When Irish Eyes Are Smiling…Ireland!

Today, transfer to the airport and board your overnight flight bound for Dublin, Ireland.

This morning, you arrive in Dublin, where you are met by your private driver/guide. Your journey begins as you board your private motorcoach and travel to Waterford. Your first stop is the world-famous Waterford Crystal factory. On your guided tour, watch craftsmen transform glowing balls of molten crystal into elegant shapes, with skills that have made two hundred years of perfection clearly visible in every piece. Learn how the Master Sculptor works 3-dimensionally, using his skill to sculpt the desired piece from a solid block of crystal. Days, weeks, and even months can pass before a sculpted piece is completed. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour with a local guide in the country’s oldest city. Waterford was founded by Vikings in 914 A.D., and parts of its ancient walled core remain. Tonight’s dinner will be served in the hotel’s dining room. (B, D)

Travel south to Cobh today, the last port of call of the Titanic. An included tour at the Cobh Heritage Centre will reveal many of the places that still remain over a century after travelers embarked on that fateful voyage. Next, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or explore the tranquil gardens. Treat yourself to quality Irish-made goods at Blarney Woollen Mills. After free time for lunch on your own, journey to Killarney and check into your hotel for the next two nights. This evening, dinner is served in the hotel’s dining room. (B, D)

Today, after breakfast, discover the natural beauty of the Emerald Isle on Ireland’s most popular scenic drive, the Ring of Kerry, with plenty of photo stops along the rugged coastline. This afternoon, watch border collies in action during a traditional sheepdog demonstration at a family-run farm before you return to the hotel. Enjoy the evening in Killarney for dinner on your own. (B)

After a leisurely breakfast and checking out of your hotel, depart for the famous Dingle Peninsula loop. Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous in the movies Ryan’s Daughter, Far & Away, and The Last Jedi, which showcased the wonderful scenery found here. The Peninsula is 10 miles wide and runs 40 miles from Tralee to Slea Head. The top of its mountainous spine is Mount Brandon, at 3,130 feet, the second tallest mountain in Ireland. While only tiny villages lie west of Dingle town, the Peninsula is home to 500,000 sheep. After some free time for lunch and shopping in Dingle, travel northeast and arrive in one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare. With its picture-postcard main street of thatched cottages and medieval buildings, Adare village is rich in ancient and archaeological remains, with a history dating back to 1200 A.D. Tonight's dinner will be served at the hotel’s dining room. (B, D)

After a full Irish breakfast, head to the famous Cliffs of Moher, stunning rock formations that soar 700 feet above the churning Atlantic Ocean and extend for 9 miles. The Cliffs are home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins. On a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay. At the visitor center, enjoy free time for lunch and shopping. Next, travel on to Galway, through the austere beauty of the Burren, a distinctive limestone landscape formed by glaciers. It’s like no other place in Ireland, with its karst landscape of bedrock incorporating a vast cracked pavement of glacial-era limestone. From here, you enter Galway, and after a brief city tour, you continue on to Galway Bay and check in to your hotel for a comfortable two-night stay. Nestled on the picturesque shores of Galway Bay, this awardwinning hotel offers breathtaking views of the famous bay and the Clare Hills. Tonight, dinner is served in the hotel’s dining room. (B, D)

After breakfast, you’re off to Connemara, a region of contrasts, colors, wilderness, and warm welcomes on the west coast of Ireland. While there are many beautiful and eye-catching places in Ireland, Connemara is undeniably one of the most stunning. From the bogs and lakes of Gaelic-speaking South Connemara to the mountain vistas of North and West Connemara, the diversity of the landscape and its people offers much to every visitor. Here, you will visit Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle. Nestled in the heart of Connemara along the Wild Atlantic Way, Kylemore Abbey is a haven of history, beauty, and serenity. Home to a Benedictine order of nuns for over 100 years, the Abbey welcomes visitors from around the world to experience the magic of its magnificent 1,000-acre estate. On your guided tour, you will explore the Abbey’s beautifully restored period rooms and captivating visitor exhibits, learning about its rich history of tragedy, romance, education, and spirituality. You'll also enjoy the 6-acre Victorian Walled Garden, with its lovingly restored buildings and formal flower, vegetable, and herb gardens. (B, D)

Today, your journey continues as you head east toward Dublin. Visit one of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites—Clonmacnoise, located along the River Shannon. A walk among the peaceful stone ruins of this historic site evokes images of the saints and scholars from Ireland's golden age of learning in the 9th century. Several important books of annals were compiled here. Next, stop at Sean’s Bar, the oldest pub in Europe, which has been quenching thirsts since 900 A.D. Later this afternoon, you’ll check in at your castle hotel for another two-night stay! (B)

This morning, embark on a panoramic city tour of Dublin. You’ll pass by iconic sites such as Trinity College, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the General Post Office, Phoenix Park, Victorian St. Stephen’s Green, and more. Then, enjoy a visit to the Guinness Storehouse, where you’ll savor the sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of Ireland’s most famous stout. This afternoon, enjoy free time for shopping along Grafton Street. This evening, celebrate your last night in Ireland with a fun-filled farewell dinner, accompanied by music and songs from a traditional Irish harpist. (B, D)

After breakfast, depart for the airport and your flight back to the United States, bringing with you fond memories of the Emerald Isle. (B)