Ireland in Depth (2012)

Depart from the U.S. today on your flight to Ireland, arriving on Day 2. Please refer to your individual air itinerary for exact departure and arrival times.

Arrive in Galway today. A Grand Circle representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your hotel, where you'll meet your Program Director. Galway is a bustling young city with a lively nightlife. After your arrival, your Program Director will provide suggestions on how to maximize your day and explore on your own.

Tonight, get to know your fellow travelers over a Welcome Drink, followed by a welcome briefing. Then sit down for your first dinner together at your hotel.

This morning, your Program Director will introduce you to Galway on a walking tour through the city. You have the remainder of the day at leisure to explore Galway on your own. This enchanting city is a medley of narrow lanes, wood and stone shop fronts, and bustling restaurants and pubs. Originally presided over by the local O’Flahertys, Galway was taken over by Anglo-Normans and became a thriving center of trade and commerce by the 14th century. European galleons were a regular sight in the city, which was even “home” to the Spanish Armada during its western voyages. Galway declined after being damaged in battle with the forces of Oliver Cromwell in the mid-17th century, but regained its prosperity and vitality in modern times. Today, Galway remains a merchant town, but it is also a burgeoning center for technology and a lively bohemian mecca.

Dinner is on your own tonight. Or, join us for an optional Irish ceili, a celebration of the harvest that usually includes a hearty meal followed by song, stories, and dance. You’ll join the Byrne family as they explain this traditional Irish celebration. Feel free to join in song and dance with us as we watch the sun go down on Galway Bay. Your optional tour includes a three-course dinner with entertainment.

Spend the day at leisure, exploring Galway on your own. The city’s compact center spans both sides of the River Corrib. In the center of Eyre Square stands the Quincentennial Fountain, constructed in 1984 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Royal Charter granted by King Richard III that created Galway as an independent city-state. Nearby are some of the oldest streets in Galway, narrow winding lanes that curve in and around old wooden buildings, often meandering off toward the Corrib and the docks. Yet turn a corner and you will find modern Galway—certainly one of the liveliest cities in Europe. Artists and musicians crowd the sidewalks and almost every pub seems to offer live music.

Or, join us for an optional journey through the Connemara region of Galway. Once home to more than two million Irish, it still retains its regional heritage, as you will discover while we ramble around its lakes, mountains, and bogs. We'll visit the former Gothic mansion of Mitchell Henry, now the home of Benedictine nuns and better known as Kylemore Abbey. You'll have time to wander both the mansion and the Victorian gardens. Then cruise Killary Harbor, a charming fjord-like inlet. You’ll enjoy lunch while cruising. On your return, we'll travel through the Inagh Valley to the coast, where we'll see the deserted village of Clough Na Mara and discover a sense of hardship the Irish experienced in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, only the shells of their homes remain—set amidst hundreds of miles of stone walls.

This evening, enjoy dinner on your own.

This morning, you depart Galway for Killarney after a hearty breakfast. On the way, discover the intense natural beauty of Eire on an included excursion to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. The Burren’s name is derived from a Gaelic word meaning “stony place,” and it is like no other place in Ireland. Instead of peat bogs and pastures, you’ll find a surreal moonscape full of huge limestone crags.

Despite this seemingly inhospitable setting, a diverse array of plant life—including wild orchids and rock rose—thrives here. Alpine plants nestle in crevices beside temperate species. The white, deeply crevassed limestone conceals “micro-environments” rich in potholes and hollows. The ample rainfall and strange topography have resulted in a paradoxical profusion of arctic and semi-tropical vegetation growing side by side.

The majestic Cliffs of Moher are precipitous rock formations—towering nearly 700 feet above the crashing ocean surf at their highest point—that offer breathtaking panoramic views of Ireland’s Atlantic coast. These magnificent cliffs provide nesting sites for tens of thousands of seabirds. If the wind is strong, the sea foam and spray flies up and over the cliffs along with the rain; while on clear sunny days, fantastic views can be seen from every angle.

Over the centuries, people have also made their mark, with towers, quarries, and well-worn paths, but they’re almost lost in the scale and grandeur of the sea cliffs. One that does stand out is O’Brien’s Tower, a huge structure built to house the guests of Cornelius O’Brien, County Clare’s legendary Member of Parliament from the 1830s until he died in 1857.

You continue on to Killarney to spend the next three nights. This market town is known for its verdant, rolling hills and glittering loughs (lakes). You’ll enjoy a brief panoramic tour of the town before arriving at your hotel.

Dine with your fellow travelers at your hotel this evening.

On this morning’s included tour, you’ll discover the Ring of Kerry, a 110-mile route that traces the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula and offers breathtaking views. There is always something new to appreciate in the combination of ocean, islands, mountains, light, and ever-changing weather patterns. We ride most of the way, making scenic stops.

 

The first town along the route is Killorglin, where an elegant eight-arched bridge crosses the River Laune. Farther on, the road descends from high above the bay to the water’s edge at Kells, an attractive fishing village with panoramic viewing points.

The next stretch is one of the highlights of the Ring, with outstanding views of the Blasket Islands and the Dingle Peninsula. On the return to Killarney, the route takes you through Moll’s Gap, where you’ll have an included lunch, and Ladies View, named after Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting. The vistas of lakes and mountains remain magnificent today. We’ll continue on and return to Killarney.

Dinner tonight is on your own. Or, join us for an optional performance by the National Folk Theatre, the country’s only repertory company, with an included dinner. Using the disciplines of traditional Irish music, dance, storytelling, and mime, the group offers a cultural experience dramatizing the essence of Irish culture, including the myths, legends, lore, language, folkways, and folk life of a bygone era. Please note: This optional tour is available on May-September departures only.

Your day is at leisure to pursue your own interests.

Or, join us on an optional tour as we venture out along the Dingle Peninsula. You’ll stop first at Tralee’s Kerry the Kingdom Museum, where you’ll enjoy the fascinating experience of a recreated medieval village. Then follow the rugged Dingle Peninsula with its wild mountains and some of the most spectacular coastline Ireland has to display. You’ll view the famed Blasket Islands, the most westerly point of Europe, and their prehistoric ring forts and Beehive huts. One of Ireland’s largest Irish-speaking areas, the peninsula has attracted many writers and artists for the inspiration the wild landscape offers. The movies Ryan’s Daughter and Far and Away were made here. We will stop in the fishing town of Dingle to enjoy locally caught fish (and chips) for lunch.

After breakfast, we will stop at a working sheep farm and see Ireland’s finest Border Collies in action at a sheepdog demonstration. Please note: This is an outdoor event and is weather-dependent. It will not be conducted in wet, muddy conditions.

Next, you’ll transfer to Cork, stopping for a visit to Blarney Castle, where a 129-step staircase leads up a tower to the famed Blarney Stone. According to legend, anyone who manages the backward lean to kiss it receives the “gift of the gab”—a smooth, soothing way with words that at best mean nothing.

The word “blarney” was coined by Elizabeth I to describe her endless and fruitless discussions with Dermot McCarthy over his surrender of the castle to the Crown. The McCarthys built the present castle with its 85-foot-high keep in 1446, replacing an earlier castle. Though the Blarney Stone gets all the publicity, the castle’s tower house and surrounding gardens are superb in their own right. The castle’s grounds also include caves, dungeons, and a rock garden of ancient trees and weathered stones.

Continue on to historic Cork, Ireland’s second-largest city. A walk through this island city takes you into the famous English Market, noted for its wide selection of fresh Irish produce. Discover the rebel city of Cork through its many medieval lanes and back streets.

This evening, you’ll enjoy dinner at your hotel with your fellow travelers.

This morning, ride to Cobh (pronounced “cove”). This picturesque town long served as the main harbor for the city of Cork, and is dominated by the spire of St. Colman’s Cathedral, which contains the largest carillon in Ireland. This morning, a local historian will give you some insight into Cobh's history.

Cobh was a major emigration point for families who left the country during the Great Potato Famine, when some two-and-a-half million emigrants departed this port for North America. Here you’ll discover the story of Irish emigration and the era of the great ocean liners, when Cobh was a very active port. This was the last place that the Titanic docked before heading across the Atlantic on her tragic journey.

Here you can also pay tribute to the victims of the Lusitania at a quayside memorial. In 1915, this ship was sunk off the coast of Cobh by a German submarine, with a loss of 1,196 passengers, including 127 Americans. This action helped bring America into World War I. Then, enjoy a short, leisurely walk around Cobh accompanied by our local historian. You'll have some free time afterward for your own explorations.

Then, learn about contemporary life in Ireland—and savor a traditional meal—during a Home-Hosted Lunch with a local family.

In the late afternoon, return to Cork, and enjoy dinner on your own.

This morning, you'll transfer from Cork to the city of Waterford.

En route, you'll enjoy a guided tour of Cahir Castle and a visit to Kilkenny city. Cahir, in its time (13th-15th centuries), was a state-of-the-art design for a defensive castle and is today one of Ireland's best-preserved castles. Situated on a rocky island in the River Suir, the castle still has its keep, tower, and much of its original structure. The last Lord Cahir died in 1961 and the castle came into state stewardship. You'll enjoy an included guided tour and an audio-visual show describing the castle's history.

Kilkenny city straddles both banks of the River Nore in the center of County Kilkenny. Founded by Aengus Osraige, it was the capital of the ancient Irish kingdom of Ossory. Later, it was the capital of Confederate Ireland between 1642 and 1649. Its most famous buildings are Kilkenny Castle and the 13th-century St. Caniece's Cathedral. You'll have free time in this compact city for some explorations and lunch on your own.

Arrive in Waterford in the late afternoon. Founded by the Vikings in AD 914, the name of the city—Ireland’s oldest—comes from a word that originally meant “windy fjord.” Like many old cities in Ireland, Waterford has undergone repeated historical upheavals. But its constancy to the crown in the face of a pretender revolt in 1497 earned it a motto that sticks to this day: Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia (“Waterford remains the untaken city”). Although it withstood a withering siege by Oliver Cromwell in 1649, it finally surrendered during a second attack the following year.

The city thrived tremendously in the 18th century, which also saw the founding of the city’s most famous business, a glassworks that was started in 1783 by George and William Penrose. Today, Waterford Crystal is prized the world over as the standard for the highest quality lead-cut crystal. You’ll arrive in Waterford in the late afternoon and have a walk around with your Program Director.

Tonight, after an included dinner at your hotel, you’ll gather at a pub for an included drink and a live music performance.

This morning after breakfast, you’ll visit the Waterford branch of Waterford Crystal, now part of a worldwide operation that includes such notable brands as Wedgwood and Royal Doulton. You’ll hear about the company’s history and see a glassblowing demonstration.

From Waterford, you’ll travel overland to Dublin, stopping around noon for a visit to lovely Glendalough, a glacial valley that would come to be known for a monastery founded here in the sixth century by St. Kevin. The settlement thrived for centuries, but was destroyed by the English in 1398. Among the monks’ great achievements was manuscript writing and copying, including the creation of the spectacular Book of Glendalough around 1131. Now at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, the book—containing historical chronicles, genealogies, and religious poems—is one of the most important and beautiful Irish manuscripts from the pre-Norman period.

After lunch on your own, you’ll continue on to Dublin, arriving in the late afternoon. You’ll then enjoy a walk around the neighborhood with your Program Director, followed by an evening at leisure.

After breakfast this morning, get to know Dublin on a panoramic city tour. You'll stop by Trinity College (officially the University of Dublin), which was established by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592. Here you'll view the famous Book of Kells, an elaborate illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels. Created by the monks of St. Columba on the Isle of Iona around AD 800, the book contains lavishly illustrated transcriptions. This is one of the oldest surviving books in the world, and the quality of its artwork is the epitome of medieval craftsmanship and devotion.

You have the afternoon free for personal exploration. This evening, gather with your Program Director and fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner at your hotel.

Depart from Dublin for your return flight home. Or, continue your discoveries on your optional post-trip extension to Dublin, Ireland.