Tours

THE WEST (REF: MKIRE 3)

Day 1 - Sunday
CLARE COAST
Arrive in Ireland at Shannon Airport. Tour County Clare. See the Cliffs of Moher, rising from the Atlantic 700 feet and stretching for five miles. Tour the Burren - an area of bare limestone rock where alpine flowers grow. Through the Spa town of Lisdoonvarna where each September they hold the Matchmaker Festival! Visit the Bunratty Folk Park, a recreated 19th century Irish village - complete with 15th century Bunratty Castle! Stay near Bunratty at the Radisson Hotel. Irish Coffee Reception and Welcome Dinner this evening.

Day 2 - Monday
COOLE & THOOR BALLYLEE
Tour north to Coole, the former estate of Lady Augusta Gregory, co-founder of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Be sure to view the 'Autograph Tree' on which visitors to Coole carved their initials - George Bernard Shaw and W. B. Yeats among others. Visit nearby Thoor Ballylee, a W. B. Yeats museum and his former summer home. Yeats is one of Ireland's greatest poets and playwrights. He co-founded the Abbey Theatre in Dublin with Lady August Gregory. On into Galway City. See Spanish Arch, the Claddagh District and Eyre Square. Walk down Shop Street. You'll be staying in the heart of Galway City, just off Eyre Square. Enjoy dinner in the dining room this evening.

Day 3 - Tuesday
CONNEMARA TOUR
We tour through Connemara and stop in the fishing village of Roundstone where the Bodhran, the musical goat skin drum, is made. On through Ballyconneely to Clifden, the 'capital' of Connemara; visit Kylemore Abbey, a former Benedictine Abbey, now a private school for girls. Return via the scenic Lough Inagh Valley to Galway City and to the Park House Hotel. Dinner in the dining room this evening.

Day 4 - Wednesday
ARAN ISLANDS & GALWAY
Drive along the shores of Galway Bay to Inverin. 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 5 - Thursday
KNOCK & SLIGO
North to Knock, the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She appeared to the villagers in 1879. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1979. Sligo is a county of gentle mountains, lakes and coastline. This area is associated with the great writer, W. B. Yeats. Visit Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, dating back over 7000 years! Visit Sligo Town, over 750 years old with traditional shop fronts. We stay in Sligo near Rosses Point at the Radisson hotel overlooking Ben Bulben. Enjoy dinner in the dining room this evening.

Day 6 - Friday
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 7 - Saturday
BOYNE VALLEY CENTER
Travel to Boyle and visit the 12th century Boyle Abbey. Cross the midlands to Bru na Boinne Visitor Center which presents one of Europe's great archaeological mysteries, along the Boyne Valley, and Newgrange or Knowth neolithic burial tomb, which predates the pyramids. Return to Dublin and enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin City. Tonight, you'll enjoy an evening of Ballads with dinner at the Abbey Tavern in the fishing village of Howth.

Day 8 - Sunday
DEPART FOR HOME
Transfer to Departures Terminal at Dublin Airport. Depart for home.

Slan Leat!

TOUR INCLUDES:
• Sightseeing by Private luxury motorcoach.
• Elegant Hotel accommodation with private bath for 7 nights
• Professional driver/guide throughout the tour - from day 1 to day 7
• Full Irish breakfast daily
• Table d'hote dinner each evening
• Irish Coffee Reception on first evening
• Welcome dinner on first evening
• Aran Island Excursion & Island Tour
• Tour of Belleek China Factory
• Irish Dinner Cabaret in Dublin
• Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Folk Park, Dun Aengus, Kylemore Abbey, Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Donegal Castle, Belleek China factory, Boyne Valley 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 elegant accommodation:
Limerick: Radisson Hotel - 1 night
Galway: Park House Hotel- 3 nights
Sligo: Radisson Hotel - 2 nights
Dublin Airport: Crowne Plaza Hotel - 1 night

Copyright© Moloney Kelly Travel 2008