Donna Salerno Travel
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Ireland Tours
The Gathering ~ 2013
Throughout all of 2013, Ireland is opening its hearts and arms to thousands of friends and family from all over the world, calling them home to gatherings in villages, towns and cities.
Communities throughout Ireland are showcasing and sharing the very best of Irish culture, tradition, business, sport, fighting spirit and the uniquely Irish sense of fun.
Come join in the fun and enjoy the spirit of Ireland. Perhaps you might see a Leprechaun ...
The Gathering Video
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Splendid scenery, fascinating history, a vibrant culture and warm, hospitable people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland. Below we present both a 7 and 14 day tour. Get some insights into Irish cultural, join a historian for a visit to the historic landmarks. Experience the peaceful ambiance of small villages. Enjoy a memorable night of storytelling and music.
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7 Day Tour
Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland 
Tour begins at Dromoland Castle. Transfer from Shannon Airport to Dromoland Castle, your royal home for two nights. The enchantment begins this evening with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner in the castle.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland
Tour begins at Dromoland Castle. Transfer from Shannon Airport to Dromoland Castle, your royal home for two nights. The enchantment begins this evening with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner in the castle.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland
Day 2 - The magnificent Cliffs of Moher & a day at an Irish castle
Drive through The Burren, an eerie landscape of limestone outcrops, to the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs, over five miles long, and towering up to 660 feet, reign unrivaled over the Atlantic Ocean coastline, offering amazing views. Sample a taste of country life during lunch in Burren.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland
Drive through The Burren, an eerie landscape of limestone outcrops, to the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs, over five miles long, and towering up to 660 feet, reign unrivaled over the Atlantic Ocean coastline, offering amazing views. Sample a taste of country life during lunch in Burren.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland
Day 3 - Travel to Kenmare and County Cork
It's on to County Cork today for a two-night stay in an elegant manor house hotel and an in-depth discovery of all things Irish. En route, you'll stop in Kenmare and enjoy a breathtaking drive over the Caha Pass connecting the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.
It's on to County Cork today for a two-night stay in an elegant manor house hotel and an in-depth discovery of all things Irish. En route, you'll stop in Kenmare and enjoy a breathtaking drive over the Caha Pass connecting the Ring of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Lodging: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland
Lodging: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland
Day 4 - A little bit of Blarney, Kinsale & a private concert
Blarney Castle, reputed to bestow the Gift of Gab on hearty souls who climb its ramparts to kiss a magical stone, is the first stop on today's itinerary. It continues at historic Charles Fort, one of the finest examples of a 17th-century fortification in Ireland, and with entrancing views and intimate exploration of the harborside village of Kinsale. This evening, you're invited to a private recital at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral before an à la carte dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland
Blarney Castle, reputed to bestow the Gift of Gab on hearty souls who climb its ramparts to kiss a magical stone, is the first stop on today's itinerary. It continues at historic Charles Fort, one of the finest examples of a 17th-century fortification in Ireland, and with entrancing views and intimate exploration of the harborside village of Kinsale. This evening, you're invited to a private recital at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral before an à la carte dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland
Day 5 - Waterford Crystal & rail to Dublin
Waterford Crystal has long enjoyed a privileged reputation as among the finest glassware in the world - see how it is crafted on a visual journey of over 220 years of glass making at the new Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre. Then it's all aboard a train bound for Ireland's capital city of Dublin. Tonight, enjoy one of Ireland's enduring traditions during The Irish House Party, a fun-filled evening that includes dinner, Irish music and dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Waterford Crystal has long enjoyed a privileged reputation as among the finest glassware in the world - see how it is crafted on a visual journey of over 220 years of glass making at the new Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre. Then it's all aboard a train bound for Ireland's capital city of Dublin. Tonight, enjoy one of Ireland's enduring traditions during The Irish House Party, a fun-filled evening that includes dinner, Irish music and dancing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Day 6 - Dublin's fair city
Experience an in-depth introduction to Dublin on a sightseeing tour that includes lively O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and beautiful parks. We'll take you inside Trinity College Library to see the 8th-century Book of Kells, before giving you the opportunity to enjoy the city as you wish. Wander among the stylish shops of Grafton Street, stroll along the River Liffey or St. Stephen's Green, or experience the grandeur of Merrion Square. Dinner is on your own; Dublin restaurants, and Irish cuisine, have earned high marks on the European culinary scene; there are a lot of restaurants to choose from close to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Experience an in-depth introduction to Dublin on a sightseeing tour that includes lively O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and beautiful parks. We'll take you inside Trinity College Library to see the 8th-century Book of Kells, before giving you the opportunity to enjoy the city as you wish. Wander among the stylish shops of Grafton Street, stroll along the River Liffey or St. Stephen's Green, or experience the grandeur of Merrion Square. Dinner is on your own; Dublin restaurants, and Irish cuisine, have earned high marks on the European culinary scene; there are a lot of restaurants to choose from close to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Day 7 - Secrets of Glendalough
Venture outside of Dublin into the hills of Wicklow to the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough. Most of the ruins and sites date from the 10th century and are remarkably preserved; see some of the most significant ones on a guided tour. Return to Dublin midday for time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Venture outside of Dublin into the hills of Wicklow to the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough. Most of the ruins and sites date from the 10th century and are remarkably preserved; see some of the most significant ones on a guided tour. Return to Dublin midday for time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Tour ends in Dublin. Fly home anytime.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour of Ireland
14 Day Tour
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Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland
Transfer from
Shannon Airport to the Old Ground Hotel in the charming village of
Ennis. If you wish, travel with us to the mighty Cliffs of Moher this
afternoon, where towering, sheer headland plummets into the Atlantic
Ocean. Travel back to Ennis through the Burren, a barren, rocky outcrop
of desolate countryside that is among the eeriest country landscapes in
Ireland.
Lodging: Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Ireland
Day 2 - Meet the owners of a farm, then on to Killarney 
Your
Ireland tour continues when you discover the importance of farming in
the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy farm, which has been
in the same family for generations. Then it's on to Killarney and a
visit to Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in
1843. Set in Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished
19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a
palette of sensational colors. Your accommodations for the next two
nights are at Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, one of Ireland's most
gracious hotels. Overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, Aghadoe Heights
Hotel exudes the warmth of a country home.
Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Day 3 - Stories, music, and Irish food on the Dingle Peninsula
Explore the
wild, rugged, romantic coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula. First
stop is the hilly town of Dingle for a visit to the former Presentation
Sisters convent and a look at the stained glass windows of famed artisan
Harry Clarke, a leader in the arts and crafts movement in Ireland.
Spend some time exploring Dingle and its famous pubs, then travel to the
tip of the Dingle Peninsula for a visit to the Blasket Centre and a
look at the lost lifestyle, tradition and language of the unique Blasket
Islanders. Completely Irish speaking, the residents of these remote
islands off the Kerry coast produced an amazing amount of books in the
early 20th century that depicted their isolated lifestyle. A return to
Dingle brings the perfect ending to the day on the peninsula - a special
evening of traditional Irish food, song and storytelling that gives yet
another look at daily life in this remote part of western Ireland.
Return in mid-evening to Killarney and the Aghadoe Heights Hotel.
Lodging: Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa
Day 4 - Blarney and Waterford
Journey
to 15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend
has it that if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab.
Next up is a visit to the city of Waterford and a tour of the new
Waterford Crystal Visitors Centre for a look at the centuries-old story
of Ireland's famed glassware. Arrive early evening at Mount Juliet
Hotel, in the heart of Kilkenny, where you'll dine à la carte this
evening.
Lodging: Mount Juliet Hotel
Day 5 - Kilkenny antiquities and a little country living
You'll
discover that Ireland's antiquities tell the tales of days gone by...
and today's visit to the ruins of the Cistercian Jerpoint Abbey
introduces some remarkable medieval architectural artifacts. Take a
guided walking tour of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft
and design, for insights into the Black Abbey, Rothe House and Kilkenny
Castle. Mount Juliet is one of Ireland's finest sporting estates, and
you'll have an opportunity to take advantage of some outstanding leisure
activities today.
Lodging: Mount Juliet Hotel
Day 6 - Connemara and the Gaelic heart 
Today's
travels take you to Galway, one of Ireland's fastest growing cities,
for lunch and a look around before entering the Connemara region, home
to windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic
Atlantic coastline. Arrive in Spiddal for a special visit to Cnoc Suain.
Overlooking mountains and sea, the cultural retreat provides an
all-embracing, unique celebration of the preservation of Irish / Gaelic
culture, embraced by warm hospitality. Arrive at Lough Corrib for a
private boat cruise, then on to Ashford Castle; set on a 350-acre
private estate along the shores of the lough, it ranks as one of the
finest castle hotels in the world.
Lodging: Ashford Castle
Lodging: Ashford Castle
Day 7 - An abbey and a castle in the west of Ireland
Today you're
off for some pretty amazing sightseeing in the wilds of Connemara. See a
Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the
shores of Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a
girls' boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder
of the day is free to pursue some of the castle's many outdoor
activities. Dine à la carte tonight in one of the celebrated
restaurants.
Lodging: Ashford Castle
Day 8 - Poetry of nature - the Fermanagh Lakelands 
Travel
from Ashford Castle to Sligo to visit the final resting place of poet
W. B. Yeats at Drumcliffe, then on to County Fermanagh. Following lunch,
head to the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen for a visit under the
guidance of a local historian; the school excels in the arts - former
Royal Portorans include Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. Arrive at Lough
Erne Golf Resort, a waterside resort set on the shores of one of the
world's most beautiful lakes. Dine at the resort tonight.
Lodging: Lough Erne Golf Resort
Day 9 - Special visits to Belleek Pottery & the Ulster American Folk Park
One
of Northern Ireland's finest exports, known the world over as a symbol
of fine Irish craftsmanship, is the delicate Belleek Fine Parian China. A
visit to Belleek Pottery takes you on a behind-the-scenes tour to meet
and chat with the craftspeople who are utilizing many of the same
techniques that have been used for centuries to create the intricate
pieces. Travel to Omagh for a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park to
discover the story of the emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th
and 19th centuries.
Lodging: Lough Erne Golf Resort
Day 10 - The city of Derry and the Giants Causeway 
Leaving
the lakelands behind, head north for a guided tour of the historic city
of Derry, whose well-preserved city walls are some of the finest
examples anywhere in Europe. Lunch at the Bushmills Inn is a real treat,
the epitome of Irish hospitality! Your afternoon is spent on one of the
world's great drives along the Antrim Coast Road. Explore the Giants
Causeway, Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site; over 40,000
perfectly symmetrical basalt columns lead from looming coastal cliffs to
the sea, creating one of the world's strangest geological formations.
Lodging: Culloden Estate and Spa
Day 11 - Belfast and the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
For
centuries, the city of Belfast has played a central role in European
and world events. A tour with a local guide this morning presents a look
at Belfast, past and present. Enjoy some time to explore on your own,
then join us for a visit to the dockyards to see where one of history's
most famous ships, the Titanic, was built. You'll learn a lot more about the Titanic
on a visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which also tells
fascinating stories of land, air and sea transportation - including the
DeLorean sports car!
Lodging: Culloden Estate and Spa
Day 12 - The story of Saint Patrick and on to Dublin 
Your
first visit today, to the Saint Patrick Centre, relays the story of
Ireland's patron saint in the countryside setting where he lived, and
where he is buried. Travel to Dublin, and upon arrival take a guided
walking tour that includes a visit to Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells.
The afternoon and evening are yours to experience a bit of Dublin.
Nightlife in Dublin entices with traditional music and popular pubs,
from the trendy Temple Bar area to traditional pubs.
Lodging: The Westin Dublin
Day 13 - Sights of Dublin and a visit to Dublin Castle
Depart
today for a guided tour through city streets lined with brick Georgian
row houses, famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways. Dublin is
well-known for its beautiful parks, and today you'll see Phoenix Park,
one of Europe's largest walled urban parks, and St. Stephen's Green;
drive along bustling O'Connell Street and see the Lord Mayor's
residence, with a guided visit to the State Apartments at 13th-century
Dublin Castle, which stands in the heart the city.
Lodging: The Westin Dublin
Day 14 - Tour ends
Fly home anytime.
Back to Ireland
