IRELAND

2012 OFFICIAL AGENDA
     On May 28, 2012 we fly from St. Louis at 12:55 p.m. and have a layover at Charlotte, North Carolina at 3:40 p.m. We then leave there at 6:20 p.m. arriving in Dublin the next day at 6:55 a.m. Remember we are losing a day in the flight which we will gain back when we return to the USA. Meals are provided on the plane though I suspect most will want to buy snacks in North Carolina while we wait for the next plane. Estimate additional cost for you will depend on how much you buy. I'm guessing $10 should more than do it for snacks with a meal and additional snacks provided on the plane free.
     The group will check in to Bewleys Hotel-Newland Cross in Dublin on May 29 at 2 p.m. The Bewley offers quality and value in warm and friendly surroundings. This hotel is situated on the N7 Dublin city's main artery to south of the county in West County's industrial and business district. At Bewley's Hotel Newlands Cross a great night's sleep is of paramount importance, with this in mind all bedrooms are soundproofed and boast 'dive into bed' duvets and fluffy hypoallergenic pillows to ensure you awaken refreshed for the day ahead. For added convenience complimentary WiFi is available in all bedrooms and public areas.

HOTEL RESTAURANT:
     From breakfast through to dinner you can always be guaranteed a delicious bite at very affordable prices at Bewley's Hotel Newlands Cross. Opening Times: Mon-Sat 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m./Sun. 7:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. There is a problem here as we will leave before the restaurant opens on some mornings. I would recommend buying some breakfast bars or something to have for breakfast to keep in your rooms just to make sure you keep your strength.
     After the arrival at 7 a.m. we will take our time getting to the hotel because we do not check in for a few hours. That will provide an opportunity to buy some breakfast treats and check out the town. Cost of food to store in hotel will depend on what you buy but should not exceed $25 for the week. The noon meal you pay for on this date while the night meal is already paid for and no extra charge for you.

EXCURSIONS
May 29, 2012 Tuesday (same day as arrival---dinner is provided here)
DUBLIN TRADITIONAL IRISH HOUSE PARTY, 3 hours 30 minutes
     (Tour Code: 2886PARTY)
Welcome to the party! A traditional Irish house party is the perfect introduction to Dublin, with great entertainment and a warm and friendly atmosphere. You'll enjoy good food, local musicians, storytellers and dancing on an evening out that's unlike any other you'll experience in Dublin.

     The Irish House Party is Dublin's unmissable Irish music and dance show. Now in its fourth successful year it is hosted by All-Ireland champion musicians, dancers and entertainers in an intimate and home style dinner theater setting. No Irish house party is complete without a good meal beforehand and you will be served a delicious three-course traditional Irish dinner. Your Seanchai (storyteller) will meet and greet you before the dinner and tell you the story behind some of the most famous traditional Irish foods, all of which you can experience as part of the dinner from a choice menu. Once you have finished your meal, the music, singing and dancing begins. You can take part in the entertainment as much as you like, or simply sit back in comfortable surroundings and enjoy. There is a presentation about traditional music and Irish writers; a live traditional music session; storytelling; learning a song in the Irish language with a songbook; trying some simple Irish dancing. Then you can perform a piece yourself.

Example Menu
     STARTERS: Freshly prepared Soup of the Day; Irish Potato Skins with Crispy Bacon and Cheese Filling; or Traditional Lansdowne Caesar Salad with crispy bacon and freshly grated parmesan.
     MAIN COURSES: Baked Fillet of Salmon with pea puree and a lemon and dill beurre blanc; Seared Breast of Chicken; Champ Potato served with a bacon and caper reduction; or Traditional Irish Lamb Stew served with Creamed Mash Potato. All served with a selection of potatoes and fresh market vegetables.
     DESSERTS: Homemade Carrot Cake, Selection of Ice Cream, or Warm Apple Pie with Fresh Cream served with freshly brewed tea or fine roasted coffee
     It should be a great start to your eight days in Ireland as you become accustom to their food, music, home setting and meet the people of Ireland.

May 30, 2012 Wednesday (breakfast bars in room, two meals = $25 plus whatever you buy shopping)
BLARNEY CASTLE AND CORK DAY TOUR, 12 hours
     (Tour Code: 5299CORK)
You will be transported from Central Dublin at 6:50 a.m. by luxury air-conditioned coach to visit three top Ireland attractions in one day on the Blarney Castle and Cork Day Trip from Dublin. From the comfort of your luxury coach, you'll travel south to Blarney Castle, Cork City and the Rock of Cashel cathedral, passing through beautiful, green South Irish countryside on your way. Be sure to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, and you'll be blessed with the "gift of the gab" for a lifetime of smooth talking!
     Leaving the city of Dublin behind, you'll sit back and relax as you watch the landscape change from Dublin's urban cityscape to the rolling, green hills that typify the Irish countryside. Your day trip will drive through several areas of interest, including the Galtee Mountains and the Curragh in County Kildare, which is home to Ireland's National Stud Farm and is famous as a sporting region. The farm boasts some Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winning horses.
     Passing south through County Tipperary, your tour will reach Blarney Castle by late morning. This beautiful medieval castle is home to one of Ireland's best loved treasures - the fascinating Blarney Stone, which sits at the top of the castle's tower. According to legend, kissing the stone bestows the kisser with the "gift of the gab," or talent for eloquence that the Irish famously possess.

     Visitors to Blarney Castle most often are actually visitors to the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. As its name implies, the legend states that if you kiss the stone, you will never be at a loss for words. People come year after year to kiss this mystical stone, which can only be done by hanging upside down over a sheer drop from the castle's tower. Leaders and entertainers from all over the world have journeyed here to partake in this ritual and capture the power of the stone and travelers from near and far continue to do the same.
     Besides the draw of the Stone, the Blarney Castle also boasts handsome gardens and several interesting rock formations. Known collectively as Rock Close, the formations have been given such whimsical names as Wishing Steps and Witch's Cave, adding a certain sense of enchantment to this 600 year old fortress. So by all means, take your turn to kiss the Stone, but don't leave the Castle without exploring the grounds a bit too.

     From Blarney Castle, your tour will continue on to Cork City, where you will have approximately two hours at leisure for independent sightseeing. Enjoy lunch at the English Market (available for an extra cost) or perhaps visit the triple-steepled St. Finn Bar's Cathedral. Your guide will be happy to provide recommendations of further things to do in Ireland's third-largest city.
     On leaving Cork, you'll head toward the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. This imposing Celtic Cathedral towers above the town of Cashel from a limestone mound, approximately 200 feet (61 meters) high. Highlights at the Rock of Cashel include the Hall of Vicars and Cormac's Chapel, home to the oldest Romanesque wall painting in Ireland. Explore these historical sites with your guide, before heading back to Dublin to arrive in the early evening at 7 p.m.

May 31, 2012 Thursday (3 meals total $25 + whatever you buy shopping)
DUBLIN HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR, 2 hours
     (Code: 2626WALK)
The group will spend time walking the campus of Trinity Campus and touring some of its facilities. The Historical Walking Tour (scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.) has been acclaimed as a must-do tour for any visitor to Dublin and starts at the main gates of Trinity College. The tour takes in the grounds of Trinity College, Old Irish Parliament, Dublin Castle, City Hall, the Medieval and Viking quarter centered around Christ Church Cathedral and finishes in the old port of Temple Bar on the banks of the River Liffey. A stop will be made to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College. The entrance fee will be provided.
     Dublin Castle has served many functions since it was built by King John of England in 1230. At that time, the castle was meant to act as a defense center against the current invaders, the Normans, and serve as the seat of the English government. Since then, Dublin Castle has also been the site of the royal mint, the police headquarters and the residence of various British leaders. Today, the castle grounds are used for some governmental purposes but are mostly only used for ceremonial purposes, such as the Irish President's inauguration, and to host conferences, like those of the European Council.
     When no such event is occurring, Dublin Castle is open to the public. Guided tours take visitors through the grounds, sharing the history and ever-changing purpose of each building. Most notable is the story behind the Record Tower, the only remaining building from the original medieval structure that has miraculously survived centuries' worth of fires and warfare that ravaged the other buildings. Other noteworthy parts of Dublin Castle’s grounds include the State Apartments, Chester Beatty Library, and the Dubhlinn Gardens, which now grow over the spot where there was once a black pool, or "dubh linn", from which the city of Dublin gets its name.
     Below are photographs of Trinity College and St. Patrick's stained glass windows and the cathedral.

     Your guide has a passion for all aspects of history and will be delighted to discuss anything which might be of interest to you. Dublin combines a medieval city with the most stately of eighteenth century architecture and a thriving contemporary cultural scene. Behind the doorways, at every street corner there are reminders of the characters - revolutionary, literary and others - who imagined the city. Here are photographs of Trinity College and Christ's Church.

     In just 2 hours, this entertaining 'seminar on the street' conducted by history graduates of Trinity College Dublin, explores the main features of Irish history - Dublin's development, the influence of the American and French Revolutions, the Potato Famine 1845 - 1849 (that brought many to America), the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and concludes with the Northern Ireland peace process. This historical tour has long been a Dublin institution!
     The tour concludes at Temple Bar, Dublin's Cultural Quarter. A maze of cobbled streets nestled on the south bank of the River Liffey in Dublin city center. Time will be provided for shopping. It is up to you how much you spend here.

June 1, 2012 Friday (3 meals total $25 + whatever you buy shopping)
WILD WICKLOW TOUR INCLUDING GLENDALOUGH, 8 hours 30 minutes
     (Tour Code: 2548WW)
The Wild Wicklow Tour from Dublin is the perfect introduction to Wicklow's untamed landscapes. On this Wicklow day tour you'll explore ancient monastic ruins at Glendalough, enjoy the 'craic' in a traditional Irish pub, and see where film-makers brought a little bit of Scotland to Ireland when filming scenes for 'Braveheart' at Sally's Gap.

     The beautiful coastal drive from Dublin to Glendalough takes you past Dun Laoghaire Harbor, Dalkey and Killiney. These exclusive suburbs on the out reaches of Dublin are home to Ireland's rich and famous including U2's Bono, Enya and film director Neil Jordan. Then, driving through the Wicklow Mountains, you'll soon understand why this area is known as 'the Garden of Ireland'.
     You'll continue on to the green mountains of Wicklow County, where you'll stop for morning tea (additional cost) at Avoca Handweavers. The oldest wool mill in Ireland, Avoca Handweavers is a great place to shop for high-quality Irish crafts. Remember that you have to claim all purchases in customs when we re-enter the United States and pay duty on purchased items where required.

     The next stop on your Wicklow tour is Glendalough which is renowned for its natural beauty and history, and is one of the most visited places in Ireland. At Glendalough, your guide will walk with you through the 6th-century monastic settlement. You'll learn about St Kevin, the founder of the ancient monastery, and hear stories relating to the ruins scattered about the site, including the famous Round Tower. There will also be time for a leisurely stroll through the woods to Upper Lake.

     Leaving the peace and serenity of Glendalough behind, you'll head off for a stop at a local pub for lunch. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and good old-fashioned home cooking of a traditional Irish pub. A pub in this sense is more of an American restaurant than a drinking establishment though alcohol is available there. After lunch you'll begin your return to Dublin via Sally's Gap, where scenes from 'Braveheart' were filmed in 1995. This scenic but desolate area of wild bogland offers a stunning contrast to the Wicklow Mountains. You'll arrive back in Dublin in the late afternoon, with drop off at Trinity College.

June 2, 2012 Saturday (3 meals for a total of $25)
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL TIME

June 3, 2012 Sunday (3 meals for a total of $25)
ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL. Attend Church, Choral Performance. Relax and share together.

June 4, 2012 Monday (3 meals for a total of $25 + whatever you buy shopping)
BELFAST DAY TRIP FROM DUBLIN, 11 hours
     (Tour Code: 5299BELFAST)
Starting from a central Dublin location, your day trip departs early to beat the traffic on the drive north to Belfast. Your first stop of the day will be at Drogheda, on the east coast of Ireland, former home of St Oliver Plunkett - the last English Catholic martyr. In Drogheda, you'll visit St Peter's Roman Catholic Church, where Plunkett's embalmed head remains as a grim reminder of Ireland's turbulent, religious history.
     Your Belfast day trip will continue north onto Monasterboice, the Irish-Celtic monastery and cemetery in County Lough. This monastic site comprises historical ruins, a round tower and several stone Celtic crosses, including the famously well-preserved Muiredach's Cross. Before reaching Belfast City, there will be one further stop at Proleek Dolmen, an interesting tomb structure that dates back to the Viking age (more than 3,000 years ago).

     In the early afternoon, you'll enter Northern Ireland and reach Belfast, the country's capital city. Here you'll have approximately two hours to spend at leisure, and your guide will happily offer directions to recommended lunch spots. Suggested Belfast attractions for you to see include Belfast Cathedral (also known as St Anne's Cathedral), or the landmark site of Belfast City Hall on Donegal Square.
     Your day trip will resume with a guided coach tour of Belfast City, where you'll be shown the Belfast peace walls that act as peace lines between the Catholic and Protestant communities. Look out for the wall murals that tell stories of community disputes from both sides of the fence. After a lighthearted introduction into the perils of Belfast politics, you'll visit the Harland and Wolff dry docks, where the doomed Titanic ship was designed and built.
     Before leaving Belfast, there is a final visit to the Irish Republican History Museum where you can see a large collection of artifacts that represent the history of the struggle for Irish freedom.

June 5, 2012 Tuesday (breakfast bars in room, 2 meals for a total of $25 + whatever you buy shopping)
CLIFFS OF MOHER DAY TRIP FROM DUBLIN, 12 hours
     (Tour Code: 5299MOHER)
Your Cliffs of Moher day trip will head out of Dublin in the early morning, making best use of the quiet roads. Passing through rural County Dublin, you will see the rolling hills, shimmering lakes and medieval castles that typify the Irish midland countryside. En route, there will be a stop in Limerick, the Mid-West Irish city that began life as a Viking colony and your expert guide will happily regale you with tales about the city's Viking past. Here you will pass the imposing King John's Castle and have the chance to stand beside the infamous Treaty stone, where the historic Treaty of Limerick was signed by the Jacobite Irish in 1691.

     On arrival in County Clare, your guide will take you on a leisurely walk (lasting approximately 1.5 hours), over to the Cliffs of Moher, where you can enjoy unlimited photo opportunities. The cliffs are 702 feet (214 meters) high at their highest point and span more than 5 miles (8 km) of the coastline, creating a dramatic backdrop against the Atlantic Ocean. Take in spectacular views of the pretty Aran Islands and the Maum Turk mountains in Connemara to the south.
     Continue on to the quaint village of Doolin for lunch in one of its four traditional Irish pub before walking it off with a stroll through Burren National Park - a vast limestone region, reminiscent of a lunar landscape, containing rare flowers. On your journey back to Dublin, you will travel via the scenic route on smaller roads overlooking the ocean. There will a brief stop for coffee near Galway Bay before arriving in Dublin in the early evening.

June 6, 2012 Wednesday (breakfast in the room, meal on the plane free, 1 meal at Charlotte $10)
We fly out of Dublin at 9:30 a.m. and layover in Charlotte at 12:55 p.m. Then leave there at 2:35 arriving in St. Louis at 3:40 p.m. on June 6, 2012, Wednesday. (NOTE: As we have found in the past there are changes that may occur by the airlines so do keep an eye on these times as we get closer to the date we leave.)

SUMMARY OF ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR THE TRIP: May 28; $12 for snacks/meal at St. Louis and Charlotte airports; May 29: Breakfast bars/snacks for room $25, $10 lunch; May 30: $25; May 31: $25; June 1: $25; June 2: $25; June 3: $25; June 4: $25; June 5: $25; June 6: $10 = Total for meals $232.00 plus whatever you choose to spend on souvenirs and clothes. I have tried to be on the high end of the anticipated cost. Again it depends on what you choose to eat. We will check out a McDonald's if we find one to see how it compares to those in the United States. Often times their menus are very different though the costs are similar. I hope this helps in making plans for the trip. If you have questions please contact me at leetonmuseum@yahoo.com.