AUTUMN IN HIDDEN IRELAND!
SPIRAL JOURNEYS
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ALL-INCLUSIVE SMALL GROUP LAND JOURNEY
AUTUMN IN HIDDEN IRELAND
SEPTEMBER 17* – 27, 2018
(*leave USA on September 16)
$4,175.00 per person** ( €3,360.00)
TWO PRIME HIDDEN IRELAND LOCATIONS
September 17th – 22nd
September 22nd – September 27th
ITINERARY*
SHANNON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – WELCOME TO IRELAND!
Day One – September 17th
Arrival: 6:30am (approximately)
Following immigration, customs and baggage claim our driver will assist with all luggage as we board our private coach. Ann will orient our group along the way as we drive toward our first Hidden Ireland home, Martinstown House, County Kildare, under 2 hours from Shannon Airport. Once unpacked and settled we meet in the dining room for a light welcoming luncheon. The afternoon is open to explore the house, grounds, or to rest and renew. Ann welcomes your questions/concerns.
6:30pm
Meet for drinks* in Drawing Room. Dinner in the main dining-room at 7:00pm. Following dinner Ann will be in the Drawing Room for anyone who may wish to join her before heading to bed! (*Spiral Journeys does not pay for alcohol/wine so please make your bar tab arrangement with the staff)
Day Two – September 18th
7:00 – 8:30am Breakfast
9:30am All-aboard
Co Kildare: This morning we will enjoy a private tour of Ireland’s world famous National Stud, Horse Museum and Japanese Gardens. From here we will drive a short distance to The Heritage Center and Ernest Shackleton Museum in the small town of Athy - Shackleton’s birthplace. Depending on time of day, and with group consensus, Ann will arrange with our driver to stop for an evening meal (on your own) prior to our return to Martinstown House, for the evening.
Day Three – September 19th
7:00 – 8:30am Breakfast
9:00am – All-aboard!
Co Wicklow for a private tour of Russborough House, located about an hour away, where we will observe champion Irish Sheepdogs round up the herd guided by their master trainer, Michael Crowe. Our tour includes The National Bird of Prey and Falconry Center of Ireland, located on the same grounds. Here we will observe the remarkable flight and hunting skills of several native birds of prey. There will be an opportunity to handle these amazing animals, safely, if you wish! Russborough House is now a non-profit foundation.
Day Four – September 20th
7:00 – 8:30am Breakfast
9:00am All-aboard
Newgrange, Europe’s oldest Solar Observatory, is located in The Boyne Valley of Co Meath. Recent archeological findings estimate Newgrange to have been built around 5000 B.C., predating Stonehenge. If time permits, we will head to the mysterious Hill of Tara and the remains of Bective Abbey – a 12th Century Monastery. Both of these sites are in The Boyne Valley area.
Day Five – September 21st
Breakfast is served!
8:30am - All Aboard!
Dublin City – Ireland’s Capital - established as a Viking settlement in the 10th century. Our day will include Dublin Writer’s Museum and Trinity College, founded in 1592 where we are booked for a tour of The Book of Kells located inside the world famous Long Room Library with over 200.000 books! Ann is happy to help with ideas for good lunch places along with suggestions for best shopping and books stores. 4:30pm All aboard for our last evening and dinner at Martinstown House!
Day Six – September 22nd
7-8:30am Breakfast is served.
(NOTE: Please have all luggage packed and ready in the main lobby for loading prior to our departure this morning)
9:00am – All Aboard!
Delphi Lodge – located in The Delphi Valley - Connemara, Co Galway) a long travel day (about 3 hours). We will stop along the way, as needed. Once we arrive at Delphi Lodge and settle in, we will meet for drinks prior to dinner at 7:30pm. The rest of the evening is yours!
Day Seven – September 23rd
7-8:30am Breakfast is served
9:30am All aboard!
We will travel part of the loop through Connemara National Park and visit the villages of Roundstone and Clifden. Our next stop is a tour of the historic Kylemore Abbey and Gardens. This romantic 1820s Gothic Castle, once a world renowned Benedictine all-girls private boarding school, is sheltered by the Twelve Bens mountains. Lunch will be available here, if you wish. With group consensus we can stop for dinner (on your own) en route back to Delphi Lodge.
Day Eight – September 24th
7:00-8:30 Breakfast is served!
9:00am – All aboard
Galway City – The last port- of- call by Christopher Columbus, en route to The New World is considered affectionately, by locals, as the "capital" of the ancient western Province of Connaught. With around 17,000 students arriving each Autumn, a fifth of Galway’s population is non-Galwegian, giving this small city a cosmopolitan vibe. Galway is also known as the "city of festivals.” At any time of year, one may find a festival, literary event or cultural shindig, along the way. It is an easy city to navigate, on foot. Ann will provide a short outline on the history of this lovely city along with suggestions for best book stores, pubs and historic attractions, including the famous Spanish Arch area. Options for a dinner prior to returning to Delphi Lodge, welcome a group consensus.
Day Nine – September 25th
Breakfast is served
8:30am All Aboard
Cong, Co Mayo – Ashford Castle. This world famous glorious spot holds many stories of adventure and history. We are booked for a boat ride on Cong Lake followed by a tour of the castle and grounds. There are options for afternoon tea inside the castle (on your own) and we will stop for dinner (included) on the way back to Delphi Lodge.
Day 10 – September 26th
Breakfast is served
9:30 All Aboard
The Delphi Valley - Michael Gibbons
For our last full day in Ireland our guide will be Michael Gibbons, one of Ireland’s leading field archaeologists. Born and raised in Clifden, Connemara Michael is a graduate of University College Galway, with a degree in History and Archaeology. As a member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland Michael brings thirty years of experience as a member of the Archaeology Committee of the Heritage Council of Ireland. In addition to specializing in the academic and cultural tourism to the Boyne Valley and the West of Ireland, Michael has worked with the Department of Antiquities in Jerusalem, led groups in the Sinai Peninsula, SW Turkey, Peru, the Outer Hebrides. Ann has invited Michael to join us for our departure dinner at Delphi Lodge.(NOTE: Please have all luggage packed and ready for our early morning departure tomorrow.
Day 11 – September 27th
6:30 Breakfast is served
Please have luggage in the main lobby before breakfast this morning.
7:15 AM We must roll out no later than 7:30AM to allow sufficient time for departing flights from Shannon. Our wonderful driver knows that route very well. He wants to allow for morning traffic while making sure we arrive at the airport with time to spare!
*IMPORTANT!
While this itinerary is intended as a general overview of Spiral Journeys day-to-day land journey, Ann Quinlan will notify guests of any changes in the tour schedule as soon as she has that information.
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