Itinerary
Wednesday, 10/13
Your tour starts this afternoon from the Academy Hotel, your home during
your Dublin stay. Perhaps you've just flown in that morning or you've
come a few days early. But in either case you'll have had an opportunity
to check into this well situated hotel in the city centre, located off the
city's main thoroughfare, O'Connell St, and a short stroll from the very
best shopping, galleries, theatres, Trinity College, St Stephens Green and Temple Bar.
Travel by your private coach to the Dublin Writers Museum, where over 300 years of Dublin's and Ireland's writers and literature will start to come to life. A special talk by the curator adds to your time of exploration. And what better way to get to know your fellow travelers than at an early evening welcome dinner in the Museum's restaurant - Chapter One. Then return to your hotel.
Thursday, 10/14
Today, you'll explore the literary sights and legends of Dublin with an
expert guide. Visit George
Bernard Shaw's elegantly restored Victorian home
along with the Georgian Newman House, home
to James Joyce. A visit to Dublin
wouldn't be complete without exploring the world of Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie
Wills Wilde - or as you know him from his many works - Oscar Wilde. A tour
of the Oscar Wilde House is included. And of course, the explorations of the
legend of St. Patrick (which you'll get more of later in the tour) starts this
date with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Enjoy dinner at Oliver St. John Gogarty Restaurant, located in the heart of the Temple Bar District. The restaurant was named after one of Dublin's most famous poets a man who you'll be revisiting in other venues over the course of this tour. Then return to your hotel.
Friday, 10/15
Join author, screenwriter, and film expert Arthur Flynn as you journey by your
private coach to County Wicklow, organized as a county in 1606. Known for its
beautiful gardens, you'll travel through the Wicklow Mountains exploring myths,
legends and the sites used in many films. Yes, you'll go to Avoca, the setting
for the popular Ballykissangel and also have an opportunity to visit the Avoca
Weavers & Crafters (there's always time for a little shopping).
Return to Dublin for a special light dinner and visit the Bram Stoker Heritage Centre. Director Dennis McIntyre will help you explore Bram Stoker's Dublin connections and the genesis of Dracula. Then return to your hotel.
Saturday, 10/16
Depart Dublin with your driver/guide for the rest of the tour and begin your
journey north to County Down
where you'll meet Dr. Tim Campbell, Director of
the St. Patrick Centre. After arriving in
Downpatrick, you'll start with their
revolutionary 180 degree film - 'In the Footsteps of St. Patrick', taking you on
a helicopter ride (via film) to all the places in Ireland associated with the
Patron Saint.
You'll then lunch in the Cathedral Garden Restaurant overlooking Down Cathedral and St. Patrick's grave. Dr. Campbell will join the coach for a guided tour of St. Patrick's country stopping at various sites, including Saul Church - the first church in Ireland, the first Irish holy wells at Struell, and St. Tassachs Church, where Patrick died. Continue on with a visit to St. Patrick's grave and an exploration of the medieval Down Cathedral. End the afternoon with a journey going from medieval times to the Irish Georgian and Victorian era on a guided tour of Down County Museum and Gaol, from where many convicts were exported to Australia in the 1800s.
After leaving Dr. Campbell and Downpatrick, travel to Ballygally Bay and check into the Ballygally Castle Hotel. Dating back to 1625, it is the only 17th Century building still used today as a residence in Northern Ireland. Dinner is in your hotel.
Sunday, 10/17
After checking out of your hotel, you'll travel to the Giant's Causeway.
Now some may believe this unique natural attraction of peculiar rock formations
came about as molten lava was cooling. However, legend has it that a gentle
giant, Finn MacCool - at 52 feet and 6 inches -
wanted to cross to Scotland
to meet a rival giant - Benandonner. And he started building this causeway.
There's much more to this tale, but you'll need to come to Ireland to hear it.
The Old Bushmill's Distillery is next on the agenda and is the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery having a license to distill since 1608. What myths and legends have gotten started here is something we're sure to find out. Continue onto Derry, a walled city, and home for the next 2 nights. Check into the Tower Hotel, the only Derry hotel within the historic walls. Dinner is in the hotel.
Monday, 10/18
Start the morning with a visit to St. Columb's Cathedral, the City of Londonderry's
oldest building. Your tour guide will tell you of this landmark's history going
back to 1633. The rest of the day will be filled with the myths and legends of
Derry, including a visit to Ballyarnett Park where you'll make a stop at the
Amelia Earhart Center,
erected where she landed on her historic solo flight across the
Atlantic in 1932.
Then on to a private visit at Glenveagh Castle in County Donegal. Known for its beautiful surroundings and garden, you'll have much to learn and explore. You'll end the afternoon with a traditional Irish tea somewhere in the area. Return to your hotel. Dinner is in the hotel.
Tuesday, 10/19
Depart early today to start exploring the world of W. B. Yeats. But before we get
into Yeats country, you'll visit an Irish legend in its own right - the Belleek
Pottery. After time for shopping, youšll travel on to Sligo and go to the Yeats
Memorial Building to hear a talk by a member of the Yeats Society and also to
see the W.B. Yeats Exhibition.
This afternoon you'll enjoy a lovely cruise along Lough Gill, inspiration to Yeats and many others. Continue on to Galway and check into the Imperial Hotel, ideally located overlooking famous Eyre Square with wonderful shopping just outside your door. Dinner is in the hotel.
Wednesady, 10/20
Begin the day with a private visit and talk at Coole Park, a lovely forest park
where once stood the home of Lady Gregory, founder of the Abbey Theater in Dublin.
The home was often visited over a period of 30 years by Yeats and subject of
many of his later poems. An 'autograph tree' still stands and contains the
graffiti of such literary greats as George Bernard Shaw, Sean O'Casey, and
Augustus John. In 1916, parts of the Gregory estates were redistributed and
Ballylee Castle was among them and eventually bought by Yeats and used as his
residence. You'll visit the home prior to returning to Galway. Enjoy a free
afternoon in Galway City, exploring the many shops and sights. Dinner is in
your hotel.
Thursday, 10/21
Again enjoy some free time in Galway. Have a late sleep in or finish
visiting the shops you missed the previous day. In the afternoon you'll
visit Dunguaire Castle, bought and
used as a home by Oliver St. John Gogarty -
yes the man the Dublin restaurant was named for. After it was purchased by
him it became the center of literary meetings of such writers as W.B. Yeats,
his patron Lady Gregory, George Bernard Shaw, Edward Martin and J.M. Synge.
Return to Dublin and travel to Bray, where you'll spend your final two nights at the lovely Victorian Esplanade Hotel. Dinner is in your hotel. Tonight will be special with members from the Bray Historical Society joining you and discussing the wonderful literary and film history of this area.
Friday, 10/22
Your final day in Dublin will include an exploration of James Joyce's world beginning
with a private talk and tour of the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove (also a private
home to Oliver St. John Gogarty) and a private walk around Joyce's Dublin. The
tour will end with admission to the James Joyce Center. Learn of the many Dublin
connections that played a role in his writing including his most famous work, Ulysses.
The afternoon is free to pick up that last souvenir or visit some of the wonderful Dublin museums. Return to the hotel for a special farewell dinner.
Saturday, 10/23
It's now time to leave your new found friends and fellow travelers and return to your
home in the USA, taking with you memories of Ireland's writers, myths, and legends.
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