Mike on his annual tour as he visits the scenic countryside and rolling hills of Ireland. Stay in Drogheda outside of Dublin and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Belfast. Visit County Donegal, known for its beautiful coastline, and stay in the exciting town of Letterkenny. Next travel to Sligo, home of poet W.B. Yeats, and the pilgrimage town of Knock. Stay 2 nights in the resort town of Westport in County Mayo and take a tour of Achill Island driving along the beautiful Atlantic Drive. Continue through Galway to Killarney for your final 3 nights. While here, experience the Dingle Peninsula and the Lakes of Killarney. Along the way, Mike will be entertaining you in the hotels with his music. Don’t miss out, sign up today.

Included features:

• Round trip economy class airfare

• Transport by luxury motorcoach

• Services of a professional driver/guide

• 9 nights hotel accommodation

• 9 full breakfasts

• 1 lunch

• 8 dinners

• Sightseeing as per itinerary

• Hotel Porterage

• Document holder & baggage tags

Itinerary

Sunday, April 18            Newark to Dublin

Board Continental Flight #126 departing Newark at 9:45 pm. Dinner and breakfast will be served en route. Check in at least 2 1/2 hours prior.

 

Monday, April 19            Dublin Arrival & Drogheda

After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Then your driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach. Take an orientation drive around Dublin city center. Dublin is one of the liveliest capitals in Europe but there are plenty of historical places also. See the main thoroughfares of O’Connell Street and Nassau Street, the shopping streets and some lovely public parks. Stop to visit the Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits on how this world famous stout was first created and why it is so popular today.  Finish your visit in the roof-top bar, Gravity, overlooking the city center where you can sample a draft Guinness and enjoy the view of the city. Then drive north to the town of Drogheda and check into your hotel. After you settle into your room you may like to rest or explore on your own before dinner. 

Dinner & Overnight: D Hotel, Drogheda

 

Tuesday, April 20            Belfast Sightseeing & Mourne Mountains

Well rested after a complete night sleep and a wonderful breakfast we head north towards Belfast. This city is situated on the deep inlet of Belfast Lough surrounded by hills. Tour the city with a local guide to see Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built and the Falls Road and Shankill residential areas. After your tour, we have an included lunch at a local venue. This afternoon we head south taking a scenic route by way of Lisburn, Ballynahinch and on to the beautiful town of Newcastle situated on the Irish Sea and sheltered by the magnificent Mountains of Mourne.  Continue via Warrrenpoint and Carlingford Lough to our hotel. After some time to refresh, join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Dinner & Overnight: D Hotel, Drogheda

 

Wednesday, April 21 Ulster American Folk Park & Letterkenny

Depart Drogheda this morning and journey northwest through the scenic Irish countryside to reach the town of Omagh. Stop to visit the Ulster American Folk Park and see many cottages including the boyhood home of the industrialist, Thomas Mellon, who emigrated to Pittsburgh in 1818. Trace the story of emigration from the 1720s with Ulster settlers who headed for the Appalachians in Colonial times. The Park recreates the emigrant experience traveling from the “old world” by ship to emerge in the “new world.”  After your visit, board the coach and continue northwest to Letterkenny and check into your hotel.  Enjoy some time to relax and settle in before joining your group for dinner.

Dinner & Overnight: Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny

 

Thursday, April 22            Grand Atlantic Drive

Today experience the glorious natural beauty of Donegal and the Grand Atlantic Drive, which winds through Downings and Rosapenna and past pristine golden beaches and deserted rocky headlands. Then travel inland to Glenveagh National Park with the Derryveagh Mountains in the background. High walls and conifers provide shelter for exotic plants and a large herd of red deer. Tour Glenveagh Castle, a granite castle built in 1870 on the shores of Lough Veagh. Return to Letterkenny and enjoy some time to relax before joining your group for dinner. 

Dinner & Overnight: Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny

 

Friday, April 23        Knock Shrine & Westport

Depart Letterkenny this morning and travel through Donegal and along the shores of Donegal Bay.  Continue through Sligo, an area associated with the great poet W.B. Yeats, and south through County Mayo to reach the pilgrimage town of Knock.  Embark on a guided tour of Knock Shrine, one of the world’s leading shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. See the shrine and modern basilica before traveling northwest to Westport to check into your hotel.  Enjoy the balance of the day free to relax or do some exploring on your own before dinner.

Dinner & Overnight: Westport Hotel, Westport

                                                                                                           

Saturday, April 24            Achill Island Tour

This morning travel around Clew Bay, reputed to have 365 islands. Drive via Newport and across the Curraun Peninsula to reach Achill Island, joined to the mainland by a bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful and wild scenic views of steeply sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Also see stretches of windswept bogland and golden beaches. Return to Westport where you may spend the afternoon exploring the attractive town. Westport was laid out in 1780 and today still boasts many Georgian houses and a fine tree-lined mall. In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Dinner & Overnight: Westport Hotel, Westport

 

Sunday, April 25            Westport – Galway - Killarney

Travel through Ballinrobe and Galway and around the shores of Galway Bay. Continue to the Shannonside region where many castles and Shannon Airport are located. Then drive through the outskirts of Limerick and south to Adare, which is famous for its main street of thatched houses. After a stop for photos and a walk along the main street, journey into the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney, settled beside three lakes in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountains. Check into your hotel and enjoy some time at leisure to browse, shop and sightsee on your own before dinner.  

Dinner & Overnight: Malton Hotel, Killarney

 

Monday, April 26            Dingle Peninsula

Today discover the beauties of the Dingle Peninsula, made famous by David Lean’s movie, “Ryan’s Daughter.” Drive along the south shore of the peninsula for plenty of vistas of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach and rocky headlands. There will be frequent stops at strategic locations to admire the views and take photos. Stop in Dingle before continuing to the western tip of the peninsula. Return to Killarney. There will be free time for dinner on your own before heading over to the Killarney Avenue Hotel for the Liam O’Connor Show. The show features Liam, accompanied by Lisa Aherne on vocals and a world class band and dancers.

Overnight: Malton Hotel, Killarney

 

Tuesday, April 27            Muckross House & Gap of Dunloe

This morning we have a tour of Muckross House on Killarney’s lower lake. This splendid 20 room Victorian mansion was built in 1843 and provides a glimpse of the lifestyle of the landed gentry of Killarney in the 19^th century. After, we will drive to the Gap of Dunloe to view a natural mountain wonder. Return to Killarney this afternoon for free time to explore town, visit a local pub or just relax. Late this afternoon enjoy a farewell show with Mike Byrne.

Dinner & Overnight: Malton Hotel, Killarney

 

Wednesday, April 28             Return to the United States

Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day.  Depart Killarney and drive north via Adare and the outskirts of Limerick to Shannon Airport, allowing plenty of time for the drive and for check in procedures. On arrival check in for your flight and then you may do some last minute shopping at the extensively stocked Shannon Duty Free Stores.  Pass through U.S. Immigration pre-clearance before boarding Continental Flight #25 departing at 9:00 am. arriving Newark at 11:15 am.  

 

A passport valid for 6 months after date of return (October 29, 2010) is required for this trip.

 

Conditions

To reserve space on this trip a deposit of $350.00 per person ($509.00 with insurance), is due as soon as possible but no later than January 12, 2010. Final payment is due March 11, 2010.

 

Cancellation Penalties

Up to January 11, 2010; $50.00 per person. From January 12 to March 11, 2010; $350.00 per person. From March 12 to April 1, 2010; $1000.00 per person. From April 2 to April 13, 2010; $1500.00 per person. After April 13, 2010; no refund.

 

Insurance

Cancellation insurance is available for $159.00 per person and must be purchased at the time of deposit. The insurance will entitle you to a full refund if you have to cancel for a covered reason. Once paid, the insurance premium is non-refundable.

 

Responsibility

Long’s Travel Service, Inc., CIE Tours and Mike Byrne act as agents only and cannot be responsible for any losses, delays, property damage, personal injury or other loss you may suffer or incur on any component of this tour.