CIE Tours: 2012 - 8 Day Irish Spirit Tour (IE-SPA-12-8D)

CIE Tours: Highlights

• Abbey Tavern Traditional Show 
• Book of Kells at Trinity College
• Guinness Storehouse & a Pint
• Ring of Kerry & Connemara
• Cliffs of Moher
• Catamaran Cruise
• Kiss the Blarney Stone

First Class Hotels:
Stay at the following or similar:

• Ashling Hotel , Dublin (1 night)
• Killarney Towers Hotel & Leisure Centre , Killarney (2 nights)
• Westwood House Hotel , Galway (2 nights)
• Grand Canal Hotel , Dublin (2 nights)

CIE Tour: Includes

• Airport transfers at start and end of tour
• Sightseeing by luxury coach
• Professional tour director
• 7 nights in hotels listed above
• Full breakfast daily except on day 1 (B)
• 4 dinners (D) including:
  - Abbey Tavern traditional Irish dinner/show
  - 3 table d'hote dinners
•  Lunch at the Bridge Bar on the Ring of Kerry (L)
• Welcome get-together drink
• Tour of Dublin with a local guide
• Tea & scones at Rathbaun Farm
• Killary Fjord catamaran cruise (Mar 18 - Oct 28 departures)
• Visit and a pint at Guinness Storehouse
• Dublin open-top bus tour
• Visits and admissions to Book of Kells at Trinity College, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher and Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory
• Deluxe carry-on backpack, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Irish Spirit 8 Day Tour CIE Tour: Itinerary

Day 1 : Dublin Tour & Trinity College
Your tour starts at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If you arrive later than noon, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm join your group and a local guide for an introductory look around central Dublin. See fashionable shopping areas around Grafton and Nassau Streets, view Dublin's famous elegant Georgian squares and pause at the evocative figures at the Famine Memorial. Walk through Trinity College to the Old Library to view the illuminated manuscript of the 8th century Book of Kells and learn how monks created this and other masterpieces. Back at your hotel meet with your tour director and travel companions for a welcome drink and discuss your itinerary.

Day 2 : Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart Dublin and travel through the midlands of Ireland, pausing for photos at the stately Rock of Cashel. Continue your drive south to visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.” Also shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills for quality Irish-made souvenirs or take a walk around the village green. Drive into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more rugged to Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes and mountains. Check in to your hotel and relax before dinner. In the evening you may like to check out the many “singing” pubs around town. (B, D)

Day 3 : Ring of Kerry & Pub Lunch 
View the highlights of Ireland's natural scenery on the famous Ring of Kerry route. The road winds between the Macgillycuddy's Reeks Mountains on one side and the Atlantic coastline on the other. Lunch at the Bridge Bar in Portmagee before taking the Bridge to Valencia Island. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about the rocky islands off the end of the peninsula where monks lived in early Christian times. Today the islands form a protected bird sanctuary. Stop in the attractive village of Sneem and also at Moll's Gap to view the Three Lakes of Killarney. Enjoy some free time to browse around Killarney before dining in your hotel. (B, L)

Day 4 : Cliffs of Moher & Irish Farm Life
Drive north and past Limerick to reach Bunratty Village for free time to shop at the Bunratty Woollen Mills or visit Durty Nelly's Pub. Head to the coast of County Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher, which rise to heights of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic Ocean. Walk along the top of the cliffs to O'Brien's Tower for great views. Drive through the Burren and around the shores of Galway Bay to Rathbaun Farm. See traditional farming methods as well as lots of cute farmyard animals roaming freely. Sample home-baked scones with tea or coffee. Take a short orientation tour of Galway city before checking in to your hotel. (B, D)

Day 5 : Connemara & Catamaran Cruise
Today explore another of Ireland's famous scenic regions, Connemara. Here the constantly-changing cloud formations give granite hills, sparkling lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Travel alongside Galway Bay to Spiddal, where most locals speak the Irish language, and on to Leenane and Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Take a short catamaran cruise to see pristine mountain areas (Mar 18 - Oct 28 departures). You can see traces of pre-Famine fields on the hilly slopes and also thriving salmon and mussel farming. Drive to Clifden for a look around the attractive town. At the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory watch skilled craftsmen cut crystal and learn about the symbolism of the motifs before returning to Galway for leisure time. (B, D)

Day 6 : Guinness Storehouse & Abbey Tavern
This morning drive across to the east coast to reach Dublin once again and check in to a different hotel, located on the south side of the city. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about this legendary black stout which has been brewed for over 250 years. Learn how it is created and then sample a pint of creamy draft Guinness in the rooftop bar where you can enjoy great views of central Dublin. Finish up your tour at the famous Abbey Tavern with a hearty dinner and an Irish coffee followed by a lively show of traditional music, songs and step-dancing. (B, D)

Day 7 : Dublin City Tour
The entire day is at leisure so you may schedule sightseeing as you wish. Use your open-top bus tour voucher to explore Dublin - you may get on and off at any of the 23 stops along the route, which include Dublin's most popular attractions. (B)

Day 8 : Tour Ends Dublin Airport
Take a taxi transfer to Dublin Airport in good time for your flight home. (B)

B: Breakfast; D: Dinner;  L: Lunch