Celtic Adventure

Ireland
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In collaboration with Brian O’Donovan, host of “A Celtic Sojourn Radio” on Boston’s GBH Public Radio, we are delighted to present “Celtic Adventure”, an extraordinary journey through Ireland. While Brian will not be traveling with us, he has played a pivotal role in meticulously designing the itinerary, hand-picking the local musicians, and selecting the local musical guide. Additionally, there will be pre-departure and post-trip receptions in Boston, adding a personal touch to the overall experience.

This program offers an exceptional blend of the finest local cuisine, captivating music, and immersive cultural encounters. You can expect an array of unique musical events, privileged access to cherished destinations, and an array of thrilling surprises throughout the trip. With the assistance of our knowledgeable travel concierges and local experts, this musical adventure promises to be unparalleled.

Featured Experiences

Tea at the Manor

Cultural
Ireland

Afternoon tea in the Gallery at Adare Manor is a truly magical experience. Breath in the elegance and history as you sit in this exquisitely designed room (which is based on the legendary Hall of Mirrors in Versailles), fitted with breathtaking architecture and delicate details. Enjoy scrumptuous sandwiches and pastries paired with an extensive selection of specialty teas from around the world. Don’t forget to check out the impeccably manicured French gardens!

Island Rhythms

Musical
Ireland

Visit Garnish Island, a horticultural marvel, and enjoy traditional Irish melodies. The ferry journey and the musical experience in Conakilty provide a behind-the-scenes look at local culture and music.

Kylemore Crescendo

Musical
Ireland

Enter the enchanting realm of Kylemore Abbey, where the echoes of history, culture, and music come together in a seamless symphony. Relish an impromptu musical performance within the sacred walls of this venerable abbey. Surrounded by the grandeur of Gothic architecture and the delightful Victorian Walled Garden, this intimate setting offers a distinctive immersion into the profound cultural and musical heritage of Kylemore Abbey.

What's Included

  • Travel Concierge
  • Luxurious, Well-Located Hotels
    • Galway: Park House Hotel
    • Killarney: Brehon Hotel
    • Cork: Dunmore House Hotel
    • Dublin: Ashling Hotel
  • Motorcoach transportation
  • Culinary Highlights:
    • Daily breakfast
    • 3 delicious lunches
    • 6 exquisite dinners
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Visit to sheep farm
  • Kylemore Abbey
  • Tea Experience at Adare Manor
  • Ring of Kerry
  • Ferry to visit Garnish Island
  • Visit to St. Multose Church
  • Visit to Blarney Castle
  • Visit to Trinity College library
  • Guided tour of Dublin
  • Our evenings will be filled with beautiful music, as our local musical guide will host intimate, salon-style events with visiting musicians and singers providing insights into Irish traditional music, history, and culture.
  • Traditional Irish musical performance
  • Event at St. Mary’s Church in Killarney
  • Dinner and music at the Winding Stair

Itinerary

10 Days

Day 1 OVERNIGHT FLIGHT

Depart from the USA.

Day 2 GALWAY

Arrive at Shannon airport and meet your fabulous musical guide Cathie Ryan and your driver Liam Finnegan. Board your private touring coach and head northwest to one of Ireland's favorite visitor experiences, the Cliffs of Moher that tower over the rugged west Clare coast. Walk the safe, paved pathways and view the incredible Cliffs that sit on Europe's most westerly tip and enjoy the spectacular vistas over the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands. Their natural beauty has inspired artists, musicians, and poets for generations. Enjoy a hearty group lunch together today at Gus O'Connor's Pub. Then continue through the Burren where you'll admire its lunar-like limestone landscape and its unique flora, as home to nearly 20 species of orchids. Continue to your home for the next two nights at the Park House Hotel in the center of Galway City. Enjoy dinner together tonight at the Park House Hotel. (L,D)

Day 3 GALWAY

A morning drive west takes you through the lovely Connemara countryside where we will visit Kylemore Abbey, now home to a community of nuns of the Benedictine Order who came here in 1920 after their abbey in Ypres, Belgium was destroyed in World War I. Settling at Kylemore, the Benedictine Community opened a world renowned boarding school for girls and began restoring the Abbey, Gothic Church and Victorian Walled Garden to their former glory. Enjoy an impromptu performance today in Kylemore Abbey. Then visit where we visit a traditional mountain sheep farm to see a sheepdog demonstration. After our visit we return to Galway where you'll have time for dinner on your own. Then come together for an evening of traditional Irish music at the Park House Hotel! (B)

Day 4 KILLARNEY

This morning, check out of the hotel and depart for the lovely estate at Adare Manor for a luxurious tea experience in the main castle. Our hotel for the next two nights is The Brehon Hotel, an elegant hotel set amidst Killarney's breath-taking landscape. Enjoy dinner together, followed by an evening at leisure to take in the sights and sounds of town. (B,D)

Day 5 KILLARNEY

The beautiful Ring of Kerry is must see when in southwest Ireland. Our scenic route will take us to Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville and through the Coomakesta Pass with its magnificent views over Derrynane, home of Daniel O' Connell, known as "The Liberator" to Caherdaniel. Completing the circle route we pass Sneem, Moll's Gap, Ladies View, Killarney National Park and drive along the Lakes of Killarney. A group lunch will be enjoyed today along the Ring of Kerry. Return to Killarney where you'll have time for dinner on your own. Then enjoy an evening's musical highlight at St. Mary's Church, also known as the Church of the Sloes, in the heart of Killarney. (B,L)

Day 6 CORK

Today's journey brings you to Conakilty via the Caha pass. We'll first take the ferry to visit Garnish Island a beautiful island garden located in the sheltered harbour of Glengarriff in Bantry Bay, and is reknown to horticulturists and lovers of trees around the world. Continue to Conakilty where tonight you'll check into the Dunmore House Hotel and have dinner together, followed by an evening of Irish music played by local musicians. (B,D)

Day 7 CORK

Enjoy a leisurely morning to take in the sea air at Dunmore, followed by time to explore Conakilty town. You'll have time to wander the streets and have lunch on your own. Then journey via southern coast ring - passing Dunmore, Ardfield, Galley Head, Long Strand before arriving in Kinsale. This charming historic port and fishing town is known for its wonderful restaurants and gourmet food festivals. We will visit St Multose Church, an important landmark in Kinsale, originally built in 1190. The most dominant feature is the impressive belltower, which is one of the few remaining features from the original Norman church. The interior chronicles the history of the town and inside are a large amount of excellent carved timber ornamentations such as the pulpit, altar, and organ. As one of the most important churches in the country it has been used on multiple occasions for political ends, one of the most notable being during the English Civil War when Prince Rupert declared Charles II the new King after the execution of Charles I. Tonight you'll have dinner together in Kinsale, then return to Dumore House where an evening of Irish tunes awaits you. (B,D)

Day 8 DUBLIN

This morning's journey brings you to Dublin. En route, visit the famed Blarney Castle. The Castle was built in 1446 as a defensive fortress. Tradition holds that those who kiss the Blarney Stone will be endowed with the gift of eloquence - "the gift of the gab" as the locals call it. Afterwards, have time for lunch and shopping at the Blarney Woolen Mills Store. Then continue to the Rock of Cashel. This was the seat of kings and mediaeval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and he became High King of Ireland in 1002. Later today, arrive in Dublin where you'll check into the Ashling Hotel and have dinner together. (B,D)

Day 9 DUBLIN

A morning tour of Dublin is hosted by an expert in the artistic and cultural history of the city. You will explore the site of the very first recorded liturgical play performed in Dublin as well as the city's oldest surviving, extant theatre, built during the Restoration period of the 1660s, namely Smock Alley Theatre. The great Victorian theatre the Olympia, venue to many great dramatic and musical performances over the last 150 years and the grounds of Dublin's famous "Musick Hall" which in 1742 during Dublin's glorious Georgian heyday, saw the debut performance of George Frederick Handel's Messiah are two more fascinating stops on our walk. Join your guide at lunch to learn more about the city's past and present. This afternoon is yours to further explore Dublin at your own pace. Perhaps visit Trinity College library, one of the world's greatest collections including the Book of Kells, or peruse the shops along Grafton Street. This evening conclude your final evening in Ireland with dinner and music at the Winding Stair. (B,L,D)

Day 10 DEPARTURE

After breakfast, transfers are included to the airport for the return flight home. (B)

on flight

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