Fri, April 15

UNITED STATES TO DUBLIN

Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.

Sat, April 16

DUBLIN ARRIVAL & sightseeing

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. Enjoy breakfast with your fellow travelers at a local venue before driving north of the city to visit Malahide Castle, first built in 1185 by the Talbot family who lived there until 1975. The Castle has been remodeled over the years and today is filled with medieval artifacts and family portraits. Also take a stroll around the delightful gardens. Stop in nearby Malahide, now an upscale suburb of Dublin that still retains its village ambience. Return to Dublin and visit the Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits on how this world famous stout was first created and why it is so popular today. Finish your visit in the roof-top bar, Gravity, overlooking the city center where you can sample a draft Guinness and enjoy the view of the city. Then drive to your hotel and check in. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: DAVENPORT HOTEL, DUBLIN

Sun, April 17

Irish National stud, newbridge silverware & abbey tavern evening

This morning drive to Kildare which is in the heart of Ireland's horse country. A visit to the Irish National Stud will show you the history and current trends of horse-breeding in Ireland. See some of the magnificent horses and learn about horse-breeding. Then take a walk around the Japanese Gardens which were established in 1908 and represent the "Life of Man" from cradle to grave in the traditional Japanese style of gardening. Also see the charming St. Fiachra’s Garden with water features and beehive huts. After your visit drive a few miles to Newbridge for a visit to the Newbridge Silverware, Ireland's premier giftware brand. For 70 years, Newbridge Silverware has designed and produced homeware products, continuously innovating and producing items that are relevant to the lifestyles of each new generation of customers. Return to Dublin where you will have some free time before dinner.

This evening head to the Abbey Tavern for dinner and a traditional ballad session. The drive to Howth, a suburb on the north side of the city will give you great views of Dublin Bay. Built on the site of an old abbey, this pub has been in business for over 200 years.

OVERNIGHT: DAVENPORT HOTEL, DUBLIN

Mon, April 18

Newgrange & LETTERKENNY

Depart Dublin this morning and drive north to visit the Megalithic Passage Tomb at Newgrange which was built about 3200 BC. The kidney-shaped mound covers an area of over one acre and is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. It is estimated that the construction of the Passage Tomb at Newgrange would have taken a work force of 300 at least 20 years. Then journey north through County Monaghan and into Northern Ireland. Travel via Omagh and Strabane to reach your hotel in Letterkenny. After checking in enjoy some time to relax before joining your group for dinner.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON SAS HOTEL, LETTERKENNY

Tue, April 19

Derry walking tour & Giant's Causeway

This morning travel along the north coast of Ireland to Derry and embark on a walking tour to see the principal sights. See the 17th century city walls, which are some of the best-preserved in Europe, and the Diamond, the main central square. Also pass the 17th century St. Columb's Cathedral, the Tower Museum with local history displays and the Guildhall where the history of Derry is depicted in stained-glass windows. Then continue your drive through Limavady and Coleraine to visit the Giant's Causeway. This impressive area of hexagonal columns was formed more than 60 million years ago by the slow and even cooling and contraction of molten lava. Enjoy lunch at a local venue with your fellow travelers before stopping at Bushmills Distillery to learn about whiskey production and enjoy a sample. The distillery received a license 1608, making it the world’s oldest. Return to Letterkenny and freshen up before dining in the hotel restaurant once again.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: RADISSON SAS HOTEL, LETTERKENNY

Wed, April 20

YEATS COUNTRY & galway

Leaving Letterkenny this morning drive southwest via Donegal and along the scenic shores of Donegal Bay. Continue through Sligo, an area associated with the great poet W.B. Yeats, and south to Galway, a bustling city with unique Irish flavor. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL MEYRICK, GALWAY

Thu, April 21

TOUR TO THE ARAN ISLANDS (Weather Permitting)

Today visit the Aran Islands, which are located in Galway Bay 30 miles west of Galway city. Irish is still the vernacular in this isolated setting and the islanders retain many traditional ways of farming and fishing. The land is extremely stony and the islanders have formed dry stone walls to protect the windswept fields. The popular hand-knit aran sweaters evolved from unique patterns used by each family and the oiled wool repelled the rain. Take a ferry from Rossaveal on the mainland to Aran Mor, the largest of the three islands. Travel around the island by minibus with a local driver who will explain many of the island traditions to you. At the western end of Inis Mór visit Dun Aengus. This vast fortification is perched on the side of a cliff that falls to the Atlantic Ocean 300 feet below. The site consists of three concentric enclosures and dates back to 1,000 BC or earlier. Return to Galway in time for dinner.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL MEYRICK, GALWAY

Fri, April 22

CONNEMARA, ‘Connemara lady’ cruise & MARBLE factory

Today tour Connemara and admire the sweeping views of boglands and misty mountains. As you drive along you will see many sheep that graze freely and also tracts of bogland where some people hand-cut peat for home heating. At Leenane, stop to take a short catamaran cruise aboard the “Connemara Lady” through Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord. You can see great views from this narrow inlet, which is surrounded by hills and cliffs. Also observe the seabirds, seals and otters that live in the waters. After your visit continue your drive to the town of Moycullen to visit the Connemara Marble Factory. Quarried in Connemara, the soft green shades of the marble echoes the colors of the countryside from which it is cut. See how it is made into many decorative items. Return to Galway and relax before dining in your hotel once again.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: HOTEL MEYRICK, GALWAY

Sat, April 23

CLIFFS OF MOHER & MEDIEVAL BANQUET

Drive around the shores of Galway Bay and through the Burren Country, a unique region of limestone hills where many rare flowers thrive in the sheltered crevices. Stop at the Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock that plunges 700 feet to the churning Atlantic Ocean below. See part of the Burren Country, a region of limestone hills containing a wealth of rare flowers and prehistoric stone monuments on the way to Bunratty. Check into your hotel where you will have some free time in the afternoon. You may choose to relax or explore some of the attractions near your hotel-choose from Bunratty Folk Park, Bunratty Village Mills and Durty Nelly’s Pub.

This evening join in the fun and feasting at Bunratty or Knappogue Castle. Your medieval-style banquet is served in the Great Hall of the 15^th century castle during which the lords and ladies of the castle transport you in spirit to the Middle Ages with their songs and stories.

OVERNIGHT: BUNRATTY CASTLE HOTEL, BUNRATTY

Sun, April 24

RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES

Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day. Transfer to Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight. You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the Atlantic Ocean back to the United States.