Sample Itinerary B

DAY 1

08.25 hrs       Group arrive in on overnight flight from Toronto  – AC1908

 Meet and greet with your driver and luxury touring coach on arrival in Dublin airport

 City tour of Dublin including visits to the Book of Kells and St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Welcome to the Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition – a “must see” on the itinerary of all visitors to Dublin. Located in the heart of Dublin City, a walk through the cobbled stones of Trinity College Dublin will bring visitors back to the 18th century, when the magnificent Old Library building was constructed. Inside is housed the Book of Kells – a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world.

Built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick’s Cathedralstands adjacent to the famous well where tradition has it Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. The parish church of Saint Patrick on this site was granted collegiate status in 1191, and raised to cathedral status in 1224. The present building dates from 1220. The Cathedral is today the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (a church of the Anglican communion).

Today the Cathedral is open to all people as an architectural and historical site, but principally as a place of worship. Charges are made for those visiting for sightseeing and these contributions directly support the future of this holy and historic building.

17.30hrs        Arrive Hotel,

DAY 2

07.00hrs        Full Irish breakfast is served in your hotel

08.00hrs        Depart hotel

09.00hrs        Arrive Clane RFC.

Morning set-aside for friendly matches in Clane

11.30hrs        Depart Clane

12.30hrs        Arrive The Aviva Stadium

                    Six Nations Rugby match

16.00hrs        Transfer to Dublin City Centre

                   Time at leisure in the City Centre 

18.30hrs        Depart City Centre

19.00hrs        Arrive at your hotel & dinner.  

DAY 3

07.30hrs        Full Irish breakfast is served in your hotel

08.30hrs        Check-out and depart hotel

11.00hrs        Arrive The Rock of Cashel

The 4th century Rock of Cashel once the seat of the High King of Munster is one of the most enduring images of Ireland, with its amazing collection of ancient walls, towers and halls, and an excellent multilingual audio visual presentation – a site not to be missed.

12.00hrs        Time for lunch in Cashel

13.00hrs        Depart Cashel

13.45hrs        Arrive Kilkenny College

14.30hrs        Friendly match in College

16.30hrs        Depart Kilkenny College

19.00hrs        Arrive Hotel in Cork

DAY 4

                       Full Irish breakfast is served in your hotel

08.45hrs        Depart hotel

09.30hrs        Arrive Munster Rugby

Two – hour coaching session with Munster Academy Coaches –

12.30hrs        Depart coaching venue.

13.30hrs        Arrive in Cobh for lunch under own arrangement

14.30hrs        Titanic Walking Trail

We’ll walk through the streets and environs of Cobh, revealing locations and incidents directly connected to the Titanic and many other aspects Cork harbour history and Irish heritage.  Highlights include: Original buildings, streets and piers associated with Titanic, the actual pier where Titanic passengers departed from, St. Colmans Cathedral, The Lusitania Peace Memorial, The Titanic Monument, Emigrant, military and maritime history, The story of Spike Island & The Famine, Convict Transportation.

16.00hrs        Depart Cobh

16.45hrs        Arrive Cork City Centre

Located in the South-West Region and in the province of Munster. With a population of 119,230 it is the second largest city in the state and the third most populous on the island of Ireland. In 2005, it was selected as the European Capital of Culture. The city is built on the River Lee which divides into two channels at the western end of the city. The city centre is located on the island created by the channels. At the eastern end of the city centre where the channels re-converge, quays and docks along the river banks lead to Lough Mahon and Cork Harbour, which is one of the world’s largest natural harbours.  The city’s cognomen of “the rebel city” originates in its support for the Yorkist cause during the English War of the Roses. Corkonians often refer to the city as “the real capital” in reference to the city’s role as the centre of anti-treaty forces during the Irish Civil War.

Free-time in Cork

18.00hrs        Return to your hotel

DAY 5

08.30hrs        Check-out and depart hotel

09.15hrs        Arrive Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle was built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting attention beyond Munster ever since. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland’s greatest treasures. Now that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of our Tower. Kiss it and you’ll never again be lost for words.

11.15hrs        Depart Blarney

13.00hrs        Arrive Killarney                       

For centuries the Killarney Valley has been recognised far and wide as Ireland’s most beautiful destination – being aptly titled as “Heaven’s Reflex”. It inspired Poet Laureate Alfred Austin to write – “If mountain, wood and water harmoniously blent, constitute the most perfect and adequate loveliness that nature presents, it surely must be owned, that it has, all the world over, no superior”. Prepare to be amazed by the Incredible Beauty, Rich History & Heritage, Myths & Legends and Wonderful Culture & Traditions of this special place, – the Killarney Valley and its surrounding Kingdom Of Kerry.

17.00hrs        Depart Killarney town centre

17.15hrs        Arrive hostel

Killarney is Ireland’s premiere tourist destination and a great base with access to all of the stunning South West of Ireland.  Be warned though – many people have been so inspired and enchanted by the beauty of the scenery and laid-back, cheerful nature of the locals that they end up wanting to move out here for good! With spectacular views over the mountains and lakes of Killarney, Killarney International Hostel is fully equipped with modern facilities whilst maintaining the charm and character of an historic building in peaceful surroundings. Killarney town itself is a lively hub of activity, with many restaurants, pubs, discos, along with outlets for renting bikes, cars and the famous jaunting cars (horse and cart)! If you prefer to rely on motorised vehicles instead of horses, the hostel is a great base to use to drive the Ring of Kerry, Beara Peninsula and Dingle Peninsula.

18.30hrs        Dinner is served in your hostel 

DAY 6

                    Full Irish breakfast is served in your hostel

09.00hrs        Depart hostel

10.30hrs        Arrive Dingle  

Tour of Slea Head including a visit to the Blasket Interpretive Centre  

The Great Blasket Centre on the mainland in Dún Chaoin, on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, is an interpretative centre / museum honouring the unique community who once lived on the Great Blasket Island. This community produced an extraordinary amount of literature, referred to as The Blasket Library, which includes classics such as The Islandman, Twenty Years A Growing and Peig. The centre, which is operated by the Office of Public Works, was opened in 1993 and overlooks the panorama of the Great Blasket and its family of surrounding islands. The Blasket Islands (Na Blascaodaí in Irish – etymology uncertain: it may come from the Norse word “brasker”, meaning “a dangerous place”) are a group of islands off the west coast of Ireland, forming part of County Kerry. They were inhabited until 1953 by a completely Irish-speaking population. The inhabitants were evacuated to the mainland on 17 November 1953. Many of the descendants currently live in Springfield, Massachusetts and some former residents still live on the Dingle peninsula, within sight of their former home. The islanders were the subject of much anthropological and linguistic study around the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries and, thanks partly to outside encouragement, a number of books were written by islanders that record much of the islands’ traditions and way of life. These include An tOileánach (The Islandman) by Tomás Ó Criomhthain, Peig by Peig Sayers and Fiche Blian ag Fás (Twenty Years A-Growing) by Muiris Ó Súilleabháin. The Blasket Islands have been called Next Parish America, a term popular in the United States.

13.00hrs        Arrive Dingle

Free-time for lunch – afternoon set-aside for matches against Chorca Dhuibne Rugby Club – Dingle

19.00hrs        Depart Dingle

20.15hrs        Arrive hostel & dinner

DAY 7

09.00hrs        Depart hostel

11.00hrs        Arrive Limerick

Group to take in the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Limerick

15.00hrs        Depart the City Centre

15.45hrs        Arrive The Inn at Dromoland Hotel 3*  Ennis Co Clare

Situated in Dromoland, 1.1 km from Dromoland Castle, The Inn at Dromoland boasts a barbecue and spa centre. There is a restaurant and guests can have fun at the games room. Free private parking is available on site.  Each room includes a private bathroom. Extras include free toiletries and a hair dryer. A flat-screen TV is offered.  You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.  You can play tennis at this hotel, and the area is popular for golfing and horse riding. The nearest airport is Shannon Airport, 11 km from The Inn at Dromoland.

18.00hrs        Depart hotel

18.30hrs        Arrive Dolan’s Restaurant & Pub dinner and entertainment

Dolans comprises of a traditional Irish pub, restaurant and two live music venues located on the Dock Road in Limerick. Enjoy good Irish style food in relaxed atmosphere. Dolans hosts many national and international bands.

21.30hrs        Depart Dolans

22.10hrs        Arrive hotel.

DAY 8

08.30hrs        Check-out and depart hostel

09.15hrs        Arrive Cliffs of Moher

The Burren is a karstic plateau – a stony chaos to the casual observer – with a full assemblage of the curious landforms that characterise such limestone landscapes. The region encompasses 360 km2 of gently inclined plateau with a further 200 km2 of lowland to the east of the plateau.  The limestone also has a landscape in miniature etched into exposed slabs of rock. The bare surfaces (pavements) are fretted with hollows and channels where acidic rainwater has selectively dissolved the rock. An extreme example of these micro landforms occurs on the coast.  Often described as a natural landscape, the Burren has been profoundly influenced by human activities.

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s top Visitor attractions. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort “Mothar” which was demolished during the Napoleonic wars to make room for a signal tower.

11.00hrs        Depart Cliffs of Moher

14.00hrs        Arrive Buccaneers Rugby Club, Athlone,

Friendly matches at Buccaners

17.30hrs        Depart Buccaners

18.00hrs        Arrive Hotel in  Athlone,

19.00hrs        Dinner is served in the hotel

DAY 9

 09.30hrs       Check-out and depart hotel

11.00hrs        Arrive in Croke Park

Experience a skyline Tour of Croke Park Stadium

Visit Croke Park Stadium and find out what being Irish is all about!

Croke Park is an iconic stadium, steeped in history, and has been at the heart of Irish sporting and cultural life for over 100 years.  Take a trip here and enjoy an unrivalled state-of-the-art interactive visitor experience and find out more about Ireland’s unique national games and the fastest field game in the world – hurling and Gaelic football.

Croke Park Stadium Tours offer an access-all-areas trip through the home of Irish sport.  Walk in the footsteps of legends as you visit the team dressing rooms before going pitchside and taking a seat in the VIP area.  Enjoy panoramic views from the top tier of the stand – 30 meters above the famous pitch.

Explore the museum with its new exhibition galleries that vividly illustrate the story of Gaelic games from ancient times to the present day. Test your own hurling and football skills in the interactive games zone – a must for museum visitors of all ages!

13.00hrs        Transfer into Dublin city centre for some free time to soak up a busy Saturday afternoon on Dublins most famous pedestrian shopping area Grafton Street.

17.00hrs        Transfer your hotel

DAY 10

05.00hrs        Continental breakfast is served in your hotel

05.45hrs        Check-out and depart hotel

06.15hrs        Arrive Dublin Airport

12.45hrs        Arrive Toronto