Your Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Thu: Depart U.S. for Dublin
Board your aircraft for an overnight trip across the Atlantic. Enjoy inflight entertainment and meals.

Day 2: Dublin & Guinness
Land at Dublin Airport early this morning. After customs formalities and luggage reclamation,
head to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between
7:00 am and 12:00 noon. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the hotel at their own
expense. In the afternoon get together with a Dublin guide to tour Dublin Castle’s State
Apartments to learn about Ireland’s history and see the magnificent chambers where many
state events are held. Drive around the spacious Phoenix Park, home to Ireland’s President
and the U.S. Ambassador. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to see how this famous brewery was
established. Finish your tour with a creamy pint at the rooftop bar, Ireland’s highest drinking
spot. Return to your hotel and meet with your tour group and guide for a welcome drink and
discuss your itinerary. Later you may like to explore the lively bar and restaurant scene including traditional pubs such as the Brazen Head, Doheny & Nesbitts or the Bailey!

Day 3: Rock of Cashel & Kinsale Ghost Tour
Depart Dublin to travel through the Irish countryside where you will see many different types of farms. Visit the Rock of Cashel, a magnificent limestone outcrop high above the surrounding lands. See the many imposing church ruins, some of which date back to the 12th century. Drive to Kinsale and check into your hotel. After dinner take a Ghost Tour – a lighthearted look at Kinsale’s old streets, monuments and alleyways. To recover from your tour, you might like to check out The Spaniard, Hole-in-the-Wall or Mad Monk, Kinsale’s popular pubs. (B, D)

Day 4: Historic Kinsale & Blarney
This morning join a local historian at Charles Fort and learn about the history and development of
the town of Kinsale on a brief walk. Drive north to visit Blarney Castle, just a few miles outside Cork city. Climb to the ramparts to kiss the wellknown “Stone of Eloquence.” Head to the Blarney
Woollen Mills for some shopping – there’s even a pub hiding in the shopping complex! Travel through County Cork to Macroom and stop for a brief look around at the imposing castle, which was the boyhood home of William Penn. Continue your drive to Killarney and check into your hotel. Take a walk around the town before dinner and afterwards you may visit the popular Buckley’s Pub, conveniently situated right in your hotel! (B, D)

Day 5: Ring of Kerry Tour
Explore one of Ireland’s most popular scenic areas with Ireland’s highest mountains on one side and a varied Atlantic coastline on the other. Stop at the Gap of Dunloe Industries to see the
“Essence of Kerry” an audio visual presentation, which will tell you all about the region. As you drive, every turn will reveal new vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches and there will be plenty of photo stops. Travel through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville at the western end of the peninsula. Stop in the colorful village of Sneem and pause for a look at the Lakes of Killarney at Moll’s Gap. In the evening you may like to explore some of Killarney’s many pubs that feature live music. (B, D)

Day 6: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Head north through the town of Listowel to take a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide Shannon
River Estuary. Travel along the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, a five-mile wall of limestone rising
above the foaming Atlantic breakers. See the rounded limestone hills of the Burren and drive
down Corkscrew Hill for views of Galway Bay. Stop in Ballyvaughan for a stroll and continue
your journey into Galway. Take a brief drive around Galway before checking into your hotel, located on Galway Bay where you may like to check out the old-world “Herring Choker” pub with live music. (B, D)

Day 7: Aran Islands & Dun Aengus
Take a short ferry ride from Rossaveal to Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These rocky islands are renowned for traditional fishing and farming communities and also the popular
intricate fishermen’s sweaters. The Irish language is still spoken widely. Take a minibus ride to
Dun Aengus, a huge pre-historic fortress perched on sheer cliffs. In Kilronan, the main town, visit
the Aran Heritage Centre to learn about local customs before returning to the mainland. Enjoy some free time before heading into the hotel restaurant for dinner. (B, D)

Day 8: Clonmacnoise & “Shindig” Evening
Travel eastwards today to visit Clonmacnoise. This early Christian monastic site was founded
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 and check
into your hotel once more. Enjoy some leisure time before heading to a “Shindig” at the
Old Jameson Distillery. See whiskey-making processes as you tour the distillery before sitting
down to a dinner of Irish specialties, followed by a fun entertainment program. This operates from
March 28 – October 24 departures. Outside those dates the Abbey Tavern will feature. (B, D)

Day 9: Dublin to U.S.A.
Complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am
or 12:00 noon. After check-in, you’ll have time to shop at the duty-free stores before U.S. Immigration pre-clearance and boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)