Globus > IRISH FAITH and HISTORY

IRISH FAITH and HISTORY
11 Days starting from $1,639

Countries Visited:
Ireland

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Length: 11 Days
Type: Other Tours
Category: Other Tours
Operator: Globus
Tour Code: TZ-2009
   
 
 
About This Tour


Enjoy the scenic vistas and fascinating history of Ireland. Your Dublin orientation features visits to Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick''s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde''s Trinity College. Travel through dairy-farm country in the center of the "Emerald Isle" to Knock. Visit Knock Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, the basilica, and the Folk Museum, and maybe join the evening rosary processions. On the way to Galway, stop to visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre in Murrisk and Kylemore Abbey. From Galway, enjoy an excursion to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. Many Catholics fled to this island during Oliver Cromwell''s conquest of Ireland in the 17th century. Visit the Aran Heritage Centre, spectacular clifftop Dun Aengus, and the Visitor Centre. Next, drive across The Burren and visit The Burren Centre at Kilfenora on your way to Killarney for your 2-night stay. Join the famed "Ring of Kerry" for a panoramic drive around the island''s southwestern tip and enjoy a horse-drawn jaunting car ride through the National Park. Travel into County Cork and stop in Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone, before arriving in Waterford to visit the world-famous Crystal Factory. Next is Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland''s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca; and Glendalough Visitor Center with its fascinating audiovisual show Ireland of the Monasteries. Return to Dublin for an overnight and the end of your wonderful Irish getaway.

 
  • What's Included
  • Itinerary
  • Dates & Prices
  • Sightseeing
  • SPECIALS

City Highlights
Dublin:
Welcome dinner; orientation drive, visit Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College

Knock:
Visit the Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, the Basilica and the Folk Museum

Murrisk (Croagh Patrick):
Visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre

Kylemore:
Visit the Benedictine abbey

Aran Islands:
Ferry to and from Inishmore, visit the Heritage Centre, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus and its visitor centre

Kilfenora:
Visit The Burren Centre

Bunratty:
Take pictures of the castle

Adare:
Admire the thatched cottages

Ring of Kerry:
Scenic peninsula drive

Killarney:
Horse-drawn jaunting car ride

Blarney:
Visit the famous woolen mills

Waterford:
Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory

Avoca:
Guided tour of the handweaving mill

Glendalough:
Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity

Meals
Full Irish breakfast daily (B); 4 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Dublin

Hotels:
Dublin Quality (F), Knock Knock House Hotel (F), Galway Radisson SAS (SF), Killarney Scotts (F), Waterford Fitzwilton (F)

Note:
  • The overnight on day 4 will either be in Knock or Sligo. Due to limited hotel availability in Knock, we have selected the best available hotel that satisfies Globus’ high standards of quality
Day 1:
(Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrival in Dublin, Irish Republic. (Mon.) Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. Later, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 3:
Dublin. (Tue.) An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes a visit to OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH on Sean McDermott Street, which contains the tomb of Venerable Matt Talbot. Next, visit ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL. Then, a visit to Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Balance of the day is at leisure. (B)

Day 4:
Dublin–Knock. (Wed.) Head for dairy farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle” before arriving in Knock, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the townsfolk in 1879 and today attracts pilgrims from around the world. Visit KNOCK SHRINE, the CHURCH OF THE APPARITION, the BASILICA, and the FOLK MUSEUM. Maybe join the evening rosary processions. (B,D)

Day 5:
Knock–Murrisk–Galway. (Thu.) This morning, visit the CROAGH PATRICK VISITOR CENTRE at the foot of St. Patrick’s Holy Mountain in Murrisk. Afterwards, visit KYLEMORE ABBEY, the massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. Arrive in the port city of Galway, where you will spend the next two nights. Tonight’s recommendation: join your Tour Director for an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme. (B)

Day 6:
Galway. Aran Islands Excursion. (Fri.) At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Many Catholics fled to this island during Oliver Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland during the mid-17th century. In these harsh conditions, they developed a strong self-sufficiency in order to survive. Your fascinating day continues with a visit to the ARAN HERITAGE CENTRE. After a lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy your local driver-guide’s commentary on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop DUN AENGUS, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. After a stop at the VISITOR CENTRE, there is time to shop for unique hand-knitted Aran sweaters before boarding your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway this evening. (B)

Day 7:
Galway–Kilfenora–Bunratty–Adare–Killarney. (Sat.) Take the scenic route across the desolate limestone plateau known as The Burren. At Kilfenora, visit THE BURREN CENTRE. The newly restored ancient cathedral and Celtic crosses in the churchyard form an important center of early Christianity. Continue to Bunratty where there is lots to see and do: visit the castle; stroll in the folk park which depicts Irish life in the early 1900s; browse the complex of smart shops; or try a refreshment in famous Durty Nelly’s Irish pub. Skirt the metropolis of Limerick and continue south via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. (B,D)

Day 8:
Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion. (Sun.) Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Have your camera ready to take photos of the spectacular scenery that includes both land and sea. In Killarney, enjoy a fun horsedrawn JAUNTING CAR RIDE through the National Park with beautiful vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (B)

Day 9:
Killarney–Blarney–Waterford. (Mon.) Cross the Kerry Mountains and drive into County Cork for a visit to Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarven to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the world-famous WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY. (B,D)

Day 10:
Waterford–Avoca–Glendalough–Dublin. (Tue.) Today’s agenda: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; and Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca. Take in views of the Wicklow Mountians on your way to the Glendalough VISITOR CENTER with its fascinating audiovisual show Ireland of the Monasteries. Your Local Guide will explain the ruins of one of the centers of Irish Celtic Christianity, founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and later destroyed by English troops in 1398. Back in Dublin your Tour Director will have dining suggestions for this evening. (B)

Day 11:
(Wed.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)


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Airfare Disclaimer
A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link.

Documents
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

         
Touring Date
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Land + Air
Single
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Single
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8/10/2008 - 8/20/2008
$1,649
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9/7/2008 - 9/17/2008
$1,669
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10/5/2008 - 10/15/2008
$1,639
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3/15/2009 - 3/25/2009
$1,919
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5/24/2009 - 6/3/2009
$1,919
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8/9/2009 - 8/19/2009
$1,919
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9/6/2009 - 9/16/2009
$1,919
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10/4/2009 - 10/14/2009
$1,919
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3/14/2010 - 3/24/2010
$1,999
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5/23/2010 - 6/2/2010
$1,999
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Dublin:
Welcome dinner; orientation drive, visit Our Lady of Lourdes Church, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College

Knock:
Visit the Shrine, the Church of the Apparition, the Basilica and the Folk Museum

Murrisk (Croagh Patrick):
Visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre

Kylemore:
Visit the Benedictine abbey

Aran Islands:
Ferry to and from Inishmore, visit the Heritage Centre, take a minibus tour with a driver-guide, visit Dun Aengus and its visitor centre

Kilfenora:
Visit The Burren Centre

Bunratty:
Take pictures of the castle

Adare:
Admire the thatched cottages

Ring of Kerry:
Scenic peninsula drive

Killarney:
Horse-drawn jaunting car ride

Blarney:
Visit the famous woolen mills

Waterford:
Guided tour of the Waterford Crystal factory

Avoca:
Guided tour of the handweaving mill

Glendalough:
Guided tour of St. Kevin’s center of Irish Christianity

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Book now and take $200 off per couple on any air-inclusive European Low Season Vacations.*

* Book a 2008/2009 Globus Europe Winter air-inclusive vacation on select carriers to receive the $100 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between June 4 and August 31, 2008 for travel commencing between October 1, 2008 and April 30, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one another or any offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


Save up to $600 per stateroom on 2009 Globus River and Small Ship Cruises

Discover an entirely new way to uncover the wonders of the world with river and small ship cruises. From a wine tasting adventure through the vineyards of France to island hopping in the Galapagos Islands, you’re sure to find a Globus river or small ship cruise that speaks to your heart. There’s simply no more peaceful way to sample the charming cities and awe-inspiring sights of Europe, China, Egypt and the Galápagos Islands.

*Book a 2009 Globus River Cruise air-inclusive vacation to receive the $300 off per person offer. Cruise-only bookings are eligible for the $125 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between May 14 and August 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. To secure the air booking, an additional deposit of $250 is required, which is refundable until the time that the flight information is confirmed. Offers not valid with one-another or any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus

Discount for young travelers

Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.

Pay less for your second vacation

We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.

Triple room reduction

On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.

Avoid the single room supplement

We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!


Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel?

Right now when you book between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!

*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.


   
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