Harmony Pilgrimage
to Ireland
Wendy McCoole, Guest Director

Proposed Itinerary

Sunday: Depart USA
We depart the USA tonight aboard our wide bodied jet bound for the Emerald Isle. Cocktails and dinner will be served shortly after takeoff. Watch a movie, or just sit back and relax as you approach the dawn of an Irish morning.

Monday: Arrive in Dublin
After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities.  Then your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach.  Take a panoramic drive around Dublin city center.  Dublin is one of the liveliest capitals in Europe but there are plenty of historical places also.  See the main thoroughfares of O’Connell Street and Nassau Street, the shopping streets and some lovely public parks. Then drive to your hotel and check in. After you settle into your room enjoy the balance of the day and evening at leisure for independent activities and dining.    
Overnight: Camden Court Hotel

Tuesday: Dublin - St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Barbershop Night
After breakfast this morning, we board our coach for a sightseeing tour of "Dublin's Fair City." Our tour will include a visit to Trinity College with its library containing over one million volumes and the finest collection of manuscripts and early printed books in Ireland. The most famous and the library's greatest treasure is the Book of Kells. Continuing, we see the Bank of Ireland, formerly the Irish House of Parliament, Dublin Castle and St. Patrick's Cathedral where we will sing. At the end of the tour, you are free to discover Dublin for yourself. There is Grafton Street with its wonderful department stores, and of course, don't forget to sample the Guinness in one of the old traditional pubs. Enjoy!

This evening, we will have a Barbershop evening with Dublin area members of the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS).
Dinner and Overnight: Camden Court Hotel


Wednesday: Waterford – Cork
Leaving Dublin, we travel to Naas and through Kildare, which is prime horse-breeding country. Drive south through pleasant farmland to the marketing town of Carlow and on to Kilkenny. Continue to Waterford and visit the Waterford Crystal Factory to see how skilled craftspeople create masterpieces of glass.  Watch all stages of production from the blowing of molten crystal to the final polishing.  In the showrooms you can see a wide range of tableware and special trophies and you will have an opportunity to buy. Shop in the main showroom, have lunch in the cafeteria, or take an optional tour and watch skilled craftspeople creating elegant masterpieces.

Then travel along the south coast via Dungarvan and Youghal.  Continue through the outskirts of County Cork and into Cork city. Upon arrival enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. Cork is built on many hills with the River Lee running through the city center. Pass the Custom House and drive along the wide Grand Parade to see St. Finbarr's Cathedral, named after Cork’s patron saint. Drive along MacCurtain and Patrick Streets, the busy shopping streets. Pass the Opera House, the Crawford Gallery and the English Market. Cork has many intimate pubs where you can sample the local brew, Murphy. After your tour, check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax before dining in the hotel restaurant. We then head south for Cork City, Ireland's third largest city.  Cork derives its name from the Irish for a "marshy place", where St. Finbar founded a church in 650 on the banks of the River Lee. We will enjoy dinner in our hotel.

This evening, we are free to experience Cork City on our own.
Dinner and Overnight: Kingsley Hotel

Thursday: Cobh – Kinsale
After breakfast today, we will visit Cobh (pronounced "cove") and see the Cobh Heritage Museum at the restored Victorian Cobh Railway Station. From 1845-1960, over 2.5 million adults and children emigrated aboard ships from here. They first traveled on the coffin ships, then the steamers, and eventually the great ocean liners. The Museum recreates the experience through galleries, displays, an audiovisual Theatre and an extensive collection of memorabilia. The Museum also explores the fates of the Lusitania and the Titanic - Cobh was its last port of call.

Then, we depart for the nearby sea faring village of Kinsale, also known as the gourmet capital of Ireland. Kinsale has, over the years, gained a wide reputation as a gourmet's paradise, boasting some of the best seafood restaurants in Ireland, offering the freshest of local catches. You will have the opportunity to sample one such restaurant today for lunch. Enjoy some time on your own to explore the town that has a strong Spanish flavor and its narrow winding streets have been compared to those of Newport, Rhode Island and Toledo, Spain.

This evening, after dinner in the hotel, we will have a barbershop night with IABS groups from Cork City.

Friday: Blarney Castle - Killarney
This morning after breakfast, we visit the village of Blarney to see Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Stone that is said to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who participate in this ancient custom. You will have time to shop for some Irish hand-knits at the famous Blarney Woolen Mills which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. They will ship and insure goods such as Waterford Crystal for you.  You will also have time to browse around the village, charmingly set around a large village green.

Then journey west through rugged countryside to Killarney and check into your hotel were you will have the balance of the day free for individual pursuits.  In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant. 

Tonight, you are free to sample the music and merriment of the many pubs in the quaint little town of Killarney.
Dinner and Overnight: Killarney Towers Hotel

Saturday: Ring of Kerry
After a hearty Irish breakfast, we depart on one of Ireland's most popular and beautiful drives, the Ring of Kerry. Traveling north, we come to the town of Killorglin, famous for "Puck Fair," and it is from here we commence the "ring tour." Our drive is along the coastline of the broad Iveragh Peninsula, through the towns of Glenbeigh, Cahirciveen, Waterville and Sneem. The scenery is spectacular as wind-swept cliffs, still lakes, lost valleys and rocky mountains blend in awesome beauty. As one looks around, it is easy to agree with the Old Irish saying, "Even if a man has only a small bit of earth here, he has a lot of the heavens." From Sneem, we continue via "Ladies View," back to Killarney for dinner at the hotel.

We are looking into a performance opportunity in Tralee. After the performance, we return to Killarney for your overnight stay.
Dinner and Overnight: Killarney Towers Hotel

Sunday: Cliffs of Moher - Bunratty Medieval Banquet
After breakfast this morning, we sing at a live Sunday morning Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Then, we bid farewell to Killarney and travel through Tralee - the chief town of County Kerry and gateway to the Dingle Peninsula. From there, we continue on through Listowel to Tarbert where we cross the Shannon River to Killimer into County Clare. The next leg of our journey brings us to the awesome Cliffs of Moher, one of the most outstanding features of County Clare. Rising sheer above the sea to nearly 700 feet and extending along the coast for nearly five miles ­ they are an awesome natural wonder. The Cliffs offer sweeping views of the Atlantic, the Aran Islands, and Galway Bay.

Then, after checking in to our hotel and freshening up a bit, we're off to Bunratty Castle! The castle itself, built in 1425, is a very fine restoration, with plenty of fine tapestries and furniture, some dating back as far as the building. In the Folk Park, the 19th century is recreated with costumed guides and artisans demonstrating traditional skills and crafts.

Tonight, we'll dine in the Great Hall of the Castle and enjoy a medieval banquet complete with entertainment. Turn back the clock as you feast on fine food, drink rich mead and wine, and enjoy the lore and music of Ireland, performed by the enchanting Ladies of the Castle, to the strains of the harp and violin.
Dinner (Banquet) and Overnight: Bunratty Castle Hotel

Monday: Depart Shannon for USA          
After a leisurely Irish breakfast, you will board the motor coach for Shannon Airport, where you will have time to shop in the Duty Free Store for last-minute gifts for family and friends. As you board your flight for home, we hope you will take with you wonderful memories of your time in our beautiful country. Come back soon.

 

Estimated Costs

$1,599.00 per person double occupancy
(Based on 35 fare-paying passengers per coach)
 Single Room Supplement............................ $450.00  

CONFIRMED HOTELS
Camden Court Hotel, Dublin........................ 2 nights
Kingsley Hotel, Cork.................................... 2 nights
Killarney Towers Hotel, Killarney.................  2 nights
Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty................... 1 night

CONFIRMED AIR FARES ABOARD AER LINGUS
Round trip flights between BOS/DUB and SNN/BOS.

Airline Confirmation:
March 8, 2009     EI 136         BOS  19:20 / DUB  05:15        
March 16, 2009   EI 133         SNN 13:15 / BOS   16:30           

Airfare..................................... $565.00  
To utilize this rate, the full airfare payment must be received by 90 days prior to departure. Otherwise, it may be subject to higher rate.

Airport departure taxes.................................. $105.00
Air arrangements:  On all airlines, taxes/surcharges are subject to change until ticketed.

TRAVEL PROTECTION PLAN
Premium per person ..................................... $159.00  
CIE Tours International offers this travel policy with Trip Mate

Protection Plan can only be purchased at the time of deposit.

PLEASE NOTE
1)  This quotation is subject to the terms of our Conditions Sheet
2)  The exchange rate is estimated for 2009.

 

Inclusions

• Transport by luxury motorcoach with a driver/guide for 8 days.

• Services of a professional Dublin guide for 2 days.

• Hotel accommodation based on twin bedded rooms with private bath as listed opposite for 7 nights.

• Full breakfasts (7).

• Table d’hôte dinners (5).

• Medieval banquet at an Irish castle

• Passage on the Tarbert Ferry

• Visits and admission fees to:

•             St. Patrick's Cathedral

•             Trinity College (Book of Kells)

•             Waterford Crystal Factory

•             Cobh Heritage Center

•             Blarney Castle & Woollen Mills 

•             Cliffs of Moher

• Hotel porterage, service charges, and government taxes.

• Flight bags, ticket wallets, baggage tags, and identifying strap.