Tour of Ireland

Our flight to Philadelphia was on time. Here is barb in front of the Liberty Bell (in legos). We are waiting for our flight to Dublin...only a few more hours til our first Guinness!

Opportunity to experience the most remarkable legacies of the ancient Celtic people. We will explore the Hill of Tara, Seat of Power of the old High Kings of Ireland. Wander amongst the prehistoric tombs, underground passages and graves of Fourknocks, built before the great pyramids of Egypt more than 5000 years ago. See the mysterious Monasteries and High Crosses of Mellifont Abbey and Monasterboice. Finally, return home via the Hill of Slane where St. Patrick lit a Paschal Fire in 433 A.D. to proclaim Christianity throughout Ireland.

http://www.overthetoptours.com/celtic/celtictour.swf

Dearing Party Tour of Ireland June 2007

(By clicking on the hotel name or visit you can go directly to their website)

Day 1 Saturday 30 June 2007
Morning arrival in Dublin Airport
Transfer by taxi to Dublin City
Overnight in Wynn's Hotel (3 star city centre hotel)

Day 2 Sunday 1 July 2007
Free day in Dublin
Overnight in Wynn's Hotel (3 star city centre hotel)

Day 3 Monday 2 July 2007
0900 Meet our Driver/Guide in reception of Wynn’s Hotel
Driver/Guide will have a sign: Dearing Party
Depart for Kilkenny via the Wicklow Mountains
Visit Powerscourt Gardens The gardens at Powerscourt are among the finest in Ireland, both for their design and for their dramatic setting at the foot of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Visit St. Kevin's 6th century monastery at Glendalough. The steep wooded slopes of Glendalough, the “valley of the two lakes”, harbour one of Ireland’s most atmospheric monastic settlements. Sacked time and again by the Vikings, it nevertheless flourished for over 600 years.
Dinner & Overnight in Kilkenny Farmhouse B&B

Day 4 Tuesday 3 July 2007
Morning visit to Kilkenny Castle, which has been an important site since Strongbow, constructed the first building a wooden tower in the 12th century. William the Earl Marshall built the first stone castle on the site in 1260.
Depart for the historic town of Kinsale
Visit The Rock of Cashel. This was the seat of kings and mediaeval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and he became High King of Ireland in 1002.
Continue on to Kinsale
(Kinsale is the gourmet capital of Ireland with many great restaurants)
Overnight in the Old Presbytery

Day 5 Wednesday 4 July 2007
Depart for the beautiful town of Kenmare
Visit Blarney Castle and opportunity for shopping at Blarney Woollen Mills
Continue on to Killarney via the valley of the river Lee to the old market town of Macroom and then pass over the Cork/Kerry Mountains via the Irish speaking villages of Ballymakeery & Ballyvourney to Kenmare
Evening free in Kenmare
Overnight in Hawthorn House Kenmare

Day 6 Thursday 5 July 2007
Depart for Dingle via Killarney
Morning visit to Muckross House & Gardens, a Victorian mansion built in 1843 in Elizabethan style. Inside, the elegant rooms are decorated with period furnishings
Tour the Dingle Peninsula with its early Christian sites including the 6th century Gallarus Oratory. Explore the Gaelic speaking fishing port of Dingle and walk the Atlantic beaches of the Peninsula.
Overnight in Heaton's of Dingle

Day 7 Friday 6 July 2007
Depart for the village of Doolin on the Atlantic west coast of Clare
Visit the lovely thatched village of Adare
Visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, a formidable castle built in the 15th century. Its most important residents were the O’ Brien’s, Earls of Thomond, who lived there from around 1500 to the 1640’s
Visit the dramatic 650ft Cliffs of Moher
Overnight in Cullinans Guesthouse

Day 8 Saturday 7 July 2007
Depart for Connemara via Galway City
See The Burren (Gaelic for rocky land)
Continue up the Atlantic seaboard via Lisdoonvarna & Ballyvaughan to Dunguaire Castle at Kinvarra and then along Galway Bay to Galway City
Take a ramble down Quay Street with its many great pubs including “The Quays” and “Ti Neachtain” a town house which belonged to “Humanity Dick”, an 18th –century MP who promoted laws against cruelty to animals.
Continue on via Oughterard, Maam Cross & Recess to Clifden
Dinner & Overnight in Ballynahinch Castle set in the heart of Connemara Mountains

Day 9 Sunday 8 July 2007
Morning visit to Kylemore Abbey Kylemore Abbey's greatest attraction is its location. Nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul, in the heart of the Connemara Mountains, it is regarded as one of Ireland's most romantic buildings.
Depart for the beautiful island of Achill off the west coast of Mayo
Travel up the Famine Relief Road to Louisburgh and along the southern shores of Clew Bay to Westport
See Croagh Patrick, the mountain on which in AD 411 St. Patrick spent 40 days and 40 nights fasting and praying for the Irish.
Free time in the beautiful town of Westport
Continue on to Achill Island
Overnight in Bervie Guest House

Day 10 Monday 9 July 2007
Depart for Dublin (Please note this will be a long day)
Travel east via Strokestown to Dublin
Overnight in Wynn's Hotel (3 star city centre hotel)

Day 11 Tuesday 10 July 2007
Transfer to Dublin Airport
Depart on flight to London
Overnight in Base2Stay Hotel (city center)

Day 12 Monday 11 July 2007
Free day in London
Overnight in Base2Stay Hotel (city center)

Day 13 Monday 12 July 2007
Free day in London
Overnight in Base2Stay Hotel (city center)

Day 14 Monday 13 July 2007
Tube or transfer to Heathrow Airport
Depart on return flight to: