Sat 6/9 Depart USA
Sun 6/10 Arrive Dublin late morning
City tour of Dublin on Hop-On Hop-Off Bus and on foot
Kilmainham Jail
(political prison during British period; documents persecution of Irish)
Evening to sample Dublin’s music and nightlife
Mon 6/11 Dublin – day to enjoy the city
Trinity College and Book of Kells
(beautiful illuminated manuscript from the Dark Ages)
Walk Grafton Street (lively pedestrian street)
Another night to experience Dublin’s music and nightlife
Tue 6/12 Depart Dublin in private tour bus
Glendalough
6th century monastic settlement with great ruins, and lakes
Powerscourt Estate
Beautiful gardens & fountains (Ireland’s version of Versailles)
To Killarney for 2 nights
Wed 6/13 Tour the scenic Ring of Kerry
Walk part of the Gap of Dunloe in Killarney National Park
Route goes through a glacial valley past lakes
Torc Waterfall
Killarney – Night #2
Thu 6/14
Travel to the Burren, a limestone region with a striking landscape
Stop in Adare with its thatch-roof cottages
Cliffs of Moher – optional longer walk along the cliffs
Spectacular coastal cliffs, 700 feet above the crashing surf
Continue to Galway – great pubs with traditional music
Galway for 2 nights
Fri 6/15 Day trip to Inishmor, largest of the Aran Islands
40 minutes boat ride to reach Inishmor
Either rent a bicycle, or go in van or horse and carriage
Suggested itinerary: Black Fort cliffs (bike)
St. Benan’s Church
Dun Aengus fort (by bike or van or horse carriage)
Return to mainland; free evening in Galway
Sat 6/16 Travel through Connemara, beautiful scenery in good weather
Kylemore Abbey, imposing monastery on a mountainous lakeshore
Optional afternoon hike up Croagh Patrick if the weather is good
(3-4 hours round-trip; great views in good weather)
“Patrick’s Mountain” is where St. Patrick spent 40 days fasting
One night in Westport
Sun 6/17 Into Northern Ireland with a stop in Derry to learn about the “troubles”
Protestant & Catholic murals; excellent museum; walk atop the city walls
On to Portrush for two nights, stay in a B & B across the street from a beautiful beach
Mon 6/18 Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s most famous natural sight
Bizarre basalt columns along a dramatic coastline
Dunluce Castle, ruins in a cliff-hanging location
Walk across Carrick-a-Rede suspension bridge
80’ above the sea, extending to a rocky island
Bushmills Distillery – tour the whisky distillery
Portrush for night #2
Tue 6/19 Return to Dublin via Belfast
Belfast - Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods fascinating political murals
See the docks of Belfast where Titanic was built
Final night in Dublin (1 night)
Wed 6/20 Depart for home; arrive USA the same day
