| - The Irish Trading Company - www.irishtradingco.com 20616 North Park Blvd At Fairmount Circle Shaker Heights, OH 44118 Mon-Fri 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sat 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, closed Sun Tel: (216) 371-6886 Toll Free: 1-800-SLAINTE (1-800-752-4683) Fax: (216) 371-6887 Email: irishtradingco@ameritech.net American Express, ATM, Cash, Check, Diners Club, Gift Certificates, Mastercard, Travelers Checks, Visa |
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SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 3, 2005 |
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Experience Ireland With Us! |
site design by secretpond.com  |
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Join us on a wonderful journey through Ireland. Discover Dublin and Belfast; experience the awesome natural beauty of Northern Ireland; visit Knock Shrine and Kylemore Abbey on this truly magical trip! |
Sponsored by: |
NORTh AMERICAN CELTIC BUYERS ASSOCIATION |
CIE TOURS International |
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES |
New York/New Jersey (Newark-EWR) |
$2,250 |
| Sept 25 Depart U.S. for Dublin. Board your aircraft for an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Sept 26 Dublin Sightseeing After landing at Dublin Airport your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you to the coach. As hotel rooms will not be available until around noon, take an orientation drive around Dublin city center. Dublin is one of the liveliest capitals in Europe but there are plenty of historical places also. See O'Connell Street, the main thoroughfare, and Grafton Street, the shoppers dream! Tour St. Patrick's Cathedral, almost as old as the city itself and famous for its connections with the brilliantly eccentric Dean Jonathan Swill. Then take a tour of Kilmainhan Gaol to see what punishment was like from 1796 to 1924. Learn about the many political prisoners, especially from the 1916 Rising, who were detained here in their efforts to shape Ireland's history. Drive to your hotel to check in and enjoy some free time to relax before the evening's activities. This evening drive to Rathfarnham to Taylor's Three Rock for dinner and a lively show of traditional Irish songs and music. Sept 27 Powerscourt Gardens & Glendalough Today take a tour to the south of Dublin to visit Powerscourt Gardens. These splendid gardens contain specimens gathered from many countries and climates and encompass sweeping terraces and superb antique sculptures. The gardens are set in a valley of the Wicklow Mountains and offer glorious views of both the gardens and the surrounding countryside with the distinctive Sugarloaf Mountain in the background. Then 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. Then drive via the outer suburbs back into Dublin where the balance of the day is at your leisure. Sept 28 Downpatrick & Belfast Leave Dublin today and drive north along the eastern coastline via the towns of Drogheda and Dundalk. Stop en route in Annalong to visit a Seanchai (story-teller) and enjoy stones handed down from generation to generation . In Downpatrick, stop lo visit Down Cathedral to see the reputed gravesite of Saint Patrick. Continue your drive north to Belfast. Upon arrival take a panoramic drive to the outskirts of the city to take a look at Queen's University, founded in 1849 and built in Tudor-Gothic style. In the city center see the Albert Memorial and the ornate Victorian buildings of the Opera House and the Crown Liquor Saloon. In Donegal Square see the imposing City Hall, completed in 1906. The richly decorated interior contains stained glass portraying Belfast's principal industries. Drive to the town of Holywood and check into your hotel. Then enjoy some free time to relax before joining the rest of your group for dinner. Sept 29 Glens of Antrim & Derry Depart Holywood and drive north to experience one of Ireland's popular scenic routes along die coast road. Here youll see the "Nine Glens of Antrim" which offer wonderful views of mountains, valleys and coastline. Drive a short distance to the Giant's Causeway. This impressive area of hexagonal columns was formed over 60 million years ago by cooling lava and has given rise to many legends. Then stop at Bushmills Distillery, which is the worlds oldest whiskey distillery, having received a license in 1608. See how whiskey is distilled and try a sample! Continue along the coast to Derry. Upon arrival check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to relax before dinner. Sept 30 Derry Walking Tour & Inishowen 100 This morning enjoy a walking tour of central Derry 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. Column's Cathedral, the Tower Museum with local history displays and the Guildhall where the history of Derry is depicted in stained-glass windows. Drive to the Inishowen Peninsula and travel the 100-mile route, which mainly follows the coastline and provides wonderful views. Stop in Bunerana, the peninsula's largest town which sits on Lough Swilly, a deep inlet of the sea. Drive to the rugged promontory of Malin Head, Ireland's most northerly point. This spectacular headland offers distant views of the Scottish islands of Islay and Jura on a clear day. Its highest point at 363' is called Banba's Crown after one of the pagan queens of pre-Christian Ireland. Then travel south along the eastern shore of Lough Foyle to return to Derry. Arrive at your hotel in time to relax and enjoy dinner. Oct 1 Belleek, Knock & Cong Leave Derry today and drive south past the Blue Stack Mountains to Co. Fermanagh. Visit the Belleek Pottery Factory to see the making and decoration of this delicate china. Travel via the seaside resort of Bundoran and continue south through Sligo and Mayo to Knock to visit Knock Shrine. Knock Shrine is one of the world's leading places of pilgrimage where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. Continue on to the charming village of Cong where the movie The Quiet Man was filmed. Stop for tea and scones with the Luskin family who will give you a brief history of the area. Learn about the famous Connemara ponies and see a local woman knit an aran sweater. Then drive south to Galway to your hotel, check in and enjoy some free time to relax before dinner. Oct 2 Connemara & Kylemore Abbey The itinerary today takes you west of Galway through the Connemara region known for its constantly-changing skies and subtle colors. Drive past the gentle hills of the Maamlurk Mountains and the Twelve Bens. Continue to Clifden, a delightful town on the western seaboard. Then visit Kylemore Abbey, a I9th century neo-Gothic mansion overlooking Kylemore Lake. Originally a private residence, it is now a prestigious girls' school. Visit the chapel and the restored Victorian gardens, which have recently won awards. Return to your hotel where you can enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. This evening enjoy dinner and entertainment at Padraicin's restaurant, which is situated on the shores of Galway Bay and boasts panoramic views and a relaxed atmosphere. Oct 4 Return to the United States This morning your coach will take you to Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight. Do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores and then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft for your return flight. YOUR HOTELS Jury's Hold, Dublin (2 nights) Culloden Hotel, Holywood (I night) Tower Hotel, Derry (2 nights) Salthill Hotel, Galway (2 nights) For reservations complete the form and send it with your deposit check for $200, or $309 if you wish to purchase travel protection plan to: The Irish Trading Company 20616 North Park Blvd. Shaker Heights, OH 44118 Tel: (216) 371-6886 Deposit checks should be made payable to NACBA. Deposit due June 7th. Final payment due July 16th 2005. |
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Experience Ireland Itinerary |
