Outline Itinerary for Mary O Connor and Ellen Smith A Private Tour - 8 day itinerary Detailed 35 page itinerary will be included with the final documents. SPECIAL NOTE: The sites that are mentioned in the daily touring outline are those that would be a logical stop during the touring day. At Conn s Ireland we never say NO to a tour member. You can discuss with the driver-guide ANYTHING you are interested in and he will let you know if that is possible, given the European Union Commercial Driver Safety Rules which regulate the amount of time a driver can drive during the day. ADMISSIONS: I have NOT included any site admissions as you may wish to choose which ones you wish to enter and take the guided tour. Msy 14 Tuesday DEPART FOR IRELAND Depart for Ireland this evening. You will arrange your own air reservations. This will be an overnight flight to Shannon, Ireland. May 15 Wednesday FERMOY & KINSALE Arrival in the Emerald Isle at Shannon Airport. After you clear Irish Immigation and Customs you will be met by your Private Tour Driver- Guide and he will take you to the waiting luxury touring vehicle. Continue towards Kinsale in County Cork. You had wished to meet with your cousins who live in Fermoy so you will make a stop there on the way to Kinsale. Continue to Kinsale, a picturesque harbor town It is known as the Gourmet Capital of Ireland. Time permitting: you may wish to visit Charles Fort, a 17th century star-shaped fort overlooking the harbor channel. It has a resident ghost! - The White Lady. You ll want to experience one of the gourmet restaurants this evening. Dinner on your own this evening. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants within a short walk of the accommodation. Stay in Kinsale.
May 16 Thursday BANTRY, KENMARE & SHORT RING Irish breakfast this morning. Tour to Bantry, on beautiful Bantry Bay. On to Glengariff, where you can take a boat ride over to Garinish Island by boat (extra cost) and walk around. You can explore the Italianate Gardens, see the Martello Tower, built by the British during the Napoleonic Wars to deter the French from invading. Cross the spectacular Caha Pass to the town of Kenmare which is worth a stroll around. Nearby is Drombeg Stone Circle which is one of the largest in Ireland. Tour south through the Short Ring of Kerry stopping at Ladies View overlooking Killarney Town and the Lakes of Killarney and on through enjoying Moll s Gap and beautiful mountain scenery. Continue south to Killarney, set at the foot of the mountains and at the shore of the Lakes of Killarney - picturesquely situated between the mountains and the lakes. The gardens are delightful and the lawn sweeps down to the lake. Dinner on your own this evening. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants within a short walk of the accommodation. Stay in Killarney May 17 Friday DINGLE PENINSULA Irish breakfast this morning. Tour the spectacular Dingle Peninsula to Dingle, one of Ireland's most picturesque spots. You ll tour down the southern side of the peninsula to Inch where you may wish to stop and stroll the beach. On to Dingle Town, one of Ireland busy fishing ports. Take the Slea Head Drive stopping to view the Bee Hive stone huts that were used by pilgrims centuries ago on their way to Mount Brandon and to Skellig Michael. Continue via Dunquin and visit the Blasket Island center and the 7th century Gallorus Oratory. Return to Killarney via the northern side of the peninsula to the town of Tralee and find out about the sad romantic story of the Rose of Tralee. This evening you will enjoy a traditional Irish night with dinner, Irish music and dancing at Kate Kearney s Cottage. Stay in Killarney
May 18 Saturday CLARE COAST & BURREN Irish breakfast this morning. Enjoy a Jaunting Cart ride through the Killarney National Park. Perhaps visit the Muckross House & Gardens before arriving at your accommodation. The house was once a residence and is now a museum to Killarney life of the 19th century. Tour north from Killarney through Listowel to Tarbert and cross the Shannon estuary by ferry to County Clare. Tour along the Clare Coast to visit the Cliffs of Moher which rise 700 feet above the sea and extend five miles along the coast. Drive on through the Burren country - an area of limestone hills which supports a wide range of flora. Dinner on your own this evening. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants within a short walk of the accommodation.. Stay in Ballyvaughan. County Clare. May 19 Sunday GALWAY Irish breakfast this morning. Tour along Galway Bay through Kinvara and stop for a photo of 15th century Dunguaire Castle. Continue on to Galway City. Christopher Columbus stopped here on his way to the New World. Explore the pedestrianized streets and see Eyre Square, the Claddagh, Galway Cathedral and more. You ll enjoy the many shops, pubs and curioes here. Dinner on your own this evening. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants within a short walk of the accommodation. Stay in Galway. May 20 Monday ARAN ISLAND EXCURSION Irish breakfast this morning. Mary will tour to Rossaveal this morning and board the Aran Island Ferry ( if you choose the air excursion you will go to Inverin and Connemara Regional Airport) to Inishmor, the largest of the Aran Islands. You ll meet your island guide from Hernons Island Tours and enjoy a two hour sightseeing tour of the island. You ll visit Dun Aengus, a 2500 year old stone fort that sits on the cliff edge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. You can explore the town of Kilronan before returning back to Rossaveal in the afternoon.
Ellen will stay back in Galway and enjoy the day exploring the city. Return to Galway for a leisure evening. Dinner on your own this evening. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants within a short walk of the accommodation. Stay in Galway. May 21 Tuesday CONNEMARA EXCURSION Irish breakfast this morning. Tour into the area known as Connemara. You ll drive along the shores of Galway Bay with the Aran islands off to your left. Continue through Casla and into the heart of Connemara. This area is known for its dramatic scenery of purple mountains, deep blue lakes and streams with white-washed stone cottages dotting the landscape. On to Clifden and a drive along the Sky Road with its spectacular views to Kylemore Abbey. On to Leenane and view Ireland s only fjord, Killary Harbor. Tour down the scenic Ma'am Valley to Ma'am Cross and return to Galway with a stop in the village of Moycullen where you may wish to visit the Connemara Marble factory and Celtic Crystal. Continue to Bunratty in County Clare. Dinner on your own this evening. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants within a short walk of the accommodation. Stay in Bunratty. May 22 Wednesday DEPART FOR HOME Irish breakfast this morning. Private Taxi Transfer to Shannon Airport. Check-in for your flight. You will clear US Customs, Immigration and TSA here in Dublin before you board your plane. Depart for Home. SLAN LEAT! Intellectual Property: This proposal and its contents are the product of my 48 years experience of Ireland itinerary planning for tens of thousands of clients. As such it is the property of Conn O Scannlain CTC. It is not to be shared with anyone other than with the Gail Klewici of KPT Travel and yourselves without the permission of Conn O Scannlain CTC unless there is a fee of $500 paid.
COMPREHENSIVE PRIVATE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES: Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom/shower for 7 nights Kinsale - Actons Hotel - 1 night May 15 Killarney - Killarney Lodge Guesthouse - 2 nights May 16-17 Ballyvaughan - Hylands Burren Hotel - 1 night May 18 Galway - Victoria Hotel - 2 nights May 19, 20 Bunratty - Courtyard Gueshuse - May 21 Luxury Touring Vehicle from May 15-21 Experienced Driver-Guide from May 15-21 Driver s Accommodation and Meals Taxi transfer from Bunratty to Shannon Airport on May 22 Comprehensive sightseeing Irish breakfast each morning Jaunting Cart Ride through Killarney National Park Dinner and Traditional Irish Night at Kate Kearney s Cottage Shannon River Ferry Crossing Aran Island Excursion & Island Tour - ONLY Mary Admissions: We have NOT included any admissions as you can decide on the day which sites you wish to visit and how many would be visiting. Porterage of two suitcases per person at hotels Driver-Guide Gratuity Included Detailed day-by-day touring itinerary Electronic Tour Documents Government taxes @ 13.5%