“IRELAND”
The Emerald Isle
8-Day Escorted Tour
June 15-22, 2024
(TRIP IS FULL!)
photo: www.cliffsofmoher.ie
Like a classic Irish coffee made with hot java, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and fresh whipped cream, this introductory tour of Ireland blends the most stimulating sights, soothing scenery, and sweet accents of the Emerald Isle. Journeying on a loop from Dublin to the west coast and back, first-time visitors will be awakened by the revelry of the lively capital city, jolted by the dramatic scenery along the storied coast, and calmed by the verdant rolling hills throughout the lush green countryside. Don’t be surprised if you’re suddenly inspired to craft limericks as you try your hand at baking scones on an Irish sheep farm in Galway. With authentic local experiences and visits to the sights you’ve always dreamed of—including the stunning Cliffs of Moher, the spectacular Ring of Kerry, and the famous House of Waterford Crystal—this tour of Ireland is the perfect break from the daily grind.
Tour Includes:
- Transportation from Trustworthy Travel to Washington Dulles airport (with min. 8 guests)
- Roundtrip Flights from Washington Dulles to Dublin
- 6-Nights Accommodations
- 6 Full Irish Breakfasts, 3 three-course Dinners with wine
- 7-Day Escorted Tour of Ireland
- Globus Tours Professional Tour Guide throughout
- Admissions and Touring as listed in the itinerary
- Ferry across the Shannon Estuary, headsets throughout the tour
- Services of a Trustworthy Travel Escort throughout the tour (with minimum 15 guests)
TOUR COST:
- $3899.00 per person (based on double occupancy)
- $500 per person- Deposit due at time of reservation.
Balance due by March 29, 2024 (Cash, Check, Credit or Debit accepted)
photo: Blarney Castle & Gardens.com
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Board your motorcoach transportation at Trustworthy Travel for the Washington Dulles airport. Board your overnight flight to Dublin, arriving early morning.
Day 2: Arrive Dublin. Check into your hotel and enjoy free time to explore Dublin on your own. Dublin is a city steeped in historical significance. Some of the most popular historical attractions for visitors to Dublin include The Irish Emigration Museum, the Book of Kells exhibition at Trinity College and the Old Library, the National Museum of Ireland, The Dublin Castle which was constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, and the Guinness Storehouse Brewery. At 3 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. **Dinner
Day 2: Dublin-Kildare-Cashel-Limerick-Ennis. Horse-racing country awaits this morning. Drive across the Curragh to visit the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare, whose fine thoroughbreds command respect on the racecourses of the world. Lots more to see: the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick preached; Tipperary, made famous in a wartime marching song; and Limerick, where an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. Tonight’s suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional medieval banquet at an historic castle.**Breakfast
Day 3: Ennis, West Coast Excursion. Your day excursion along Ireland’s spectacular Atlantic coastline begins with a drive to the 668-foot CLIFFS OF MOHER, where you savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. A scenic route across the limestone plateau of The Burren takes you to Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. This afternoon, a special treat at RATHBAUN FARM: try your hand at SCONE BAKING, and learn from the farmer about sheep shearing and herding. Afterwards, enjoy coffee and your scones, fresh from the oven.*Breakfast
Day 4: Ennis-Ring of Kerry-Killarney. After a short drive via Clonderlaw Bay to Killimer, cross the Shannon estuary by FERRY. Continue on to Killorglin on Dingle Bay to join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Take your photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View, then spend the night in the popular resort of Killarney. Before dinner at your hotel, why not take a horse-drawn jaunting car ride along the national park to Ross Castle?*Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5: Killarney-Blarney-Waterford. Across the Kerry Mountains and through County Cork to Blarney, renowned for its 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 to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, and look forward to a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. After dinner this evening, enjoy an IRISH COFFEE DEMONSTRATION. *Breakfast & Dinner
Day 6: Waterford-Avoca-Glendalough-Dublin. An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca, where you watch the WEAVERS at work; the Wicklow Mountains; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your Local Guide show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. Back in Dublin tonight, a fitting farewell to Ireland would be an optional cabaret evening with dinner, followed by dance, song, and laughter.*Breakfast
Day 7: Dublin. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS:
Dublin – Guided tour of Dublin and welcome dinner.
Kildare – Guided tour o the Irish National Stud Farm and visit the Rock of Cashel set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale, the iconic Rock of Cashel possesses the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. Among the monuments to be found there is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.
Limerick – View the medieval-era St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. John’s square, which is lined with Georgian townhouses. Standing along the River Shannon, the 13th-century King John’s Castle is one of the city’s most recognizable sites.
Cliffs of Moher – Savor the spectacular views of the cliffs. The Cliffs of Moher are entirely vertical and the cliff edge is abrupt. On a clear day, the views are tremendous, with the Aran Islands etched on the waters of Galway Bay. From the cliff edge, you can just hear the booming far below as the waves crash and gnaw at the soft shale and sandstone.
Galway – Galway is an old city, steeped in history with an interesting past. From medieval streets to modern thoroughfares, it is always a joy to explore with its wonderful cobbled streets, colorful shop facades, and its offbeat café/bar culture.
Rathbaum Farm – See the farmer at work, bake your own scones, and enjoy coffee in the farmhouse.
Killimer – Tarbert – Cross the Shannon estuary by ferry and enjoy the views.
Ring of Kerry – With rolling greens and sparkling lakes, the Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in southwest Ireland. Its 179km-long, circular route takes in rugged and verdant coastal landscapes and rural seaside villages.
Killarney – Visit the popular resort town which is part of Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry.
Blarney – Visit the famous village and opt to kiss the stone.
Waterford – Guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal. Later, enjoy an Irish Coffee demonstration.
Avoca – Enjoy a guided tour of an authentic hand weaving mill.
Glendalough – Guided tour of St. Kevin’s Center of Irish Christianity Monastery.
*
OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Enhance your Ireland experience
- Bunratty Castle Banquet (approx. $100pp)
- Jaunting Carriage Ride (approx. $18pp)
- Waterford Pub Evening (approx. $45pp)
- Taylors Irish Cabaret (approx. $110pp)
(approximate excursion costs are based on 2023 pricing, subject to change for 2024)
For reservations and information contact Trustworthy Travel at 717-436-8978 or email trustworthytvl@yahoo.com