Ireland Through the Ages
9 days
August 23 - August 31, 2008
Click Here for General Conditions
Click Here for the Enrollment Sheet
Click Here for Cost and What's Included
Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
Please note: tour participants must be able to climb one flight of stairs
Saturday, August 23 - CHICAGO O’HARE TO DUBLIN
Depart Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport aboard Aer Lingus, the Irish Airline, for an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.
Sunday, August 24 – DUBLIN ARRIVAL, DUBLIN CITY TOUR & NEWGRANGE
After your morning arrival at the Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Then your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the motorcoach. Enjoy a driving tour around Dublin to see many prominent sites and learn about the city's rich, colorful history. Then drive north to the Boyne River Valley to visit Newgrange, Ireland's best known prehistoric monument, built around 5200 years ago. Walk through a full-size replica of the megalithic tomb before visiting the actual site. Continue north to Dundalk to check into your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the hotel's beautiful grounds and facilities before joining your fellow travelers for dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: BALLYMASCANLON HOUSE HOTEL, DUNDALK www.ballymascanlon.com
Queen's University, Belfast
Monday, August 25 - BELFAST CITY & GIANT'S CAUSEWAY
Today cross over the border into Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, and head north to Belfast for a guided tour of this industrial and business hub of the North. Continue along the stunning coast of County Antrim to reach the famous Giant's Causeway, an astonishing geological formation of more than 36,000 hexagonal basalt columns. Then drive west to check into your hotel outside Derry. Enjoy the peaceful grounds and facilities of this comfortable resort before joining your group for dinner in the hotel.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON SAS ROE PARK RESORT, LIMAVADY www.radissonroepark.com
Tuesday, August 26 - DERRY CITY TOUR & DERRY MUSEUM
Derry is nicknamed the "Walled City", and today we explore its rich past starting with a guided walking tour of the ancient city walls, which kept Derry safe during the turbulent 16th and 17th centuries. Continue with a visit to the award-winning Derry Tower Museum for a fascinating tour through the ages. Learn about the pivotal role this oldest city has played throughout history and gain an understanding of the "Troubles" from the 1970's to today's historic peace. Afterwards, you'll feel comfortable to wander past the famous murals and structures of the area, including the striking Guild Hall, before returning to your hotel with plenty of time to freshen up before dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON SAS ROE PARK RESORT, LIMAVADY
Donegal Castle
Wednesday, August 27 - DONEGAL CASTLE & W.B. YEATS COUNTRY
This morning cross the border back into the Republic of Ireland and head south through the hazy Blue Stack Mountains to Donegal to take a delightful tour of Donegal Castle. Originally built in 1470, it was expanded in the 17th century and has recently been restored and furnished with authentic period pieces. Learn about the Four Masters and their important work while viewing the impressive framework of this showpiece castle. Continue south to County Sligo to visit the grave of famous poet W.B. Yeats, whose writings were inspired by the local scenery. Then travel southwest to check into your city centre hotel in charming Westport.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CLEW BAY HOTEL, WESTPORT www.clewbayhotel.com
Achill Island
Thursday, August 28 - ACHILL ISLAND & WESTPORT
This morning drive around Clew Bay to reach Achill Island, joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful, wild views of steep mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean and stretches of golden beaches. Near Slievemore, see the Deserted Village, the remains of 100 cottages abandoned in the 1840's Famine. Return to Westport for an afternoon at leisure, exploring this attractive town full of inviting shops, restaurants and pubs. Following dinner in your hotel, you may choose to mingle with the Irish people and enjoy traditional Irish music in the friendly pubs of charming Westport.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: CLEW BAY HOTEL, WESTPORT www.westporttourism.com go to "activities" and "walks" at the bottom of their web page
Kylemore Abbey
Friday, August 29 - CONNEMARA TOUR, KYLEMORE ABBEY & GALWAY
Today, drive south past the pilgrimage mouintain of Croagh Patrick and into the scenic Connemara region. Visit picturesque Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century mansion that is now an international girls' school. Then travel to Moycullen for a visit to the Connemara Marble Factory. The soft, green shades of this uniquely Irish marble, estimated to be 500 million years old, echo the colors of the countryside from which it is cut. After browsing in the small jewelry shop, continue on to your hotel in Galway.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: ARDILAUN HOTEL, GALWAY www.theardilaunhotel.ie
Medieval Banquet
Saturday, August 30 - CLIFFS OF MOHER & BUNRATTY CASTLE MEDIEVAL BANQUET
Leave Galway Bay and continue south through the Burren, a unique region of limestone formations with its own distinct flora & fauna. Visit the dramatic and majestic Cliffs of Moher - a five mile long rocky wall which plunges 700 feet straight down to the foaming Atlantic Ocean. Continue on to the Shannon River and check into your hotel next to the 15th century Bunratty Castle. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure exploring Bunratty Village. Browse through Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent selection of Irish goods of all types, including Belleek China, Waterford Crystal, Aran sweaters, and Irish music. You may choose to visit Durty Nelly's, the oldest pub in Ireland. This evening attend a lighthearted banquet of feasting and entertainment at Bunratty Castle. Throughout the meal, the lords and ladies of the castle will entertain you with delightful songs, harp, and fiddle music to transport you in spirit to the Middle Ages.
DINNER: BUNRATTY CASTLE MEDIEVAL BANQUET OVERNIGHT: BUNRATTY CASTLE HOTEL, BUNRATTY www.bunrattycastlehotel.com
Sunday, August 31 - RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES
All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to an end. Transfer this morning to the Shannon Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear security, and claim your VAT refund. You may wish to do some last minute shopping at the many duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft, and fly west across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.
Cliffs of Moher