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Jewels of Ireland 2010

15 days with CIE Tours

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800-680-2858	Tour Itinerary	800-680-2858
Discounts are offered on dates in red. Click FastDeal # for Complete Pricing  FastDeal #   Departs US  Starting   Price * Inc Air Starting  Price * No Air #T455567 Aug 5, '10 $3,228 $2,448 #T113210 Aug 19, '10 $3,228 $2,448 #T19877 Aug 26, '10 $3,228 $2,448 #T760703 Sep 9, '10 $3,228 $2,448 #T868269 Sep 16, '10 $3,228 $2,448 #T149617 Sep 30, '10 $2,998 $2,318 #T735478 Oct 7, '10 $2,998 $2,318 #T305494 Oct 21, '10 $2,798 $2,118 Discounts are offered on dates in red. Click FastDeal # for Complete Pricing Day 1: Thu: Depart U.S. for Dublin Travel to Dublin on an overnight flight to start your vacation. Day 2: Fri: Dublin Castle & City Tour Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm tour Dublin city center with a local guide to see elegant Georgian squares, Trinity College, St. Stephen's Green, the Famine Memorial and O'Connell Street. Find out about Irish history as you tour the State Apartments of Dublin Castle, which contain magnificently-furnished chambers. Back at your hotel enjoy a welcome drink and discuss your tour. Day 3: Sat: Glendalough Monastery & Taylor's Three Rock This morning take a drive south through the lovely Wicklow Mountains to visit St. Kevin's 6th century monastery, picturesquely set in a peaceful valley between two lakes. Walk through the ruined churches, round tower and Celtic crosses. Return to Dublin where the afternoon is free to take your independent open-top bus tour and Guinness or Jameson visit. In the evening head to Taylor's Three Rock Pub for dinner and a great show of traditional music, songs and step-dancing. (B, D) Day 4: Sun: Rock of Cashel & Historic Kinsale Walk Depart Dublin and travel south to visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac's Chapel, the large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Continue past the Galtee Mountains and through the outskirts of Cork to Kinsale, a delightful old town on a narrow inlet of the sea. Formerly a fishing and merchant town, today it is renowned for sailing and gourmet food. Check in to your waterfront hotel and join a local guide for a short walking tour around Kinsale's historic places. (B, D) Day 5:  Mon: Muckross House & Killarney This morning drive via Macroom to Kenmare and along part of the Ring of Kerry route for splendid views of lakes and mountains. Just outside Killarney tour the 19th century Muckross House with a guide to tell you about influential owners and visitors before heading into the famous town for some free time. Continue your drive out along the Dingle Peninsula, the most westerly landmass in Europe. Enjoy views of heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Check in to your hotel, set overlooking Dingle Bay. (B, D) Day 6: Tue: Dingle Peninsula & Gallarus Oratory Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies, “Ryan's Daughter” and “Far & Away.” Drive to Slea Head at the westernmost tip and tour the Blasket Experience to learn about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy farming and fishing families. Next visit Gallarus Oratory, a small church dating from the 6th to 9th centuries. It was built with corbel vaulting and no mortar, but has remained watertight through the centuries. Travel up to the Conor Pass for sweeping views before returning to Dingle for some free time before dinner. (B, D) Day 7: Wed: Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher Visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, near the River Shannon. During the 1930's and early 1940's, the Port of Foynes was a hive of activity with Pan Am's Clipper traffic between the United States and Europe. The museum's exhibits and memorabilia recall this era. Travel through the outskirts of Limerick on the way to Ennis, the main marketing town of County Clare, and check in to your centrally located 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. (B, D) Day 8: Thu: 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 9: Fri: “Quiet Man” Walking Tour & Kylemore Abbey 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. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion, home to Benedictine nuns. Tour the mansion's elegant sitting rooms and stroll by the peaceful lake shore to view the lovely Gothic church. Continue to Clifden, a delightful market town set between the Twelve Bens and sandy bays before returning to Galway. (B, D) Day 10: Sat: 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 11: Sun: 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 marvelous 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 12: Mon: 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 13: Tue: 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 14:  Wed: Battle of the Boyne Centre & River Liffey 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, if you did not use the vouchers at the start of your tour. (B) Day 15:  Thu: 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) Breakfast (B) Dinner (D)

800-680-2858	Tour Map	800-680-2858

800-680-2858	All This Included	800-680-2858
Group transfers on arrival and departure Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout Dublin open-top bus tour Visit and a drink at Guinness Storehouse or Old Jameson Distillery Services of a professional Irish driver/guide Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 13 nights 13 full Irish breakfasts (B) 11 dinners (D) including - Dinner and traditional Irish entertainment at Taylor's Three Rock Pub - Dinner with music at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis - Dinner and Irish step-dancing display at Cabra Castle Hotel - 8 table d'hote dinners Welcome get-together drink Tours of Dublin & Belfast with local guides Walking tours of Kinsale & Derry with local guides “The Quiet Man” walking tour of Cong Slieve League Sea Cliffs followed by home-baked scones with coffee or tea Visits and admissions to Dublin Castle, Glendalough Visitor Centre, Rock of Cashel, Muckross House & Gardens, Blasket Experience, Gallarus Oratory, Foynes Flying Boat Museum, Cliffs of Moher, Burren Display Centre, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory, Kylemore Abbey, Museum of Country Life, Knock Shrine, W. B. Yeats' Grave, Belleek Pottery Factory, Triona Design, Giant's Causeway and Battle of the Boyne Centre Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

800-680-2858	Tour Highlights	800-680-2858
Taylor's Three Rock Irish Night Glendalough Monastic Site Tour Dublin & Belfast “Quiet Man” Walk Kylemore Abbey Historic Kinsale & Derry Walking Tours\ Slieve League - Europe's Highest Sea Cliffs Giant's Causeway Cabra Castle Hotel & Irish Step Dancing

800-680-2858	Accommodations on this Tour	800-680-2858
Dublin: Davenport Hotel Kinsale: Trident Hotel Dingle: Dingle Skellig Hotel Ennis: Temple Gate Hotel Galway: Radisson Blu Hotel Galway Donegal: Millpark Hotel Belfast: Europa Hotel Kingscourt: Cabra Castle Hotel Dublin: Clarion IFSC Hotel

800-680-2858	Notes	800-680-2858
Please ask your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information.

800-680-2858	Terms and Conditions	800-680-2858
For terms and conditions of this CIE tour, please click here. * The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land prices are guaranteed. Whenever air-inclusive tour prices are displayed, these prices do not include government taxes and fees, which are additional. Air prices are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Air-inclusive prices include air from a major U.S. gateway; air from other U.S. airports is available at an additional cost. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the tour origination city, we are able to offer the land portion of the package or tour, at the price quoted.