Celebrating 70 Years
Of Great Vacations

ESCORTED COACH TOURS - IRELAND

From $1,646
(Including Land & Air)

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Knappogue Castle Banquet
• Abbey Tavern Dinner & Ballads
• Kilmainham Gaol
• Saint Patrick Centre & Giant's Causeway
• Old Bushmills Distillery
• Cobh Heritage Centre & Blarney Castle
• Catamaran Cruise of Killary Harbour

Click on the phrases below for full details:

• Your Day-by-Day Itinerary
• What Your Tour Includes
• Your Hotels
• Departure Dates & Rates
• Early Payment Discount
• 55 & Smiling Discounts
• General Conditions for All Tours

"I recently completed the Irish Classic tour and would like to share some of my impressions with you. Whoever put the itinerary together did an excellent job. Each day was different from the one before both in terms of scenery and in places where we stopped."
~ Catherine L., Bridgewater NJ

Day 1: Depart U.S. for Shannon
Welcome aboard your overnight flight to Shannon. Dinner and continental breakfast will be served.

Day 2: Bunratty & Knappogue Banquet
Arrive at Shannon Airport and after immigration control and picking up your baggage, go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall. Our personnel will arrange a transfer to your hotel, located beside Bunratty Castle. If you have arranged flights independently, complimentary transfers will be offered from Shannon Airport between 7:00 and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than noon you will transfer to the hotel at your own expense. In the afternoon explore the village attractions near your hotel — Bunratty Folk Park, Durty Nelly's Pub and excellent shops. Enjoy a welcome drink before attending a medieval-style banquet with spirited entertainment at Knappogue Castle. (D)

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher & Galway Bay
Drive through Ennis, the principal town of County Clare. Stop to view the Cliffs of Moher, an impressive wall of rock that rises nearly 700 feet above the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Journey through the Burren country, an area of rounded limestone hills, renowned for unique flora and prehistoric stone monuments. In Gort visit Thoor Ballylee, W.B. Yeats' 16th century tower house. This summer retreat and its surroundings inspired many works. Travel around Galway Bay and in Galway see Galway Cathedral and the Spanish Arch before checking into your hotel. (B, D)

Day 4: Connemara & Kylemore Abbey
Travel through Connemara which is renowned for its misty mountains, the Twelve Bens. Drive to Spiddal, a village on Galway Bay where the Irish language is still spoken. Pass Maam Cross and stop in Clifden, an attractive town known as the "capital of Connemara." See the romantic 19th century Kylemore Abbey where you may visit the gardens and elaborate chapel. Return to Galway in time to relax before dinner. Afterwards you may wish to explore some of the pubs where traditional Irish music is played. (B, D)

Day 5: Killary Cruise & Westport
Drive north through Headford and Cong and along the scenic shoreline of Lough Corrib to Leenane. Take a short catamaran cruise aboard the "Connemara Lady" to view the delightful scenery of Killary Harbour, Ireland's only fjord. Travel through County Mayo passing the pilgrimage mountain of Croaghpatrick en route to Westport. Check into your hotel, located on Clew Bay. You may relax in your hotel or take a drive into Westport to look around this attractive town with Georgian houses and tree-lined streets. (B, D)

Day 6: Foxford Woollen Mills & Belleek
Near Castlebar visit the Foxford Woollen Mills, founded in 1892 to provide income for local people. Travel through Sligo which is known as "Yeats' Country," as the Nobel-winning poet lived here. Visit the Holy Well and Mass Rock at Tobernault,a site of devotion in Penal times. Drive around Donegal Bay to tour the Belleek Pottery Factory. Watch skilled craftspeople create intricate basket-weave designs in delicate china. Journey north through Donegal town and pass the Blue Stack Mountains on the way to Derry. (B, D)

Day 7: Derry & Ulster American Folk Park
This morning take a walking tour around the historic center of Derry that still retains most of its medieval city walls. Travel through Strabane and Omagh to visit the Ulster American Folk Park. The Park is located on the farm of Thomas Mellon, whose family emigrated to the United States and became prominent bankers. The family cottage forms the nucleus of an exhibition which is divided into three sections to illustrate rural life in Ireland, the journey to the "New World," and life as a colonist in the United States. Return to Derry in good time for dinner. (B, D)

Day 8: Giant's Causeway & Antrim
Head east to explore the Giant's Causeway, hexagonal columns formed over 60 million years ago. The huge rocks have given rise to many legends, especially involving Finn McCool. Stop at Bushmills Distillery to learn about whiskey production and enjoy a sample. The distillery received a license 1608, making it the world's oldest. Travel through the "Nine Glens of Antrim" for wonderful views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Drive around Belfast and on to Bangor for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 9: Mount Stewart & Abbey Tavern
Visit Mount Stewart House and Gardens, a superb estate with richly furnished chambers. Visit the newly opened Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick. Learn about the life and work of Ireland's patron saint and see his reputed burial place, marked by a boulder in Downpatrick Cathedral. Follow the coastal road passing the gentle slopes of the Mourne Mountains. Continue south to Dublin and check into your hotel, located close to Trinity College. In the evening drive to the Abbey Tavern in Howth where dinner is followed by a popular ballad session. (B, D)

Day 10: Dublin Sightseeing
Take a half-day sightseeing tour of Dublin today. See elegant 18th century Georgian townhouses and public buildings in differing architectural styles. Tour the State Apartments of Dublin Castle, elegantly furnished chambers where important landmarks of Ireland's history have taken place. Then visit Kilmainham Gaol, now preserved as a memorial to the many political prisoners who struggled for improved human rights and living conditions. The afternoon and evening are at leisure for independent activities and dining. (B)

Day 11: Waterford Crystal & Cobh
Drive through the Wicklow Mountains to visit Glendalough Visitor Centre which explains the Irish monastic tradition. See the round tower, church ruins and Celtic crosses of St. Kevin's 6th century monastery. Tour the Waterford Crystal Factory where you can watch skilled craftspeople blow and cut the glass. Also see a huge display of trophies and tableware in the showrooms. Continue along the south coast to Cobh to visit Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration from this port to the United States. Drive through the outskirts of Cork city to the village of Blarney for dinner and overnight stay. (B, D)

Day 12: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Take a short walk from your hotel to Blarney Castle where you may climb to the battlements of the castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence." Drive to Killarney, set in a delightful location beside three lakes with the highest mountains in the country as a backdrop. After checking into your hotel in the center of town, you may like to take a walk around to explore the shops and pubs or relax in your hotel. After dinner visit the Laurels Pub for a ballad session. (B, D)

Day 13: Ring of Kerry Tour
Journey around the Ring of Kerry, a full day tour of constantly changing mountain and coastline scenery. Travel through Caherdaniel and Waterville at the western end of the peninsula and enjoy the bracing Atlantic breezes. Continue your drive through the colorful village of Sneem and the vantagepoint of Moll's Gap. Just outside Killarney visit the delightful Muckross House, a 19th century furnished mansion with an interesting history and U.S. connections. Return to Killarney in time to relax or walk around the town before dinner. (B, D)

Day 14: Return to U.S.
Transfer to Shannon Airport to arrive by 10:00 am in time for the principal transatlantic flights. After check in you'll have time to shop at the duty free stores. If you have booked flights with CIE Tours, an early transfer can be arranged to reach Shannon by 8:00 am. (B)

What Your Tour Includes

14 days/12 nights/23 meals

• Round trip flights between U.S. & Ireland
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Services of a professional Irish tour director
• Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 12 nights
• 12 full Irish breakfasts (B)
• 11 dinners (D) including
  - Medieval banquet and entertainment at Knappogue Castle
  - Dinner and ballad session at the Abbey Tavern in Dublin
  - 9 table d'hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour
• Walking tour of Derry
• Whiskey tasting & tour of Bushmills Distillery
• Ballad session at the Laurels Singing Pub in Killarney
• Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Thoor Ballylee, Kylemore Abbey, Foxford Woollen Mills, Tobernault Holy Well and Mass Rock, Belleek Pottery Factory, Ulster American Folk Park, Giant's Causeway, Mount Stewart House and Gardens, Saint Patrick Centre & Downpatrick Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle, Glendalough Visitor Centre, Waterford Crystal Factory, Cobh Heritage Centre, Blarney Castle and Muckross House
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
• Ardilaun House Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
• Atlantic Coast Hotel, Westport (1 night)
• Everglades Hotel, Derry (2 nights)
• Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor (1 night)
• Mont Clare Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
• Christy's Hotel, Blarney (1 night)
• Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)

Departure Dates & Rates

Early Payment Discount

Inclusive air prices reflect savings of between $85 & $170 per person when airfare is paid at least 90 days prior to departure. Book early and save. For travel from Chicago ask about special airfares with Aer Lingus.

55 & Smiling Discounts

Save $75! All departure dates with a bullet in the chart above qualify for the 55 & Smiling discount.

General Conditions for All Tours