A NEW Heart of Ireland Tour with Robbie O’Connell
May 15 – 24, 2012
The May 2012 Heart of Ireland tour, “North by Northwest,” begins in Letterkenny in beautiful County Donegal. From there we explore historic Derry and Glenveigh National Park. Heading south and west we cross into Yeats country, with its castles, lakes, woods and ancient sites. We visit the stunning vistas of the Connemara mountains followed by a tour of medieval Galway. We ramble through the Burren and explore megalithic sites thousands of years old. We finish up in West Clare at the top of the famed Cliffs of Moher, rising 700 feet above the wild Atlantic. All this and much more including traditional music sessions every night.
Read what the Cape Cod Times has to say about our tours!
| Your Tour Price Includes: Luxury motorcoach transportation First-class accommodations for 8 nights in rooms with private bath 8 Irish breakfasts 8 delicious dinners Admissions to all group activities and sites including ferries and sessions Baggage handling, gratuities and taxes for hotels and included meals.All for $2999 per person sharing LAND ONLY* Single Supplement $400 Extending your stay is possible CALL 1-800-299-CELT! |
NEW! MAKE A RESERVATION!Download our 2012 Reservation Form Now! (Please print both pages!)
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| NOTICE: The group will meet at 10:00 a.m. outside the Customs Hall at Dublin Airport on Wednesday, May 16, 2012.* Due to fluctuations in airfares, the price of the tour is LAND ONLY. Passengers are responsible for all airfares, departure taxes and airline surcharges. We are happy to assist you with your flight arrangements and pre-tour accommodations, if necessary, at no extra charge. Please note that flights should be booked into Dublin (DUB) and out of Shannon (SNN). The following airlines fly to Ireland and have the best arrival times: Continental and Delta. | |
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY:
Day 1 – Departure
Following an overnight flight, the group will assemble in Dublin airport at 10:00 a.m., where Robbie along with Alice and Sean Rattigan, our musicians and guides, will meet us outside the customs hall.
Day 2 – Dublin to Donegal
We board our comfortable motor coach and travel northwest through the midlands to our hotel in Letterkenny, County Donegal. The rest of the day is free to rest and get over the jet lag. After dinner, we have the first of our nightly traditional music sessions and a chance to get to know one another.
Day 3 – Ancient Hillforts and Walled Cities
We begin at the Grianan of Aileach, a majestic stone hill fort from the early Christian period. We then visit historic Derry City and see its famous walls, built in 1614. After lunch we go on to Glenveigh National Park where we spend the afternoon exploring its beautiful lakes and gardens.
Day 4 – Stone stories: Circles, Castles and Court Cairns
The mysterious Beltany Stone Circle, dating back to the Bronze age, is our first stop. We will continue on to Donegal Castle, built by Irish chieftan, Hugh O’Donnell in 1474. Then it’s on to Belleek and the world famous pottery museum. From there we head to the Creeveykeel Court Cairn, dating from 3000 BC. Drumcliff Churchyard, the burying place of Ireland’s most revered poet and Nobel laureate, William Butler Yeats will be our last stop of the day.
Day 5 – Yeats Country
We spend the day exploring the stunning landscape of Sligo and its ancient tombs and megaliths, that excited the imagination of W.B. Yeats. We begin at the beautiful Glencar waterfall and then go on to Parke’s Castle on the shores of Lough Gill. We take a boat trip on the lake around the renowned Isle of Inisfree. After lunch in Sligo town, we visit Carrowmore, the largest megalithic site in Europe. Situated in the shadow of Queen Maeve’s cairn atop famed Knocknarea, it has more than 60 ancient monuments.
Day 6 – Woolen Mills and Country Life
We head south to Foxford Woolen Mills in county Mayo and then on to the Museum of Country Life in Turlough, a branch of the national museum of Ireland. We stop in the bustling town of Westport and the beautiful village of Leenane on Killary harbor, Ireland’s only fjord. Then it’s on to Connemara and our hotel in Renvyle.
Day 7 – The Hills of Connemara
Picturesque Kylemore Abbey and its gardens and chapel, will be our first stop of the day. After lunch in Clifden, we will take the scenic Sky Drive overlooking the wild Atlantic and explore Connemara National Park with its rugged trails and its spectacular views from Diamond Hill.
Day 8 – Galway to Clare
We will wander around the village of Cong, the location for the movie, The Quiet Man and explore the ruins of its 13th century abbey and its unique fishing cottage. After lunch in Galway, we have a fascinating walking tour of the historic old city. We will stop at Moran’ Oyster Cottage in Kilcolgan on route to our hotel in Ennis.
Day 9 – The Burren: Land of Limestone
The Burren, a unique limestone region covering over 150 square miles, is home to a diverse array of plants and wild flowers. We will stop at the Burren Center in Kilfenora for an overview of the region. Then we visit Poulnabrone dolmen, an ancient portal tomb and one of Ireland’s iconic images. We continue around Black Head to Doolin where will have lunch and visit the eerie Doolin cave. Then it’s on to the famed Cliffs of Moher rising majestically 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 10 – Heading for Home
We depart our hotel for Shannon Airport. Don’t forget to leave some time for shopping at the world’s first Duty Free shop.
Don’t want to go home?
If you would like to extend your stay, please contact Robbie O’Connell at 1-800-299-CELT or email: robbie@celtica.com before you send in your registration form.
CALL 1-800-299-CELT!
