with some light refreshment.

As you stroll, you’ll see architecture span- Then it’s onward to the city of Limerick, ning a thousand-year period. Parnell Street, which dates back to at least 812 AD. Many one of the major streets, is pedestrian only, travelers know Limerick as the setting for a perfect destination for catching a glimpse Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, a memoir of medieval lanes and modern daily life which includes gritty slices of life in 1930’s alike. and 1940’s Ireland. You’ll acquaint yourself further with the world of this Pulitzer The remainder of the day is yours to do as prize-winning work on an included tour of you please. Dinner is on your own tonight. the Frank McCourt Museum, whose exhibits portray scenes from the novel, depicting DAY 2 Ennis • Optional Aran Islands tour Limerick as it once was. Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Ennis, After your tour of the museum, you’ll have with lunch on your own. Perhaps you’ll visit free time to get lunch in Limerick on your the Ennis Friary . Founded in the 13th cen- own (don’t worry—the city’s cleaned up tury, the Friary boasts dozens of 15th-and well since McCourt’s days), before returning 16th-century limestone sculptures, including to Ennis for an afternoon of leisure. one of St. Francis displaying stigmata, as This evening, join your fellow travelers for a well as scenes from the Passion story. memorable Farewell Banquet inside an Irish Or, perhaps you’ll join us for our optional castle, where you’ll enjoy dinner and some Aran Islands tour. We board a ferry to cross spirited entertainment as you reminisce with the water to Inis Oirr, the smallest of the your new friends about your journey across islands where 250 residents still speak Gaelic the Emerald Isle. and weave Celtic customs into their daily Breakfast, Dinner lives. Explore the island on a guided tour before enjoying some free time to mingle with the locals. Your optional tour includes lunch before returning to the mainland.

Dinner is on your own tonight.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. DAY 4 Ennis • Return to U.S. This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. optional tours on Post-trip

Aran Islands (Day 2 $115 per person)

At the mouth of Galway Bay, the Aran Islands enchant visitors with reminders of a way of life from long ago. Board a ferry to cross the water to Inis Oirr, the smallest of the islands, where the Gaelic language and Celtic customs are a part of the inhabitants’ daily routine. Though small, Inis Oirr is large enough to be home to a three-story 16th-century castle and monuments from the Bronze age, nestled among rare plants native to the island. You’ll tour the island, seeing sights and meeting local residents. This optional tour includes lunch on the island.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610.

Grand Circle Travel - GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Ireland in Depth 2021

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