June 27

UNITED STATES TO SHANNON

Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.

June 28

SHANNON ARRIVAL & KILLARNEY

After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon Airport, your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you to the motorcoach.  Leaving Shannonside, drive into Limerick for a panoramic tour of the city, which features the sights made famous in Frank McCourt’s biography, “Angela’s Ashes.” Pass the 13th century King John's Castle in the center of the town.  This imposing fortress with its massive walls and towers has guarded the River Shannon crossing for the past 700 years. Continue south to Adare, which is famous for its main street of thatched houses.  After a stop for photos and a walk along the main street, journey into the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney, settled beside three lakes in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountains.  Check into your hotel and spend some of the afternoon at leisure before dinner.   

DINNER & OVERNIGHT:  KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY

June 29

RING OF KERRY TOUR

Today explore the Ring of Kerry ‑ 100 miles of marvelous scenery consisting of the highest peaks in Ireland on one side and a coastline scattered with golden beaches and rocky headlands on the other. Enjoy plenty of stops to view the scenery and take photos. Travel through Glenbeigh and Cahirciveen and on to Waterville and the colorful village of Sneem.  Stop at Moll’s Gap for a view of the three lakes of Killarney with the mountains and the town in the background.  Return to Killarney for some free time to look around the town before dining in your hotel.    

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: KILLARNEY PLAZA HOTEL, KILLARNEY

June 30

BLARNEY CASTLE & DUBLIN

Leaving Killarney drive into the rich farming country of Cork.  At Blarney, stop to climb to the battlements of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence."  Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types and will ship and insure goods for you.  Then drive into County Tipperary to reach Cashel.  Stop for photos at the Rock of Cashel, majestic church ruins which are clustered high on a limestone outcrop overlooking the surrounding countryside.  Then board the coach and drive through the midland region where you will see many farms and marketing towns. Travel through the towns of Portlaoise and Kildare and into the metropolitan area of Dublin.  Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to settle in.  In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner and entertainment at a local cabaret.

OVERNIGHT: MONT CLARE HOTEL, DUBLIN

July 1

DUBLIN’S HIGHLIGHTS

This morning discover the delights of central Dublin with public buildings, elegant Georgian townhouses and squares as well as modern sculptures and busy shopping hubs. Stop to visit Kilmainham Gaol to see what punishment was like during its years of operation from 1796 to 1924. Learn about political prisoners, especially from the 1916 Rising, detained here because of their efforts to shape Ireland’s history. Next tour Dublin Castle to see the State Apartments where many state functions are held in the richly decorated chambers. Spend the afternoon shopping or sightseeing independently and in the evening you may like to sample Dublin’s traditional pubs.

OVERNIGHT: MONT CLARE HOTEL, DUBLIN

July 2

Dublin to donegal

Depart Dublin and journey through farming country of the midlands to Cavan, a region dotted with many lakes. Travel on to Enniskillen and drive along the shores of the surrounding lakes which provide enchanting views. At Ballyshannon, reach the Atlantic shoreline and drive around Donegal Bay and on into the town of Donegal. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to settle in before joining your group for dinner.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: MILL PARK HOTEL, DONEGAL

July 3

DERRY WALKING TOUR & GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

Today travel along the north coast of Ireland to Derry and embark on a walking tour to see the principal sights.  See the 17th century city walls, which are some of the best-preserved in Europe, and the Diamond, the main central square.  Also pass the 17th century St. Columb's Cathedral, the Tower Museum with local history displays and the Guildhall where the history of Derry is depicted in stained-glass windows.  Then continue your drive through Limavady and Coleraine to visit the Giant's Causeway. This impressive area of hexagonal columns was formed more than 60 million years ago by the slow and even cooling and contraction of molten lava. Lunch included today.  Return to Donegal and relax before dining in the hotel restaurant.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: MILL PARK HOTEL, DONEGAL

July 4

TRIONA DESIGNS, TOBERNAULT HOLY WELL & Knock Shrine

Depart Donegal and travel to Ardara to visit Triona Design. See demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting.  Then journey along the shores of Donegal Bay and into County Sligo, an area associated with the great poet W.B. Yeats.  Stop to visit his grave at Drumcliffe Churchyard in the shadow of the Benbulben mountain range before driving to the Mass Rock at Tobernault, a site of devotion in Penal times. Celebrate Mass with your fellow travelers before driving into County Mayo to reach the pilgrimage town of Knock.  Visit Knock Shrine, one of the world’s leading shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. Then travel south via Headford to Galway, a bustling city with unique Irish flavor.  Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time at leisure before joining your group for dinner.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON SAS HOTEL, GALWAY 

July 5

TOUR TO THE ARAN ISLANDS

Today visit the Aran Islands, which are located in Galway Bay 30 miles west of Galway city.  Irish is still the vernacular in this isolated setting and the islanders retain many traditional ways of farming and fishing.  The land is extremely stony and the islanders have formed dry stone walls to protect the windswept fields.  The popular hand-knit aran sweaters evolved from unique patterns used by each family and the oiled wool repelled the rain.  Take a ferry from Rossaveal on the mainland to Aran Mor, the largest of the three islands.  Travel around the island by minibus with a local driver who will explain many of the island traditions to you.   At the western end of Inis Mór visit Dun Aengus.  This vast fortification is perched on the side of a cliff that falls to the Atlantic Ocean 300 feet below.  The site consists of three concentric enclosures and dates back to 1,000 BC or earlier.   Return to Galway in time for dinner.  

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON SAS HOTEL, GALWAY 

July 6

CLIFFS OF MOHER & MEDIEVAL BANQUET

Drive around the shores of Galway Bay and through the Burren Country, a unique region of limestone hills where many rare flowers thrive in the sheltered crevices.  Stop at the Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock that plunges 700 feet to the churning Atlantic Ocean below. See part of the Burren Country, a region of limestone hills containing a wealth of rare flowers and prehistoric stone monuments on the way to Bunratty.  Check into your hotel where you will have some free time in the afternoon.  You may choose to relax or explore some of the attractions near your hotel-choose from Bunratty Folk Park, Bunratty Village Mills and Durty Nelly’s Pub.

  This evening join in the fun and feasting at Bunratty or Knappogue Castle.  Your medieval-style banquet is served in the Great Hall of the 15^th century castle during which the lords and ladies of the castle transport you in spirit to the Middle Ages with their songs and stories.

OVERNIGHT: BUNRATTY CASTLE HOTEL, BUNRATTY

July 7

RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES

Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day.  Transfer to Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight.   You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores.  Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.