Celebrating 70 Years
Of Great Vacations

ESCORTED COACH TOURS - IRELAND

From $968
(Including Land & Air)

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Killarney & Waterford Homestays
• Bunratty Castle Banquet
• Abbey Tavern Dinner & Ballads
• Finnegan's Restaurant & Folk Theater
• Ring of Kerry
• "The Quiet Man" Tour
• Waterford Crystal Factory
• Clonmacnoise Monastery

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

"Kudos to CIE — a great company offering great values with a host of happy travelers. We enjoyed everything — the people, the children, the pubs, B & Bs, hotels, food, social climate — which has added up to our wanting a return visit to make certain what we experienced was indeed real."
~ John & Barbara K., Stratford CT

Day 1: Flight to Shannon
Board your overnight flight to Shannon. Enjoy dinner and continental breakfast as you cross the Atlantic.

Day 2: Bunratty & Bunratty Banquet
Welcome to Shannon Airport! After immigration control and picking up your baggage, proceed to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall. CIE Tours staff will arrange a transfer to your Shannonside hotel. If you have arranged flights independently, you may get a complimentary transfer from CIE Tours Desk at Shannon Airport between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than noon you will transfer to the hotel at your own expense. Spend the day at leisure in Bunratty — there's plenty to do right beside your hotel — Bunratty Folk Park, Durty Nelly's Pub and shopping. This evening meet your fellow travelers over a welcome drink and join in the fun and entertainment at Bunratty Banquet. (D)

Day 3: Cliffs of Moher & Killarney
Drive to the coast to view the dramatic Cliffs of Moher which rise to almost 700 feet of sheer rock above the wild Atlantic breakers and stretch along the coast for five miles. Then head south for a short ferry ride across the River Shannon. Stop in the charming village of Listowel to look around the town before continuing through the mountainous countryside of Kerry. On arrival in Killarney enjoy some free time to take a look around this bustling and compact town before checking into your country home. Finnegan's Restaurant in Tralee is tonight's dinner venue and afterwards attend a performance at Ireland's National Folk Theatre, Siamsa Tire (April 25 - October 10 departures). (B, D)

Day 4: Ring of Kerry Tour
Today admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches on Ireland's most popular drive. See a variety of natural beauty as you drive 100 miles around this scenic route. Cross to Valencia Island by bridge to visit the Skellig Experience, which describes the way of life of early Christian monks who built their monastery on one of the offshore islands. Also learn about traditional farming and fishing methods of later inhabitants. A number of stops will allow you to admire the spectacular scenery and take a brief walk around the colorful village of Sneem. Head back to Killarney through Moll's Gap with stunning views of the Lakes of Killarney. Tonight sit down to a home-cooked dinner with your Irish family. (B, D)

Day 5: Blarney Castle & Cobh Heritage Centre
Leaving Killarney, travel to Blarney Castle to kiss the "stone of eloquence," located at the very top of the castle. Drive through the outskirts of Cork to the port town of Cobh to visit the Cobh Heritage Centre. Tour this former rail station through which emigrants passed on their way from Ireland to the United States. Learn about conditions under which people traveled and the ships that stopped in Cobh. Continue along the south coast via Youghal, where Sir Walter Raleigh is reputed to have grown the first potatoes in Europe. On arrival in Waterford meet your host family for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 6: Waterford Crystal & Abbey Tavern
Tour the Waterford Crystal Factory to watch craftspeople transform molten glass into elegant hand-cut crystal. See magnificent trophies and stemware on display in the showrooms. Head north to Kilkenny for a walking tour of the town center. Learn about the past as you tread the narrow streets and pass medieval Kyteler's Inn and Rothe House. Drive north into the metropolitan area of Dublin to your centrally located hotel opposite Christ Church Cathedral. Drive to Howth for a traditional dinner with rousing Irish music at the Abbey Tavern. (B, D)

Day 7: Dublin City Sightseeing
This morning a local guide introduces you to Dublin's city center to see the stately public buildings, gracious Georgian townhouses and parks. Visit the impressive State Apartments of Dublin Castle, which are steeped in Ireland's history. Finish your tour with a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery to see how whiskey is distilled and then sample some. The afternoon and evening are at leisure to explore the city on your own. Your hotel is located close to Temple Bar, Dublin's "left bank" area of shops, pubs and restaurants. (B)

Day 8: Clonmacnoise & Galway
For those on an 8-day tour, your vacation ends today. Transfer to Dublin Airport by coach for your return flight to the U.S. For the fortunate travelers on the 10-day tour, leave Dublin and drive west to visit Clonmacnoise, St. Ciaran's monastery founded in 545 AD. Situated on the banks of the tranquil River Shannon, the site contains a round tower and the remains of nine churches. Arrive in Galway around lunchtime and check into your four-star hotel overlooking Galway Bay. The afternoon is free to sightsee or shop in the compact city center. (B, D)

Day 9: Connemara Touring
Travel through the Connemara region renowned for its open landscape with constantly changing skies and colors. Drive along Galway Bay to the village of Spiddal where the Irish language is spoken. Continue to Maam Cross and past the Maamturk Mountains. Sheep wander freely and you will see tracts of bogland where people cut turf for fuel. Then drive to Cong to take a brief walking tour around this village which was made famous by the filming of "The Quiet Man" in 1952. Return to Galway in time to enjoy some of the facilities at your hotel. (B, D)

Day 10: Head Back Home
Bid farewell to Galway and transfer to Shannon Airport to arrive by 10:00 am. You will have ample time to check in for your flight, do some last minute shopping and pass through U.S. Immigration preclearance before boarding your plane. If you have booked flights with CIE Tours and have an earlier flight, a special transfer will get you to the airport by 8:00 am. (B)

What Your Tour Includes

8 days/6 nights/11 meals or 10 days/8 nights/15 meals

• Round trip flights between U.S. & Ireland
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Services of a professional Irish driver/guide
• Accommodation with private bath for 6 or 8 nights — Superior and first class hotels in Bunratty, Dublin and Galway; town & country homes in Killarney and Waterford
• Full Irish breakfast daily (B)
• All dinners (D) except 1 in Dublin including
  - Dinner & entertainment at Bunratty Banquet
  - Pre-theater dinner at Finnegan's Restaurant in Tralee
  - Irish homestyle dinners on days 4 & 5
  - Dinner and ballad session at the Abbey Tavern in Dublin
  - Table d'hote dinner in Galway on days 8 & 9
• Welcome get-together drink
• Performance at Siamsa Tire (National Folk Theatre in Tralee (Apr 25 - Oct 10 departures)
• "The Quiet Man" walking tour of Cong
• Ferry ride across the River Shannon
• Walking tour of Kilkenny with a local guide
• Dublin sightseeing tour with local guide
• Whiskey tasting and tour at the Old Jameson Distillery
• Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Skellig Experience, Blarney Castle, Cobh Heritage Centre, Waterford Crystal Factory, Dublin Castle and Clonmacnoise
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

Your Accommodations

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)
• Town & Country Homes, Killarney (2 nights)
• Town & Country Homes, Waterford (1 night)
• Jurys Christchurch Inn, Dublin (2 nights)
• Galway Bay Hotel, Galway (2 nights - 8 night tour option only)

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.

General Conditions for All Tours