Here's our itinerary!
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2008
1
20
Trip End
Sep 09, 2008
Grand Rapids,
Michigan,
United States
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Monday, Sept. 1 - Gather at Grand Rapids airport at 9am, for 11:10am flight to Cincinnati, then on to JFK, Flight leaves for Ireland at 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Sept. 2 -- Arrive Dublin Airport at 7:45am - retrieve baggage, through customs, etc., then on the road to 5,200-year-old Newgrange Passage Tomb in the Boyne Valley, then on to Trim Castle and a fast scoot across to Ashford Castle and the Village of Cong, We finish the first full day in Oughterard, County Galway, dinner at the Murphy's Restaurant, Oughterard (Stay at Riverwalk Bed and Breakfast, Oughterard
http://www.bedandbreakfastireland.net/Galway_RiverwalkHse.htm
Wednesday, Sept. 3 - Drive west through the 12 Bens/Pins Mountains, through Clifden Village and up to the beautiful Sky Road, Clifden Castle, Kylemore Abbey and Gothic Church, then back to our B&B past Linnane and through the Mamturk Mountains. We'll stay a second night at Riverwalk B&B
Thursday, Sept. 4 - We'll start south today and visit Dunguaire Castle on Galway Bay, then take in the moonscape that is the Burren (including the Polnabron Dolmen); visit the 700-foot tall Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch Village (drive by the famous links golf course there), Liscannor Rock shop, to Bunratty Folk Park and Castle. We'll stay tonight and tomorrow night at Crystal Springs Bed and Breakfast in Killarney Town, just outside the National Park
Friday, Sept. 5 - Lady's View and Mol's Gap, inside Killarney National Park, then on across the Caha Mountain's to Glengariff and Ilnaculin Garden Island, across Healy Pass to Josie's for lunch, followed by a trip to 3,000 year-old Ardgroom stone circle, back through the Park to Muckross House - taditional Irish music tonight after dinner at Danny Mann's. Another cozy night at Crystal Springs
Saturday, Sept. 6 - today we travel east to Blarney and visit the castle (to kiss the stone), the Rock Close behind the castle and Blarney Woolen Mills (for shopping!), then on northward to St Patrick's Rock of Cashel (ancient provincial capital of Munster), and on to Clonmacnoise (founded in 565AD). Tonight we stay at the Burren Lodge Bed and Breakfast in Athlone and dinner at Hatter's Lane near the Shannon River, http://www.iolfree.ie/~burrenlodge/
Sunday, Sept. 7 - Today we travel east, visiting the Bog Railroad, the Hill of Tara, Old Mellifont Abbey, Monasterboice High Crosses and Malahide Castle, before staying at the former gatehouse for the Jameson Distiller's estate, called South Lodge (here for two nights) http://www.southlodgebb.com/welcome.htm
Monday, Sept 8 -- Ride into Dublin on the DART electric train; the morning will include the Hop-on, Hop-off Dublin Tour (Trinity College and Book of Kells, National Museum, National Library, GPO, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church, Phoenix Park and more!; Lunch at Bewleys on Grafton Street; Afternoon to shop, tour, eat, etc.
Tuesday, Sept. 9 -- To Dublin airport in the morning by 9:00am for the 11:10am departure to Atlanta, through Cincinnati and back to Grand Rapids at 8:55pm
If you are interested in finding out more about our tour director, visit: http://jeffmcelwee.com/details.html
Watch for more entries, coming soon!
