Tours
 ALL IRELAND (REF: MKIRE 1)
Day 1 - Sunday
WELCOME TO DUBLIN
Welcome to Dublin, Ireland's Capital. This afternoon explore Dublin on your own. You stay in the heart of Dublin at Brooks Hotel, just a short stroll from St. Stephen's Green and also Temple Bar. A welcome reception of Irish Coffee - followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel and chat about our forthcoming Ireland adventure.
Day 2 - Monday
 DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY
Enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin City in the morning. View the Georgian Squares of Merrion, Fitzwilliam and St. Stephen's Green with their brightly decorated doors. Tour the State Apartments at Dublin Castle. You have the afternoon to shop and enjoy this 1,000 year old city. You can visit the National Gallery, the museums and maybe view the Book of Kells at Trinity College. Tonight, you'll laugh and sing the night away to the music of the harp and fiddle, flute and bodhran (goatskin tambourine). Join in the songs, marvel at the intricacy of the Irish step dancing, but most of all enjoy the wit and humor of an Irish dinner and cabaret.
Note: On the May and October departures you will enjoy an evening of Ballads with dinner at the Abbey Tavern.
Day 3 - Tuesday
WICKLOW, GLENDALOUGH & WATERFORD
Leave Dublin heading south to visit Mount Usher Gardens, one of the best gardens in Ireland! We travel south through the Wicklow Mountains and the region known as "The Garden of Ireland". A scenic drive along the sea coast to Avoca Woolen Mills, then on to Glendalough where we take a guided tour of the 6th century monastic settlement, with its round tower and Celtic cross at Glendalough. Continue through Enniscorthy and to Waterford on the River Suir. Enjoy a guided tour of the famous Waterford Crystal factory. You'll have time to browse through the showrooms and maybe purchase some of the beautiful cut crystal. Stay in Waterford at the beautiful Arlington Lodge, the former Bishop's Palace. Dinner in their dining room this evening.
Day 4 - Wednesday
KILKENNY & KELLS
Tour to the medieval city of Kilkenny, once the capital of Ireland. We visit Kilkenny Castle and St. Canice's Cathedral. You have time to explore Kilkenny Town. On to Thomastown and a visit to Jerpoint Abbey, dating back to the 13th century. Enjoy tea and scones at Abbey House B&B. Stop for a view of the 13th century Kells Priory. Return to Waterford for a leisure evening. Dinner in the dining room.
Day 5 - Thursday
 CASHEL, CAHIR & COBH
On to Cashel with a visit to the famous cathedral-fortress Rock of Cashel. St. Patrick used the shamrock as the symbol of the Trinity when he converted the King of Munster. Stop by Cahir Castle - a 12th century Butler castle. This site has been completely restored and is a marvel to see. Continue to Cobh, home of the Emigration Museum and last port of call for the Titanic! Stay in Cobh at the Watersedge Hotel overlooking the yacht club. Dinner at the wonderful Jacob's Ladder restaurant.
Day 6 - Friday
BLARNEY, BANTRY & KENMARE
Tour to Blarney. Stop at Blarney Castle to climb to the battlements of the castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence.² You'll have time to visit the Blarney Woolen Mills for traditional Irish handcrafts, fashions and crystal. Tour via Glengariff where you boat over to Garinish Island. On to Bantry with its lovely bay, to Kenmare and Killarney which is set beside the Lakes of Killarney at the foot of the mountains, "Heaven's Reflex" as it is called for its beauty. Stay at the beautiful Killarney Royal Hotel, in the heart of Killarney Town. Enjoy dinner in the dining room this evening. How about an evening of Irish traditional music after dinner?
Day 7 - Saturday
 DINGLE PENINSULA
Tour the spectacular Dingle Peninsula to Dingle, one of Ireland's most picturesque spots. We visit the town of Dingle, then drive around Slea Head and admire its rugged beauty. Visit the Blasket IslandCenter, Mulcahy's Pottery and a lunch stop in Ballyferriter. Return to Killarney via Tralee and hear the sad romantic story of the Rose of Tralee. Stop at the spectacular viewpoint of Aghadoe. Enjoy dinner in the hotel dining room this evening.
Day 8 - Sunday
LIMERICK & BUNRATTY
Irish Jaunting Cart ride through the Killarney National Park, to Muckross House where we visit this wonderful museum of Irish life in the 18th century. Depart Killarney travelling north through picturesque Adare, see the sites of Limerick City before visiting Bunratty Folk Park and Bunratty Castle. You might like to have a pint of Guinness at Durty Nelly's Pub! Tour north to Galway wher you stay at the Park House Hotel in the heart of Galway City, just off Eyre Square. Enjoy dinner in their wonderful restaurant this evening.
 Day 9 - Monday
CLIFFS OF MOHER & BURREN
Tour through the picturesque village of Kinvara and on through the Burren, an eerie expanse of land scraped bare by the glaciers during the Ice Age and where exotic plants grow. On to Lahinch, famous for golf, then the Cliffs of Moher. Return to Galway City where you can explore this afternoon. Eyre Square, Claddagh and Spanish Arch. Christopher Columbus stopped here on his way to the New World. This evening enjoy a banquet and entertainment at 15th century Dunguaire Castle.
Day 10 - Tuesday
ARAN ISLANDS & GALWAY
We take an air excursion to the largest of the Aran islands - Inishmor. Enjoy a two hour tour of the island including a visit to the ancient fort - Dun Angeus. You'll have time to shop for woolen sweaters. After returning from the island we'll return to Galway City where you'll have time to explore the pedestrianized streets with shops, pubs and restaurants. Return to the Park House Hotel in the heart of Galway City. Dinner this evening in their restaurant.
 Day 11 - Wednesday
CONNEMARA & WESTPORT
Travel through the Connemara region which is known for its mountains, the Twelve Bens and the beauty of the landscape with its changing colors. Tour to Clifden the 'capital' of Connemara, visit Kylemore Abbey, a former Benedictine Abbey, now a private school for girls. Through the village of Leenaun and along scenic Killary Harbor, Ireland's only fjord! Stop in town of Westport, a bustling market town, and on to Foxford Woolen Mills. Cross the Ox Mountains into County Sligo. Sligo is a county of gentle mountains, lakes and coastline. This area is associated with the great writer, W. B. Yeats. to visit the O'Scannlain ancestral home in Bunnanadden. We stay in Sligo near Rosses Point at the Radisson hotel overlooking Ben Bulben. Enjoy dinner in the dining room this evening.
Day 12 - Thursday
BELLEEK & DONEGAL TOWN
Tour north from Sligo stopping at Drumcliff and the Yeats Center. Yeats is buried here in Drumclif Churchyard. On to Ballyshannon where you visit the Donegal Parian China showrooms. Nearby is the town of Belleek home of the famous Belleek China factory. We tour into Donegal Town and visit Magees of Donegal for tweeds and woolens. Visit 15th century Donegal Castle, with its fully restored Jacobean wing. Return to Sligo and the Radisson Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.
 Day 13 - Friday
BOYNE VALLEY CENTER
Cross the midlands today to Bru na Boinne Visitor Center (Boyne Valley Center) which presents one of Europe's great archaeological mysteries, along the Boyne Valley, and Newgrange and Knowth burial tomb. These monuments predate the pyramids of Egypt. Continue our scenic drive across the midlands, arriving at Crowne Plaza Hotel near Dublin Airport in the late afternoon. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.
Day 14 - Saturday
DEPART FOR HOME
Transfer to Dublin Airport. Depart for home.
Slan Leat!
TOUR INCLUDES:
• Arrival and Departure Transfers
• Sightseeing by Private luxury motorcoach.
• Elegant Manor and Hotel accommodation with private bath for 13 nights.
• Professional driver/guide throughout the tour - from day 1 to day 13
• Full Irish breakfast daily
• Table d'hote dinner each evening
• Irish Coffee Reception in Dublin
• Welcome dinner in Dublin on first evening
• Dinner and Cabaret evening in Dublin
• Tea and Scones at Abbey House
• Boat crossing to Garinish Island
• Irish Jaunting Car Ride in Killarney
• Medieval Banquet at an Irish castle
• Aran Island Air Excursion and island tour
• Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle State Apartments, Glendalough, Avoca Woolen Mills, Kilkenny Castle, Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Priory, Waterford Crystal Factory & Showrooms, Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Emigration Museum, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woolen Mills, Garinish Island, Muckross House, Blasket Island Center, Gallorus Oratory, Cliffs of Moher, Dun Aengus, Kylemore Abbey, Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Donegal Castle, Donegal Parian China, Belleek China Factory, Bru na Boinne (BoyneValley Center)
• Hotel service charges, tips for baggage handling and local taxes.
• Maximum 12 Tour Members
• All tours personally driven and escorted by experienced driver-guide.
HOTELS:
You will be staying at the following Small Elegant Hotels & Manor Houses:
Dublin: Brooks Hotel - 2 nights
Waterford: Arlington Lodge - 2 nights
Cobh: Watersedge Hotel - 1 night
Killarney: Killarney Royal - 2 nights
Galway: Park House Hotel - 3 nights
Sligo: Radisson Hotel - 2 nights
Dublin Airport: Crowne Plaza Hotel -1 night
Copyright© Moloney Kelly Travel 2008
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