For expert help planning your Ireland vacation, call a travel specialist at 1-800-942-3301
| IRISH FAITH and HISTORY (TZ2008)
An 11-Day tour starting from $1,919
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| About This Tour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Vacation Overview Enjoy 11 days in Ireland. In Dublin, orientation features visits to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. Through dairy farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle” to Knock. Visit Knock Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, the basilica, and the Folk Museum, and tonight maybe join the evening rosary processions. On the way to Galway, stops are made to visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre in Murrisk, and at Kylemore Abbey. From Galway, enjoy an excursion to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. Many Catholics fled to this island during Oliver Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland in the 17th century. Visit the Aran Heritage Centre, spectacular clifftop Dun Aengus, and the Visitor Centre. Next, drive across The Burren and visit The Burren Centre at Kilfenora on your way to Killarney for your 2-night stay. Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern trip and enjoy a horse-drawn car ride through the national park. Travel into County Cork and stop in Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone, before arriving in Waterford to visit the world-famous crystal factory. Next is Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798, Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca, and Glendalough Visitor Center with its fascinating audiovisual show “Ireland of the Monasteries.” Return to Dublin.
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Meals 9 full Irish breakfasts (FB); 4 three-course dinners (D), with choice of menus and coffee; a welcome drink before dinner in Dublin. Hotels DUBLIN Hilton Kilmainham (SF), KNOCK Knock House Hotel (F), GALWAY Radisson SAS (SF), KILLARNEY Scotts (F), WATERFORD Fitzwilton (F) DUBLIN Royal Marine at Dun Laoghaire (SF)
Day 1:
(Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight. Day 2: Arrival in Dublin, Irish Republic. (Mon.) Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. Before dinner, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a toast to happy touring. (D) Day 3: Dublin. (Tue.) An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes visits to OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH on Sean McDermott Street, which contains the tomb of Venerable Matt Talbot. Next, visit ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL. Then a visit to Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Balance of the day is at leisure. (FB) Day 4: Dublin–Knock. (Wed.) Head for dairy farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle” before arriving in Knock, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the townsfolk in 1879 and today attracts pilgrims from around the world. Visit KNOCK SHRINE, the CHURCH OF THE APPARITION, the BASILICA, and the FOLK MUSEUM. Maybe join the evening rosary processions. (FB,D) Day 5: Knock–Murrisk–Galway. (Thu.) This morning, visit the CROAGH PATRICK VISITOR CENTRE at the foot of St. Patrick’s Holy Mountain in Murrisk. Afterwards, visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, the massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. Arrive in the port city of Galway where you will spend the next two nights. Tonight’s recommendation: join your Tour Director for an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme. (FB) Day 6: Galway. Aran Islands Excursion. (Fri.) At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Many Catholics fled to this island during Oliver Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland during the mid-17th century. In these harsh conditions, they developed a strong self sufficiency in order to survive. Your fascinating day continues with a visit to the ARAN HERITAGE CENTRE, and after a lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy local commentary on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. After a stop at the VISITOR CENTRE, there is time to shop for unique hand-knitted Aran sweaters before boarding your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway this evening. (FB) Day 7: Galway–Kilfenora–Killarney. (Sat.) Take the scenic route across The Burren with photo opportunities. At Kilfenora, visit THE BURREN CENTRE. The newly restored ancient cathedral and Celtic crosses form an important center of early Christianity. Continue across The Burren for a visit to Bunratty. Lots to see and do here: visit the castle; stroll in the folk park which depicts Irish life in the early 1900s; browse the complex of smart shops; or try a refreshment in famous Durty Nelly’s Irish pub. Skirt the metropolis of Limerick and continue south via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. (FB,D) Day 8: Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion. (Sun.) Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Have your camera ready to snap photos of the spectacular scenery that includes both land and sea. In Killarney, enjoy a fun HORSE-DRAWN CAR RIDE through the National Park with beautiful vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (FB) Day 9: Killarney–Waterford. (Mon.) Cross the Kerry Mountains and drive into County Cork for a visit to the Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarven to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the world-famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY. (FB,D) Day 10: Waterford–Dublin. (Tue.) Today, visit Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798, and Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca. Take in views of the Wicklow Mountians on your way to the Glendalough VISITOR CENTER with its fascinating audiovisual show “Ireland of the Monasteries.” Your Local Guide will explain the ruins of one of the centers of Irish Celtic Christianity founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and later destroyed by English troops in 1398. Back in Dublin your Tour Director will have dining suggestions for this evening. (FB) Day 11: Dublin. (Wed.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (FB)
City Highlights DUBLIN: Welcome drink; orientation drive; visit Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity CollegeKNOCK: Visit the Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, the Basilica, and the Folk MuseumMURRISK (CROAGH PATRICK): Visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor CentreKYLEMORE: Visit the Benedictine abbeyARAN ISLANDS: Ferry to and from Inishmore; visit the Heritage Centre; take a minibus tour; visit Don Aengus and its visitor centreKILFENORA: Visit The Burren CentreRING OF KERRY: Scenic peninsula driveKILLARNEY: Horse-drawn car rideWATERFORD: Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factoryENNISCORTHY: Morning stopAVOCA: Guided tour of the handweaving millGLENDALOUGH: Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity Price Details US Single room supplement: $413Triple room reduction per person: $47Extra nights per person in Dublin:in single room $200; in twin room $125; in triple room $117 CURRENT SPECIALS: Save $200 per couple on the air-inclusive price of 2009 Europe Vacations
Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus
Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Pay less for your second vacation We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.
Triple room reduction On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.
Avoid the single room supplement We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!
Right now when you book a 2009 vacation between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75
*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. |
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| Note: All prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability. These pages are not endorsed or supported by the tour operator in any way. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by the tour operator. All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators. Availability is limited and must be reconfirmed at time of booking. The prices on this website are not guaranteed. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in pricing. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and pricing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
