Irish Spirit Tour
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Day 1: Depart U.S. for Dublin
Take an evening flight from your U.S. gateway city and travel overnight across the Atlantic to Ireland. Sit back and relax with meals and entertainment.
Day 2: Dublin Tour & Dublinia
On arrival at Dublin Airport go through immigration formalities and pick up your baggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where staff will arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than noon, you will transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm join a local guide who will show you around central Dublin. Visit Dublinia to learn about the history of the medieval city from the 12th & 16th centuries. Return to your hotel for a get-together with your tour group and a welcome drink.
Day 3: Rock Of Cashel & Blarney Woolen Mills
Depart Dublin to travel through the center of Ireland, which has many mixed farms. Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, which rises high above the surrounding plain. Continue your drive south and, just a few miles outside Cork, visit Blarney to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish-made goods of all types conveniently displayed under one roof. Drive through Macroom, built around a fine castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous. Arrive in Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with Ireland's highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, forming a backdrop. Check into your hotel and relax before dinner. Afterwards you may like to take a stroll through the compact town center and explore one of Killarney's famous singing pubs. (B, D)
Day 4: Dingle Peninsula Tour
Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula as you drive past heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rockey headlands. Stop in Dingle before continuing to the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket Island. Return to Killarney and enjoy free time to relax or walk around town before you enjoy a fine dinner in your hotel once again. (B, D)
Day 5: Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher
Visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum, which recalls the early days of air travel when Pan Am Clippers landed here. Travel through Bunratty Village before viewing the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches to almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive through the Burren an ares of rounded limestone hills where rock has weathered onto amazing rock formations and around the shore of Galway Bay. Take a short orientation tour around central Galway before checking into your hotel (B,D)
Day 6 Connemara's Beauty
Today explore Connemara, a region of hills, lakes and peat bogs. Take a short catamaram cruise to see unspoilt mountain areas (apr 1 - Oct 23 departures). Watch skilled crystal cutting at the Connemara Celtic Factory and return to Galway (B,D)
Day 7: Clomacnoise & Abbey Tavern
Drive to the center of the country to visit Clonmacnoise. This Christian monastic site was found by St Ciaran in 545 AD, when Christianity flourished throughout Ireland. See round towers, Church ruins and Celtic crosses with elaborate carvings, all in a picturesque setting on the banks of the River Shannon. Continue to the greater metropolitan area of Dublin once more and check into the same hotel. In the evening drive to the Abbey Tavern for a hearty dinner, followed by a lively show of traditional music, song and step-dancing (B,D)
Day 8: Back Home or Extra Day in Dublin
Passengers on the 8-day tour transfer to Dublin Airport for U.S. flights while those on the 9-day program remain in Dublin to enjoy an open-top bus tour and visit to Guinness or Jameson on their own. (B)