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Country Roads of Ireland tour
12 days from only £1450 per person
EXCLUSIVE OFFER - save 5% off the land only cost of this tour if booking before
31st July 2009, call us now for a confirmed quotation
Highlights -
Enjoying the ‘craic’ with your jarvie on
your jaunting car ride, your Japanese Garden ‘journey through life’ at the Irish
National Stud and exploring Irish history at the ancestral Clonalis House and
the living museum of Bunratty Folk Park.
Hotels -
Modern hotels like the Europa in Belfast,
contrast with the historic charm of the Ballygally Castle Hotel with its
original beamed ceilings and antique furniture. The Blarney Golf Resort is set
amongst 170 acres of the beautiful Shournagh Valley
Enjoy Your Included Tour Features
Premium Highlights
Visit Dublin Castle (when open) the former fortified seat of British rule in
Ireland
Tour the Ring of Kerry, a scenic symphony with stunning views over mountains and
sea
Enjoy a highlight ride with the locals on one of the famous Killarney jaunting
cars
Ireland’s rural heritage comes to life on your visit to Bunratty Folk Park
Visit the spectacular Giant’s Causeway
Personal Insights
An equine professional will join you for a behind the scenes look at Ireland's
National Stud and its famous Japanese Gardens
Watch artisan craftsmen at work and learn how raw materials are transformed into
valuable works on your tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory
Meet the descendants of the last 12th century High Kings of Ireland at their
ancestral home, Clonalis House
Additional Excursions & Sights
See the Customs House and O’Connell
Street in Dublin
Tour the 13th century Kilkenny Castle and Kilkenny Design Centre
See the remains of the old city walls and Reginald’s Tower in Waterford
Climb Blarney Castle and dangle from the ramparts to kiss the famous ‘Blarney
Stone’
See St Finbar’s Cathedral in Cork
Scenic tour of Dingle Peninsula to Slea Head Visit the town of Adare
See King John’s Castle and St Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick
See St. Nicholas Cathedral, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square in Galway
Connemara excursion including a visit to the Connemara Marble factory
Visit the turreted neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey
Visit Belleek Pottery Centre See O’Donnell’s Castle in Donegal
See ‘Derry’s Walls’ and Gothic guildhall See Carrickfergus Castle
View the City Hall and Queen’s University in Belfast
Scenic drives – the ‘Burren’, Antrim coast, Boyne Valley
Insight's First Class Services
Escorted by a professional Tour Director
Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with onboard toilet
Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and
Day 12
VIP Door to Door Transfers in the UK -
Complimentary private door to door
transfers included within 100 miles of your local airport, for additional miles
contact reservations.
Quality Dining -
Dine-Around evening at your own choice of
restaurant from our selection in Kilarney (DA)
11 full Breakfasts (B) and 5 three-course Evening Meals with choice, or buffets,
plus tea or coffee (D)
| Tour Pace -This
is a well paced tour with two- night stays in Killarney and Galway, as
well as in Dublin. The driving days are of a reasonable length, with
frequent stops offering splendid photo opportunities.
Fellow Passengers -This
tour attracts both experienced and first-time travellers who wish to
explore the Emerald Isle. The comprehensive itinerary is also perfect
for those with Irish heritage or those fascinated by the Irish way of
life. |
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Day 1 - UK - MON - DUBLIN
SIGHTSEEING |
Enjoy your complimentary V.I.P. door to
door transfer to your departure airport before your flight to join the
tour! Welcome to Ireland! On arrival at Dublin Airport, your airport
shuttle service leaves for the tour hotel at 08:00, 11:00 & 13:30.
Later, your sightseeing tour of Dublin includes the elegant
squares of Ireland’s ‘fair city’ and a visit to the impressive castle
(when open). See also the famous O’Connell Street and Customs
House. Tonight, enjoy a Welcome Drink with your Tour Director
and fellow guests .
Hotel: Burlington. |
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Day 2 - TUE - DUBLIN -
WATERFORD |
Drive to Kildare for an informative
visit to Ireland’s National Stud, one of the country’s main racehorse
breeding centres. Visit the Japanese Gardens, laid out byEida, a
Japanese landscape artist invited to Ireland at the turn of last century.
Move on to visit the 13th century Kilkenny Castle, with its
splendid picture gallery. See also the Kilkenny Design Centre
before continuing to your hotel in historic Waterford.
Hotel: Dooleys. (B) |
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Day 3 - WED - WATERFORD -
BLARNEY |
See history unfold before your eyes in
Waterford as you view the 9th century Reginald’s Tower and
the remains of the old city walls. Tour the Waterford Glass
Factory, to see the famous crystal being blown and polished by hand,
before a coastal drive brings you to Ireland’s second city of Cork.
See St Finbar’s Cathedral, Cork’s most exuberant church building
then continue to your hotel in Blarney.
Hotel: Blarney Golf Resort. (B,D) |
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Day 4 - THU - BLARNEY -
KILLARNEY |
Visit the ancient castle of Blarney
this morning. Will you dare to
hang upside down from the ramparts to kiss the Blarney Stone, and
ensure a lifetime of eloquence? Admire displays of Waterford Crystal
at Blarney Mill before driving up the valley of the River Lee into
the majestic Derrynasaggart Mountains. Now to the beautiful scenery of
the Dingle Peninsula, spectacular setting for the film Ryan’s
Daughter. From dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula’s far end,
make your way to the peaceful town of Killarney.
Hotel: Killarney Avenue & Towers. (B,D) |
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Day 5 - FRI - RING OF
KERRY EXCURSION |
| An excursion takes you around the
Ring of Kerry on one of the world’s greatest scenic tours:
see towering cliffs, lush lakelands, remote villages and, above all,
Ireland’s highest mountain range, and view the three peaceful Lakes
of Killarney. Return to Killarney and enjoy a highlight ride with the
locals on one of the famous jaunting cars. Tonight your Dine-Around
evening offers you the option of dinner at a selection of local
restaurants. (B,DA) |
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Day 6 - SAT - KILLARNEY -
GALWAY |
Drive via picturesque Adare to
the city of Limerick and see St Mary’s Cathedral and
medieval King John’s Castle. Now visit Bunratty Folk Park,
which recreates the homes and lifestyle of rural Ireland over the
centuries before a delightful drive takes you through the Burren,
a strange, rocky landscape rich with wild orchids, to Galway.
Hotel: Maldron. (B,D) |
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Day 7 - SUN - CONNEMARA
EXCURSION |
| In Galway, see St Nicholas
Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the
late US president John F Kennedy. The beautiful rugged landscape of
Connemara opens up a wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent hills en
route to the famous marble factory, where you will tour the
workshop. Visit palatial Kylemore Abbey before returning to your
hotel. (B) |
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Day 8 - MON - GALWAY -
LONDONDERRY |
| Bidding farewell to Galway and
Connemara, drive past Tuam to Clonalis House.This estate is the home
of the O’Connor family, descendants of the last High Kings of Ireland.
Meet the resident family and tour their home before driving through
County Sligo to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre. Continue to
Donegal town, with its stronghold of the great O’Donnells, and
head north through the Blue Stack Mountains into Northern Ireland,
settling for the night in the ancient city of ‘Derry’. Hotel: City.
(B,D) |
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Day 9 - TUE - LONDONDERRY
- BALLYGALLY |
Sightseeing with a local guide
takes you inside the well preserved walls, still topped with
cannons, and down steep Shipquay Street, with its elegant Georgian
houses, to the Gothic Guildhall. Continue along the coast to the
spectacular Giant’s Causeway, and hear the fantastic legends which
surround this geological masterpiece created by the cooling of lava
which burst through the Earth’s crust millions of years ago.
Continue along the scenic Antrim coast to arrive in Ballygally
for an overnight stay.
Hotel: Ballygally Castle. (B,D) |
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Day 10 - WED - BALLYGALLY
- BELFAST |
Continue around the coast, past the
huge Norman castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in Belfast, the
capital of Northern Ireland. Meet your local guide for a
panoramic tour of this unique city, with highlights including City
Hall, Queen’s University and Stormont Castle.
Hotel: Europa. (B) |
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Day 11 - THU - BELFAST -
DUBLIN |
Travel alongside the Mountains of
Mourne to Drogheda, taking a short drive along the historic Boyne
Valley, site of the Battle of Boyne where William of Orange defeated
the forces of Catholic King James. Return to Ireland’s lively capital,
Dublin, and spend a leisurely evening relaxing, exploring or perhaps
taking in a famous Irish Cabaret show.
Hotel: Burlington. (B) |
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Day 12 - FRI - DUBLIN -
UK |
| Departure transfers
arrive at Dublin Airport at 07:30, 09:30 & 11:30. (B) On arrival at your
UK airport, your driver will greet you and escort you to your waiting
car for your return V.I.P. door to door transfer home. |
Save
5% off the land only cost of this tour if booking before 31st July 2009 -
applies to ALL dates
|
Tour Dates & Prices |
|
Departs on |
Returns on |
Land Only Twin Share p.p. |
|
Premium Escorted Europe and Britain 2009 |
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2009 |
|
Mon 22 Jun |
Fri 03 Jul |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 29 Jun |
Fri 10 Jul |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 06 Jul |
Fri 17 Jul |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
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Mon 13 Jul |
Fri 24 Jul |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 20 Jul |
Fri 31 Jul |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 27 Jul |
Fri 07 Aug |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 03 Aug |
Fri 14 Aug |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 10 Aug |
Fri 21 Aug |
£1475
now from £1325 plus a further 5% off for our clients! |
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Mon 17 Aug |
Fri 28 Aug |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
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Mon 24 Aug |
Fri 04 Sep |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
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Mon 31 Aug |
Fri 11 Sep |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
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Mon 07 Sep |
Fri 18 Sep |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 14 Sep |
Fri 25 Sep |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
|
Mon 21 Sep |
Fri 02 Oct |
£1475
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
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Mon 28 Sep |
Fri 09 Oct |
£1450
5% off if booked by 31st July 2009 |
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DEF
= Definite Departure |
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PD
= Preferred Departure |
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HOT
= Red Hot Special Departure |
How to
book...
Call us on 0845 003 2211 or 01543 258631
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