Itinerary for: Irish Odyssey (CIEIRO)
| Ireland | Dublin |
| Galway | Dingle |
| Clifden | Knock |
Day 1 - Fri: Dublin City Tour & Kilmainham Gaol
Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and
pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange
a group transfer to your city-centre hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If
your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own
expense. At 2:00 pm join a local guide on a city centre tour to see Trinity College,
General Post Office, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Famine Memorial. Visit
Kilmainham Gaol where many of Ireland's leaders, including Robert Emmett,
Eamon DeValera and Padraig Pearse, were imprisoned during the 19th and
early 20th centuries. In the evening meet your fellow
travellers over a welcome drink.
Day 2 - Sat: Megalithic Tombs & Abbey Tavern
This morning visit the Boyne Valley Visitor Centre to learn about the
passage burial tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, both over
5,000 years old. Tour one of the tombs to see how primitive people managed to
align huge boulders precisely with the sun or the moon. Return to Dublin for
a boat ride on the River Liffey to see the elegant Custom House, Dublin's
new financial centre and much more. Drive to the Abbey Tavern for dinner with
Irish specialties and an Irish coffee followed by a lively show of music, songs
and step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 3 - Sun: Rock of Cashel & “Titanic” Walk
Head south to visit the Rock of Cashel, a stately limestone outcrop
topped with the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel,
the large cathedral and a round tower. Continue to Cobh for a walking
tour with a local historian to see places relating to the Titanic's last port
of call. Drive to the Blarney Woollen Mills, offering excellent Irish-made
products under one roof. If you wish, you may climb to the top of Blarney Castle independently
before heading to your hotel in Cork. (B, D)
Day 4 - Mon: Bantry House & Killarney
Explore Kinsale, an old fishing port that is popular for sailing and
gourmet restaurants. Discover County Cork's coastline with great
scenery and cosy towns such as Clonakilty and Skibbereen. Visit Bantry House, a
stately Georgian mansion built in 1740 to see furnishings collected from all
around Europe and walk through delightful gardens. Continue to
Glengarriff, renowned for its palm trees, Kenmare and along part of the
Ring of Kerry route via Moll's Gap to Killarney. (B, D)
Day 5 - Tue: Dingle Peninsula Tour
Explore the scenic Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies
- “Ryan's Daughter” and “Far & Away.” Admire views of heathery mountains,
sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Pause in Dingle before continuing to the
Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the offshore Blasket Islands,
inhabited until 1953 by hardy farming and fishing families. Return to Killarney
and enjoy some free time. After dinner you may like to visit local pubs
featuring live music. (B, D)
Day 6 - Wed: Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher
Travel north to Foynes Flying Boat Museum to
learn about the early days of flight when Pam Am Clippers landed on the River
Shannon Estuary. Drive to the village of Bunratty and look
around Durty Nelly's Pub or the Bunratty Folk Park. Head to the
coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of rock that rises 700
feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Continue to Galway for a panoramic drive
before checking in to your hotel, which overlooks Galway Bay. (B, D)
Day 7 - Thu: “Quiet Man” Walking Tour & Connemara
Drive to Cong where “The Quiet Man” movie was made in 1952. A guided
walk will show you places featured in the production. Travel through Connemara for
sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering lakes. Stop briefly at
Kylemore Abbey Visitor Centre before continuing to Clifden, a delightful market
town set between the Twelve Pins Mountains and sandy bays.
In Moycullen watch skilled craftsmen cutting fine crystal at the Connemara
Celtic Crystal Factory. (B, D)
Day 8 - Fri: Yeats' Grave & Belleek China
Travel through County Mayo to Knock Shrine, a popular
place of pilgrimage and on to County Sligo to pause in
Drumcliffe Churchyard at the grave of the writer, W. B. Yeats. Follow the
shoreline of Donegal Bay to visit the Belleek Pottery Factory
where craftspeople mould, shape and decorate clay, creating the world-famous
fine china. Continue your drive through the majestic Barnesmore Gap to Derry.
Enjoy free time to relax or take a walk before dinner. (B, D)
Day 9 - Sat: Derry Walk & Giant's Causeway
Join a local guide for a walking tour around Derry's ancient city
centre including the Guildhall, St. Columb's Cathedral, the Diamond and the 16th century
walls. Visit the award-winning Tower Museum. Drive along the north
coast, stopping for photos at the ruined Dunluce Castle and
explore the Giant's Causeway, huge hexagonal basalt columns formed over 60
million years ago. The oversized rocks have given rise to many legends. Return
to Derry for leisure time. (B, D)
Day 10 - Sun: Ulster American Folk Park & Cabra Castle Stay
Near Omagh visit the Ulster American Folk Park,
which traces the story of Ulster emigrants and shows rural lifestyles
in Ireland. Travel south to Kingscourt to arrive mid-afternoon so you may
relax and enjoy the facilities at your castle hotel, built in 1760. After
dinner in the Court Restaurant, youthful dancers display intricate Irish
step-dancing. (B, D)
Day 11 - Mon: Dublin at Leisure & Open-Top Bus
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to a different Dublin hotel,
this time overlooking the River Liffey. You will have most of the day at
leisure so you may take an open-top bus tour and stop off at various
attractions throughout the city centre. Also visit either Guinness or Jameson
to see how their products are made and enjoy a complimentary drink. (B)
Day 12 - Tue: Depart from Dublin Airport
Your hotel offers a shuttle service to Dublin Airport every
two hours starting at 7:20 am. So choose a suitable transfer time to arrive at
the airport to check in for your flight. If you need an earlier transfer, your
tour escort will arrange one for you. (B)
Breakfast ( B) Dinner (D)