Ann Ronan of San Juan Capistrano is taking a group on a special Globus tour of Ireland, which will highlight spiritual sites, Oct. 1-10, 2012. Interested? Read on.
What’s included:
–Tour directors: Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination fascinating.
–VIP access: Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions.
–Perfect hotels: We’ve done the work to find just the right hotels in just the right locations.
–Transportation: Leave the navigating to us – and just sit back and enjoy the ride.
– Private deluxe motorcoach with air-conditioning.
– Baggage assistance.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive in Dublin, Irish Republic: Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. At 6 pm, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at the hotel. (Dinner)
Day 2 – Dublin: An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and visits to ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL and 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. (Breakfast)
Day 3 – Dublin-Knock: 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. Today, the site 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. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4 – Knock-Murrisk-Kylemore Abbey-Galway: 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 acquir
ed 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, you may wish to join one of our optional evening outings. (Breakfast) 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 6 – Galway-Kilfenora-Bunratty-Adare-Killarney: 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 a lot to see and do: visit the castle; stroll in the folk park, which depicts Irish life in the early 1900s; browse the complex of 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. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Susan Meyer with the good Saint
Day 7 – Killarney. Ring of Kerry Excursion: 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 horse-drawn JAUNTING CAR RIDE through the national park with beautiful vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (Breakfast)
Day 8 – Killarney-Blarney-Waterford: 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 to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, and look forward to a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 9 – Waterford-Avoca-Glendalough-Dublin: An exciting agenda today: Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; Ireland’s oldest HANDWEAVING MILL at Avoca; the Wicklow Mountains; and GLENDALOUGH, the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. See the engaging audiovisual presentation Ireland of the Monasteries, then let your Local Guide show you the remains of this ecclesiastical settlement. (Breakfast)
Day 10 – Dublin: Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
PRICING:(per person land only rates)
$1,869 double occupancy
$2244 single occupancy
-$1,833 triple occupancy
AIR: Available upon request. Please contact Ann Ronan for more details
DEPOSIT: $250 per person
FINAL PAYMENT: July 28, 2012
Ann Ronan: 949-485-4499 aronan@cruiseshipcenters.com