Emerald Isle

Céad mile fáilte—a hundred-thousand welcomes! Irish eyes will be smiling at 3 pm as you meet your Tour Director and travel companions for an afternoon orientation drive through statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CITY SIGHTS “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty,” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College.

Triumphs & Tragedies Hit your stride this morning with a trip to Ireland’s horse-racing country! Drive across the Curragh to visit the Irish National Stud at Kildare. Continue to Longford for a guided tour of Strokestown House, the 1740s mansion and the Famine Museum. Then, on to Castlebar for your overnight stay. (B,D) 209 mi / 337 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Relive history at Strokestown Park House, a stunning Georgian Palladian Mansion, with its original furnishings, and stroll the walled gardens in this historic site. Get a glimpse into the lives of generations of people who lived and worked here over the centuries, each adding their own chapter to the story and leaving their mark. Witness the history of the Great Irish Famine with a visit to the National Famine Museum to learn about the most devastating and tragic event in Irish history.

Wild Atlantic Way and Irish Roses Start the day with a visit to Kylemore Abbey, home to the order of Benedictine nuns. Visit Galway, a popular seaside destination with a buzzing center of colorful shops and a busy café and bar culture. Enjoy free time this afternoon in this vibrant city. (B) 89 mi / 143 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION Nestled between the woodlands and lakeshore near Galway City, Kylemore Abbey is home to the Benedictine Sisters who have been in residence since 1920 in a life of prayer, work, and community. The history of this stunning abbey reaches back to the 1800s as the estate of Irish patriot Mitchell Henry. Visit the abbey where handmade chocolates, wild Irish honey and traditional fuchsia pottery are sold. Stroll the lovely grounds of Ireland’s largest walled garden in the heart of the Connemara countryside.

Islands of Saints & Scholars Your full day excursion begins with a ferry crossing to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. Stop for a light lunch at [LOCAL FAVORITE] Joe Watty’s pub and hear from a local who shares stories about life on Inishmore Island. A minibus tour with a Local Guide-driver includes a visit to the prehistoric clifftop fort of Dun Aengus. The ferry returns you to the mainland to enjoy the remainder of your stay in Galway. (B,L) 45 mi / 72 km LOCAL FAVORITE TRADITION & CULTURE Joe Watty’s Bar & Seafood Restaurant on Inishmore Island is the place for good food, Gaelic music, and craic (good company). Unwind beside the fire or enjoy a Guinness in the beer garden to watch the world go by and learn a cúpla focal (few words of Irish) from some of the locals.