Friday, June 19: UNITED STATES TO DUBLIN
Depart the United States and enjoy your overnight flight
across the Atlantic with in-flight entertainment and meal service en route.
Saturday, June 20: DUBLIN ARRIVAL & WESTPORT
After landing at Dublin Airport and completing customs and
immigration formalities, your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome
you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach. Depart
Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s
heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was
founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran and is situated on the banks of the
River Shannon. Then continue your drive to the estate-planned town
of Westport and check into your hotel. Enjoy some time to relax and
settle in before joining your group for dinner.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT: HOTEL
WESTPORT
Sunday,
June 21: CROAGH PATRICK & ACHILL ISLAND
This morning, drive a short distance to the conical mountain of
Croagh Patrick where tradition maintains that St. Patrick fasted for
40 days. It is a popular place of pilgrimage where people climb the
stony path to the summit. Then continue your sightseeing of this
scenic area by traveling around Clew Bay, reputed to have 365
islands. Drive via Newport and across the Curraun Peninsula to reach
Achill Island. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful
and wild scenic views of steeply sloped mountains plunging into the
shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Also see stretches of windswept bogland
and golden beaches. Return to Westport to spend your afternoon and
evening at leisure for independent activities and dining.
OVERNIGHT: WESTPORT PLAZA HOTEL, WESTPORT
Monday,
June 22: BELLEEK CHINA FACTORY & DONEGAL
Depart Westport and travel through County Mayo and into Sligo, a
county of gentle mountains, lakes and coastline. This area is
associated with the great writer, W. B. Yeats. Continue your drive
into Northern Ireland to reach the town of Belleek to visit the
Belleek Pottery Factory. Here you can find clay formed by highly
skilled craftspeople into decorative pieces. They are especially
renowned for basketweave items and you can see the full range of
goods in the showrooms. A short drive will take you into Donegal
town where you will check into your hotel. Enjoy your afternoon at
leisure for independent activities before joining your group for
dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: MILL PARK HOTEL, DONEGAL
Tuesday,
June 23:
GLENVEAGH NATIONAL PARK & CASTLE
This morning travel west to the town of Kilcar to visit Rathlin
Knitwear and see where the finest local wool, cotton, and linens are
used to produce unique, stylish sweaters. Then drive northeast
through countryside of windswept hills where sheep are the only
animals that thrive in this harsh, starkly beautiful, landscape.
Visit Glenveagh National Park where high walls and conifers provide
shelter for an amazing collection of exotic plants, trees, and a
garden of perennials gathered from all over the world. Also visit
Glenveagh Castle, a Scottish-style baronial mansion. Travel through
the open countryside to return to Donegal to enjoy an evening at
your leisure.
OVERNIGHT: MILL PARK HOTEL, DONEGAL
Wednesday, June 24: ULSTER AMERICAN FOLK
PARK, GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, & LIMAVADY
Depart Donegal this morning and travel towards the town of Omagh to
visit the Ulster American Folk Park. The Park is located on the farm
of Thomas Mellon, whose cottage home remains on the grounds. Meander
through cottages, schools, churches and farms to see how people
lived in past centuries in Ireland and how emigrants sailed to the
New World to establish themselves in colonial America. Then board
the coach and drive along the north coast of Ireland to explore the
Giant’s Causeway, a huge geological formation of hexagonal columns
formed of volcanic basalt over 60 million years ago. These huge
rocks, believed to have once connected Ireland to Scotland, have given
rise to many legends, especially involving the giant Finn McCool.
Travel back to Limavady and check into your hotel for dinner and
overnight stay.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON ROE HOTEL, LIMAVADY
Thursday, June 25: BELFAST SIGHTSEEING & NEWCASTLE
Depart Limavady and drive southeast into Belfast to embark on a
sightseeing tour around the city. Drive to the outskirts of the city
to Queen's University, founded in 1849 and built in Tudor-Gothic
style. Pass the Botanic Gardens with their extensive collection of
plants and the nearby Ulster Museum. In the city center see the
Albert Memorial and the ornate Victorian buildings of the Opera
House and the Crown Liquor Saloon. In Donegal Square see the
imposing City Hall, completed in 1906. The richly decorated interior
contains stained glass portraying Belfast's principal industries.
After some free time board the coach and travel south to the town of
Newcastle and check into your hotel. Enjoy some time at leisure
before joining your group for dinner.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: SLIEVE DONARD HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
Friday, June 26: ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRALS
IN ARMAGH & THE SILENT VALLEY
Travel to the town of Armagh which has been the spiritual capital of
Ireland for over 1,500 years and the seat of both Catholic and
Protestant archbishops. Visit both cathedrals which are named in
honor of St. Patrick. The Protestant cathedral dates from the 5th
century and was restored by Francis Johnston in the 1770s. Brian
Boru, High King of Ireland, is buried in the graveyard. The Catholic
cathedral is located across the valley and decorated in blue with
depictions of many angels and Irish saints. Then travel southeast to
the Silent Valley, a beautiful mountain park surrounded by the
Mourne peaks, Slieve Binnian, Slievenaglough and Ben Crom. The
reservoir was built to gather water from the Mourne Mountains. The
Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs supply water for most of
County Down and a large part of Belfast. From Silent Valley, a short
drive will take you to the town of Annalong where you will enjoy a
visit with storyteller Doreen McBride.
OVERNIGHT: SLIEVE DONARD HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
Saturday, June 27: DOWNPATRICK & FREE TIME
This morning drive a few miles north to Downpatrick to visit the
Saint Patrick Centre and learn about Ireland’s Patron Saint and the
importance of monastic life in the early Christian period. See his
reputed burial place, marked by a granite boulder at Down Cathedral.
After your visit, return to your hotel in Newcastle where the
balance of the day is at leisure for independent activities. You may
choose to take a walk thorough the six acres of private hotel
grounds or stroll along golden sands swept by bracing sea breezes.
Take time to explore the unique features of this one hundred year
old
hotel, which evokes memories of the golden age of railway hotels. In
the evening join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner in the
hotel restaurant.
DINNER & OVERNIGHT: SLIEVE DONARD HOTEL, NEWCASTLE
Sunday, June 28: RETURN TO THE UNITED
STATES
All too soon, your vacation in Ireland has come to the end. Depart
Newcastle and travel south via Dundalk and Drogheda to Dublin
Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight, clear
security. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free
stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft
and fly west across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States
The Tour Package Price of $3195.00
Includes:
(Package Price is per person based on double occupancy - single
occupancy supplement of $500.00 applies)
Round trip Airfare to & from Ireland
Departure Taxes & Local Taxes & Fuel Surcharges
CIE Tours Driver/Guide & Luxury Motor Coach
Porterage of Luggage
10 days and 8 nights in First Class Hotels
Full Irish Breakfast (except morning of arrival)
5 Tabled d’hote Dinners
Entrance fees to selected sites
~
**Please note: A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person**
**is
due as soon as possible to ensure your reservation**
*** Final payment is due by April 1st, 2009 ***
Please contact
Gerry or
Lois or call
215-527-8219
for information on signing up for the tour!
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