| Day 4 - Harborside Kinsale and Charles Fort A local guide led a historical tour of Kinsale and we toured Charles Fort. We had an excellent lunch at the Fishy Fishy Cafe and spent the afternoon exploring the quaint little town of Kinsale. We had a group dinner at the Little Skillet and went back to the An Seanachai pub for more music. Day 5 - Killarney to Dingle Today we drove through Cork City and stopped for a short time at the Blarney Castle. Then to Killarney National Park for a jaunting car ride through the Lakes of Killarney area. On the way to An Daingean (aka Dingle) and our hotel, we stopped to visit Muckross House and gardens overlooking one of the Lakes of Killarney. We had a group dinner at the Rock House near An Daingean and later went to John Benny Moriarty's. Day 6 - Exploring Dingle's Heritage We explored the stunningly beautiful Slea Head Drive on the Dingle Peninsula. We saw the Blasket Heritage Center, Reasc Monastery, Gallarus Oratory, and Kilmalkedar Church. After an excellent dinner at James G. Ashe Pub, we went to an awesome concert of traditional Irish music at the St. James Church in An Daingean. We ended the evening at Murphy's pub for more great music. |
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| Our Trip Diary Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland We arrived in Dublin from Wales on Saturday night. Sunday we rode the Hop on-Hop off City Tour bus and stopped at the Kilmainham Gaol. Back on the bus to the National Gallery for a tour and lunch. Afterwards we rode the bus to the Harding Hotel for a group dinner. Stephen, our ETBD guide, led a tour through Temple Bar, down by the River Liffey, and across Ha' penny Bridge to O'Connell street. Several of the group went to The Celt pub to hear some traditional Irish musicians. Day 2 - The Historic Heart of Dublin A local guide led us on a historical walk around Dublin in the morning. We finished our tour at Trinity College where we saw the Book of Kells. During the lunch hour we went to the National Library for a reading and discussion of the poetry of W. B. Yeats. We had a late lunch at Wagamama noodle bar and spent the remainder of the afternoon at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church Cathedral, and Chester Beatty Library. The ETBD group had an excellent dinner at Luigi Malone's and many of us went to the Knightsbridge Bar for music and Celtic dancing. |
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| Day 11 - To Northern Ireland We made the long bus trip from Westport to Portrush in Northern Ireland. On the way we stopped in Drumcliff to visit the grave of William B. Yeats and had lunch in Donegal. After lunch we traveled to Derry where Stephen led a tour and we had some time to explore. After our time in Derry we traveled to Portrush. We had dinner at the Coast Italiano and walked around the harbour. Day 12 - Antrim Coast and Old Bushmills Today we visited the amazing Giant's Causeway, walked the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, toured the Bushmills Whiskey Distillery in Bushmills, and explored Dun Luce Castle. We returned to Portrush for an outstanding group meal at the Harbour Bistro. Day 13 - Belfast and Return to Dublin We returned to Dublin today with a tour of Belfast on the way. We did some last minute exploring in Dublin before our farewell dinner at the Eden restaurant. After dinner we made one last pub visit, The Temple Bar. We are glad to be returning home but sad to go. Day 14 - Tour Over after Breakfast Back across the ocean to our home after a marvelous trip and a grand adventure. |
| Day 7 - Roam the Dingle Peninsula Today was a free day in An Daingean. So we took the ferry to the Blasket Islands and went on an eco tour around the islands. Nancy decided to stay in tonight, but Gary visited O'Flaherty's pub for more delightful Irish music. Day 8 - The Towering Cliffs of Moher We traveled to Galway today. We crossed the River Shannon into County Clare on the ferry . We passed through County Clare and stopped to see the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and the geological wonder called The Burren. Stephen led a walking tour of Galway and we had a group dinner at Busker Browne's. We stopped at the Pucan Pub for a few minutes on our way back to our cozy B & B. Day 9 - Galway and the Aran Islands After a wonderful breakfast we took the bus to the ferry at Rossaveel for the trip to Inishmore in the Aran Islands. We opted for the minibus tour around the island, but some of our group rented bikes. On the island tour we saw mysteryious Dun Aenghus and the Seven Churches. We arrived back in Galway for dinner at McDonagh's Fish and Chips. Gary stopped at Taaffe's to hear some music after dinner. Day 10 - Connemara Countryside We departed Galway for Westport in County Mayo. On the way we stopped in the lovely little town of Cong and had lunch in the village of Leenane. We stopped at the base of Croagh Patrick for a lesson in hurling and a close look at a peat bog. We had dinner in Westport and several of the group went to Matt Malloy's to listen to music. |
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| Day 3 - Emerald Gardens and Ruins We left Dublin and traveled through County Kildare into the Wicklow Mountains to Powerscourt Gardens. After lunch, we visited the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. From Cashel we traveled through County Cork to the harbor town of Kinsale and our hotel. We had dinner at the White House pub and heard an excellent balladeer at the An Seanachai pub. |
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