IRELAND: Discover the world's most storied island
March 30 - April 8, 2012
Where there are no strangers - only friends whom you haven’t met. That sums up the joy of visiting this small but welcoming country. Never occupied by Rome, Ireland developed its own history, created its own traditions, and inspired its own legends. A refuge for art and religion, it was a source of learning that spurred the Great European Enlightenment. Its rich legacy can be seen from prehistoric tombs and ancient sites of pagan and Christian worship, to Georgian architecture and elegant manor houses. Join us for all this and more, as well as lots of laughter, some great theater, and a good deal of blarney at a guided Dublin Pub Crawl.
Cost: $3,199 per person (double occupancy - single supplement is $450)
* Based on current airfares, taxes, and exchange rate, and a minimum of 25 travelers in group.
INCLUDED:
• Round-trip airfare New York/ Shannon and Dublin/ New York
• Arrival / departure tranfers as per itinerary
• Eight nights accommodations in first-class hotel
• Breakfast daily and other meals as indicated below
• Escorted sightseeing in private motor coach
• Entrance fees/admission charges, local taxes and service fees
• Theater performance with Farewell Dinner and Pub Crawl
Not Included: Airport taxes/security fees, fuel surcharges, gratuities, some beverages, personal items
Tom Kremer and Carol Hanscom - faculty members in Binghamton University's Department of Theatre - are your hosts for this Irish adventure. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, their professional work in both acting and directing has been seen at places such as Oxford Playhouse, England; Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC; Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland; and many prestigious theatre companies in New York City and other venues throughout the United States. Academic credit is available for this trip, contact Prof. Kremer for more information.
ITINERARY:
March 30: Overnight flight to Ireland with meals and amenities aloft.
March 31: Drive along the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, rising an impressive 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. A short ferry ride across the River Shannon takes us to the mountainous countryside of Kerry. The afternoon is free to relax and just wander this picturesque town. Later, join friends for dinner. (D)
April 1: After breakfast, we drive to examine Muckross House, a typical 19th-century furnished mansion. Nearby, a “weaving workshop” displays some of the local crafts. Then, it's off to the Ring of Kerry, more than 100 miles of scenic mountains and beaches, experiencing charming tiny villages such as Glenbeigh, Cahirciveen and Sneem. (B/D)
April 2: Our explorations continue along the Dingle Peninsula, with its rocky headland, where the scenery is wild and barren and the Atlantic more violent. Unique to this area are the rare early Christian monastic beehive huts and isolated fishing villages. We visit several workshops to view modern artistic expressions of ancient Celtic craft traditions. Return to Killarney for dinner. (B)
April 3: Driving through County Cork, stop at the Blarney Castle, to kiss the famous Stone of Eloquence. Then, onto Cork, the second-most populous city in Ireland. Of special interest is Shandon Church, dating from 1722, and St. Finbarr’s Gothic Revival Cathedral, named for the patron saint of the city. Continue to Kinsale for dinner and overnight. (B)
April 4: Nearby is the port of Cobh. The Heritage Center depicts the painful history of the Irish Emigration to the United States over the past 150 years. Cobh was also the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic. In Waterford, home of the world-famous crystal works, see skilled craftsmen create elegant masterpieces before your eyes. Return to Kinsale for dinner. (B/D)
April 5: Clustered on a high limestone outcropping are the ruins at Cashel including the highly decorated Cormac’s Chapel circa 12th century; the large cruciform cathedral and round tower dating from the 13th century. After a farm visit, complete with tea and scones, we continue past more farms and quaint market towns into cosmopolitan Dublin. Evening at leisure. (B)
April 6: This charming city is graced with many elegant Georgian squares. After seeing a few, we head to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Almost as old as the city, St. Patrick’s is the final resting place of Jonathan Swift. No visit would be complete without a visit to the Guinness “Shrine” for a taste of its most excellent product. Enjoy free time before an evening performance of the renowned Abbey Theater. (B)
April 7: This morning takes us to the historic Boyne Valley and the strange burial sites built here thousands of years ago. After an audio-visual presentation, walk through a full-size replica of the largest tumulus and examine an actual tomb. Continue for a visit to Malahide Castle, home of the Talbot family from 1185 until 1975, still filled with many medieval artifacts and family portraits. After returning to town, enjoy some leisure time before a Farewell Dinner and Literary Pub Crawl. Dublin (B/D)
April 8: Return flight to New York.
Tour arrangements provided by Travel with the Experts.
