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Day 1: Ennis Arrival & Cliffs of Moher
Upon arrival at Shannon Airport, locate the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall where our staff will arrange a group transfer to your hotel in Ennis. Complimentary transfers are available between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later than 12:00 noon, you'll have to make your own way to the hotel. At 2:30 pm depart for the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. Return to Ennis for dinner with some informal entertainment in your hotel. (D)
Day 2: Poulnabrone Dolmen & Connemara Crystal
In Kilfenora visit the Burren Display Centre to learn about the Burren, an area of rounded limestone hills. Then drive through the weathered hills, which contain ancient monuments, especially dolmens. View the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic burial place dating to 4,000 BC. Stop for a look around the village of Ballyvaughan. In Moycullen visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory to see a skilled glass cutter at work and learn about the symbolism of the Celtic motifs. Drive into Galway to check in to your central hotel overlooking Galway Bay. (B,D)
Day 3: “Quiet Man” Walking Tour & Catamaran cruise
Drive to the village of Cong where “The Quiet Man” movie was made in 1952. A guided walk will show you places that featured in the production. Drive through Connemara for sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering lakes. Embark on a short cruise of Killary harbour. Enjoy an Irish coffee as you enjoy the scenery. Keep an eye open for sea birds as you pass Salmon and mussel farm. Make a brief stop at Kylemore Abbey visitor centre before heading to Clifden, a delightful market town set between the Twelve Bens and sandy bays before returning to Galway. (B,D)
Day 4: Museum of Country Life & Belleek China
Outside Castlebar visit the Museum of Country Life. View collections of domestic goods, used in everyday living from 1850 to 1950. Exhibits and a movie explain how country people lived by farming. Make a brief stop in the pilgrimage town of Knock and view W. B. Yeats’ Grave, situated near the distinctive outline of Ben Bulben Mountain in County Sligo. Continue to Belleek for a tour of the Belleek Pottery Factory, founded in the mid-19th century to create employment. Drive to Donegal town for your next overnight stop. (B,D)
Day 5: Slieve League Cliffs & Donegal
Drive to the fishing port of Killybegs and on to Teelin to view Slieve League sea cliffs, the highest in Europe reaching 1,972 feet. The cliffs drop straight down to the wild Atlantic waves creating marvellous views. Enjoy coffee or tea with home-baked scones before driving through the majestic Glengesh Pass to Ardara. Visit Triona Design to see demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting. Return to Donegal town for free time before returning to your nearby hotel. (B,D)
Day 6: Derry Walk & Giant’s Causeway
Travel to Derry for a walking tour with a local guide to see the medieval city walls, the Diamond and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Pause for photos at the ruins of Dunluce Castle before visiting the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Continue south to experience wonderful views of mountains, valleys and bays along the “Nine Glens of Antrim.” Drive to your centrally-located hotel in Belfast. You will have time to take a walk or you may like to visit the ornate Victorian bar, Crown Liquor Saloon, just across the street. (B,D)
Day 7: Belfast & St. Patrick’s Burial Site
Tour Belfast with a local guide to see Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built and the Falls Road and Shankill residential areas. Drive south via the town of Newry and pass the gentle slopes of the Mourne Mountains to Kingscourt to your castle hotel, built in 1760. Arrive mid-afternoon so that you will have time to enjoy the facilities and ambience of your lovely hotel. You may like to play the 9-hole golf course. After dinner in the Court Restaurant, enjoy youthful dancers display intricate Irish step-dancing. (B,D)
Day 8: Battle of the Boyne Centre & Dublin
Drive to Drogheda to visit the Battle of the Boyne Centre. Learn about the 1690 conflict between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II, for dominance over the British throne and religious power in Ireland. Then travel into Dublin and check in to your hotel overlooking the River Liffey. You will have the balance of the day at leisure so you may take an open-top bus tour and visit Guinness or Jameson. (B)
Day 9: Depart from Dublin Airport
Your hotel offers a shuttle service to Dublin Airport every two hours starting at 7:20 am. So choose a suitable transfer time to arrive at the airport to check in for your flight. If you need an earlier transfer, your tour escort will arrange one for you. Then you’ll have an opportunity to shop at the duty-free stores before boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)
Complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. End of services. (B)
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