MARIA FORDE'S CELTIC SPIRITUALITY ITINERARY

This morning, meet a local guide to take a tour of Ireland’s Capital. Covering the main points of interest in Dublin, this tour will help to orientate visitors to the geography of the city. The tour includes a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, founded in 1106 and where Jonathan Swift was Dean. His tomb bears the epitaph, which he penned himself: "Where Savage indignation can no longer rend his heart". The tour also includes a visit to Trinity College (founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I) to view the Book of Kells, a 9th century illuminated manuscript.

DBB: Fitzpatrick’s Castle Hotel (4*) Dublin

Day 3: Friday September 19

Drive through the fertile midlands which have many farms and marketing towns to introduce you to many facets of Irish life. Travel through the towns of Moate and Athlone to Knock. Knock Shrine is one of the world's leading shrines where the Virgin Mary appeared to 15 people on August 21, 1879. Travel on through more rugged country via Castlebar to Westport, a planned estate town with an attractive central mall. The remainder of your afternoon is free in Westport, with Matt Molloy’s Pub, reigning pride of place in the town centre.

DBB: Hotel Westport (3*) Westport

Day 4: Saturday September 20

Travel around Clew Bay, through Newport and across the Curraun Peninsula to reach Achill Island, joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful, wild views of steep mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean and stretches of golden beaches. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of 100 cottages abandoned in the 1840’s Famine. Driving back by Westport, drive to visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion in a charming setting, which is now a girls' school. The grounds and chapel are open to the public. Return to Westport for dinner & overnight

DBB: Hotel Westport (3*) Westport

Day 5: Sunday September 21

Drive from Westport to Galway. Remainder of your day is at leisure. Driver will continue to hotel for check-in. Your driver will collect your group from a Central point in the centre at 17.30hrs. This evening, dinner at your hotel.

DBB: The Twelve Hotel (4*) Barna Village, Galway

Day 6: Monday September 22

Visit the Aran Islands which are located in Galway Bay 30 miles west of Galway city. Irish is still the vernacular in this isolated setting and the islanders retain many traditional ways of farming and fishing. The land is extremely stony and the islanders have formed dry stone walls to protect the windswept fields. The popular hand-knit Aran sweaters evolved from unique patterns used by each family and the oiled wool repelled the rain.

Take a short ferry ride to Inis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands. These rocky islands are renowned for traditional fishing and farming communities. Drive to Dun Aengus, a huge pre-historic fortress perched on sheer cliffs. In Kilronan, the main town on the island, visit the Aran Heritage Centre to learn about local customs before returning to the mainland & continuing to Galway for dinner & overnight.

DBB: The Twelve Hotel (4*) Barna Village, Galway

Day 7: Tuesday September 23

Drive around the shores of Galway Bay and through the Burren Country, a unique region of limestone hills where many rare flowers thrive in the sheltered crevices. View the Poulnabrone Dolmen and at Kilfenora visit the Burren Centre, which gives the visitor an introduction to this unspoiled corner of Ireland. This walk through time will take you back through the aeons to a time when this area lay beneath a warm tropical sea. Follow the story of the formation of the Burren's lunar landscape where man hunted bear, and wolves roamed the forests. See how, thousands of years ago, man left his mark on the landscape in the form of Dolmens and burial chambers. They still stand today, stone sentinels at the gates of our civilisation's history. Stop at the Cliffs of Moher, a wall of rock that plunges 700 feet to the churning Atlantic Ocean below. Pass by Ennis & Limerick to Glenstal Abbey (arranged by Groupleader). Afterwards continue to Castleconnell, for dinner & Overnight at your beautiful period hotel.

DBB: Castle Oaks Hotel 3*, Castleconnell, Co Limerick

Day 8: Wednesday September 24

This morning, drive via Adare to Killarney.Enjoy a guided tour of the 19th century Muckross House and Folk Museum. Spend some free time in Killarney before driving along the Dingle to Dingle town. Dinner and overnight at the Dingle Skellig Hotel.

DBB: Dingle Skellig Hotel (4*) Dingle

Day 9: Thursday September 25

Drive via Killarney travel south through lovely mountain scenery to Glengarriff and Bantry Bay where the mild climate allows sub-tropical vegetation to thrive. Continue along the West Cork coast through peaceful fishing towns before heading inland via Bandon to Blarney. Climb to the battlements of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "stone of eloquence". Drive the short distance into Cork city to check into your hotel.

DBB: Ambassador Hotel (4*) Cork

Day 10: Friday September 26

[Relief Driver Today]

Meet a local guide for a City Tour of Ireland’s second city – which refers to itself as « the Real Capital ». Cork is built on many hills so be prepared for some walking as you visit Shandon Church where you can ring the bells and also get a wonderful view over the city. Pass St. Finbarr's Cathedral in the city centre and join the busy shoppers along MacCurtain and Patrick Streets. Just outside Cork city visit the Cobh Heritage Centre which was opened in 1993 in the former railway station through which emigrants actually travelled. The detailed exhibition depicts the varied history of emigration & the transportation from Ireland to Australia & the Americas.

DBB: Ambassador Hotel (4*) Cork

Day 11: Saturday, September 27

This morning we will Drive to Cashel. Visit the majestic Rock of St Patrick, intertwined with myth, legend and Ireland’s early ecclesiastical history and containing many ancient ruins... Continue to Cashel for dinner & overnight.

DBB: Days Hotel (3*) Waterford

Day 12: Sunday September 28

This morning, after breakfast. drive to Callan for a visit to the Edmund Rice Centre. Continue to Kilkenny. Visit St Canice’s Cathedral. The 13th century cathedral of St Canice is the second longest cathedral in Ireland. The site on which the cathedral stands has been a site of Christian worship since the 6th century. Beside the cathedral stands the 9th century round tower. It may once have been a watchtower and a refuge and it can be climbed to give an unsurpassing vantage point to view the city of Kilkenny and the surrounding countryside (weather permitting). Continue through Carlow, passing the Browne’s Hill Dolmen and to the Garden of Ireland – Co Wicklow to your hotel in the Glen of the Two Lakes – Glendalough.

DBB: Glendalough Hotel (3*) Co Wicklow

Day 13: Monday, September 29

After breakfast, wander across for a guided tour of St Kevin’s Monastery. Glendalough was an important monastic settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century, which became one of the most important centres of learning in Europe. Today, the well preserved round tower and church ruins are interesting to explore and the Visitor Centre explains the history of the settlement. Drive North around Dublin and into the Boyne Valley to visit the Boyne Valley Centre which explains the collection of Neolithic passage graves in the area and also visit Knowth Tumulus which date from 2,500 BC.

DBB: Gresham Hotel (4*), Downtown Dublin

Day 14: Tuesday, September 30

After your final Irish Breakfast, we must bid adieu, or as the Irish say Slán (Farewell). After completing your check-out procedures, transfer to Dublin Airport for your return flight home.

COST PER PERSON (Based on Twin Share) $7190.00

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $ 950.00

PRICE INCLUDES:

Ø Flights.

Ø Airport Transfers Day 1 & 14.

Ø Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout the tour where indicated.

Ø English-Speaking speaking driver/guide (1 man) to escort & entertain you

Ø 3-star and superior 4-star hotel accommodation as listed with private bath or shower for 13 nights

Ø 13 Full Irish breakfasts

Ø 13 Table d’Hôte Hotel Dinners

Ø Step-on Guide for Dublin & Cork tours.

Ø Passage on the Aran Islands ferry Service