BRIAN SULLIVAN’s

 

Music, Magic and Malted Beverages Tour

IRELAND 2008

28 June – 7 July 

 

Join Brian Sullivan, lead guitarist for Emerald Rose, on a rollicking tour of some of Ireland’s most exciting destinations.  Breathtaking scenery, fabulous food and drink and the history and culture of Ireland await you on this exciting quest.  Explore the musical traditions and poetry of Celtic Ireland and visit ancient sites with an experienced guide and acclaimed performer.  From stone circles to the Rock of Cashel, this vacation will help you establish your own connection to the magic of the Emerald Isle!

 

  

The Rock of Cashel: Seat of the High Kings of Munster, this mighty castle and cathedral ruled over South Ireland for hundreds of years. The start of the tour will take us through the heart of Ireland.

                                                                                                          

Kinsale          * Walking tour*   *Jameson Distillery Tour*

We found this town in County Cork on the first Emerald Rose tour of Ireland.  It is known as the gourmet food capital of Ireland. We found it full of great pubs, restaurants and cool little shops. It lies on the Celtic Sea on Ireland’s south coast.

 

 Drombeg Stone Circle

One of the highlights of any tour of County Cork is an afternoon spent at this beautiful little megalithic site.  It is an ancient solar observatory and a pagan holy site marking the setting of the winter solstice sun.  It sits amid green fields and commands a view of the Atlantic Ocean from its’ center.

 

  

 

 

Killarney         *Boat trip on the Lakes of Killarney*  *Torc Waterfall* 

Two nights in a luxury hotel outside of Killarney, a short walk from town or the entrance to the largest National Forest in Ireland, surrounded by the country’s largest mountain range.  We’ll visit Ireland’s largest waterfall and explore the shops and pubs of Killarney. It’s a great town for walking, and Irish red deer gather on the lawn of the hotel at dusk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Dingle      *Dingle Town*   *Blasket Islands*     *Dunbeg Promontory Fort*   *Slea Head*

Some of the most stunning scenery in the world.  We’ll visit numerous sites along the Dingle Peninsula, and walk out to the most western point in Europe at Slea Head.  We’ll take a ferry out to the Great Blasket Islands, where seals play on the beach, and walk where some of the greatest of Irish writers have lived.  Topping it off is ‘Danno’s Bar’, one of the friendliest places to eat and drink in all of Ireland!  Experience real Irish fish and chips, fresh from Dingle Bay, and a pint poured as in the true Irish tradition.  Three nights in one of Ireland’s greatest towns!

 

    

 

 

Ennis              *Craggenowen Project*  * Ennis*

Get up close and personal with the ancient Celts at this reconstruction of Irish Iron and Bronze Age villages, including a lifesize Crannog, a ring fort built in the middle of a peat bog. Climb a castle, observe free range Irish boars and check out the way our Celtic ancestors lived!  Enjoy the last night in Ireland in a town renowned for its’ traditional music and pubs!

 

 

 

    

 

Tour includes Air Flight via Aer Lingus from Boston, all hotels, luxury motorcoach and Irish breakfast daily.  For information and prices, email brian@emeraldrose.com  Basic package only $2,392! 

 

Here’s a detailed trip intinerary, some useful links to the places we’re going, and a few comments about the things we’ll be doing there:

 

Day 1               BOSTON TO SHANNON  Aer Lingus 132

 

Depart Boston and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation. 

 

Day 2               SHANNON ARRIVAL & ROCK OF CASHEL

 

After landing at Shannon Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. Then your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the motorcoach. Depart Shannon and travel through the Irish countryside, mainly farming country interspersed with market towns to visit the Rock of Cashel, a magnificent limestone outcrop with church ruins dating back to the 12th century. Continue south through County Cork to the popular yachting town of Kinsale and check into your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure so you can relax or do some exploring on your own.  In the evening join your fellow travelers for dinner in the hotel restaurant. 

 

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: ACTONS HOTEL, KINSALE

http://www.actonshotelkinsale.com/home.htm

 

http://www.cashel.ie/

 

 

 

Day 3               KINSALE WALK & DISTILLERY

 

Today learn about Kinsale with a local guide on a short walking tour around this delightful town – the best way to get around the narrow, sloping Georgian streets. The town traces its origins back to 1177 when the Anglo-Normans founded a town in a small walled area close to the water.  It grew as a port town during the 18th century and today the harbor is favored by yacht owners. The town has steep, narrow streets with many fine Georgian houses. Today it is renowned as “the gourmet capital” of Ireland as there are so many award-winning restaurants and pubs. Next, visit the Jamison Distillery. Take a tour of the distillery, which is enjoyable and informative catering to both whiskey enthusiasts and novices alike. Witness every stage of the distilling process and see firsthand how the whiskey is made today. After your tour, enjoy the balance of the day and evening at leisure for independent activities and dining.

 

OVERNIGHT: ACTONS HOTEL, KINSALE   

 http://www.kinsale.ie/

 

 

 

Day 4               drombeg stone circle & Killarney

 

Depart Kinsale this morning and travel along the indented coastline of Cork through the attractive fishing towns of Bandon, Clonakilty and stop near Skibbereen to visit the Drombeg Stone Circle.  This lovely recumbent stone circle is locally known as the Druid's Altar, and is located on the edge of a rocky terrace with fine views to the sea about a mile away. The word Drombeg means 'the small ridge'. Then continue your travels around Bantry Bay and through Glengarriff, which is renowned for sheltered bays where sub-tropical plants flourish. You will see a surprising number of palm trees around here!  Cross the Caha to Kenmare and on to Moll’s Gap for views of Killarney, its three lakes and mountains.  Arrive in Killarney and check into your hotel where the balance of the day and evening are free for individual pursuits.

 

OVERNIGHT, THE BREHON, KILLARNEY

 

http://www.thebrehon.com/

 

http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/drombeg.html

 

 

 

Day 5               CRUISE ON THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY & TORC WATERFALLS

 

The itinerary today takes you on a cruise on the lakes of Killarney. The three main lakes occupy a broad valley stretching south between the mountains. The Lower Lake is nearest to the town and is studded with islands.  Stop to visit Ross Castle, which is located on its eastern shore. This Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. The date of its foundation is uncertain but it was probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains. It is surrounded by a fortified bawn, its curtain walls defended by circular flanking towers, two of which remain. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle sometime in the middle of the 18th century. Continue your cruise to the Middle Lake (sometimes called Muckross Lake) by the wooded peninsula of Muckross. At the tip of the Muckross Peninsula is the quaint Brickeen Bridge and Dinis Island which is further on with its sub-tropical vegetation and views of the 'Meeting of the Waters'. A narrow straight called the Long Range leads to the island-studded Upper Lake, which is surrounded by lush vegetation. Continue your journey to Torc Waterfalls, dramatic falls that originates from the top of Torc Mountain from the Owengarriff River on the road up to Ladies' View. At the base of the Lower Falls you'll find a dramatic stairway to the Upper Falls which will afford you excellent views of the Lakes of Killarney, the Black Valley and several mountain ranges that make up the Killarney area. Return to Killarney for a free evening.

 

OVERNIGHT, THE BREHON, KILLARNEY

 

http://homepage.eircom.net/~knp/photos/index.htm

 

 

Day 6               BLASKET ISLANDS & GALLARUS ORATORY

 

Depart Killarney and drive along the southern shores of the Dingle Peninsula to visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming and fishing. Continue along to the very tip of the peninsula to see the primitive stone “beehive” huts of the early monks and the Gallarus Oratory, built in the 6th century of unmortared stone and watertight after 14 centuries. Then drive to the town of Dingle and check into your hotel. Then you will have the afternoon free to relax or stroll around town on your own. In the evening you are at leisure for individual pursuits and dining.

 

OVERNIGHT: DINGLE BENNERS HOTEL, DINGLE

Located in the heart of Dingle, a beautiful and colourful town set on the southern shores of the Dingle peninsula. Benners is a classic hotel favoured for its old world charm and ambience.

The hotel has been recently transformed, offering guests authentic Irish antique furnishings blended with the best of contemporary design. Each of the 52 bedrooms are luxuriously appointed providing an intimate and cosy setting for a relaxing stay. As Dingle's oldest hotel, Benners reflects the history and uniqueness of the town and peninsula and is a wonderful base from which to explore the wild beauty of Kerry. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Slea Head, the Conor Pass, Inch Beach, Ventry Beach, Wine Strand, Fermoyle and Castlegregory strands. Other highlights include boat trips to visit Fungie, Ireland's famous wild dolphin, Blasket Island trips, Dingle Aquarium, horseriding, diving, archaeology and geology trips and ultimately, the Irish language and culture. Set in one of Ireland's leading Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) areas, the language, music, dance, traditions and folklore of West Kerry will leave you with lifelong memories.

 

This hotel is so Irish, they don’t even have an official website! However, I stayed there myself when my wife and I spent ten days in Dingle last October.  We found the rooms to be very spacious, the shower was strong and the bathrooms very lovely.  The main bedroom had a large bay window that opened to let the sea breeze in, and there was a lovely window nook that was perfect for sitting for a while in the afternoon, reading and looking at maps while enjoying the tea service graciously provided by the hotel.  The Irish breakfast was cooked to order and complimented with a pastry, bread, cereal and cheese buffet.  The food quality was excellent!  The best part about Brenners is the location.  It is directly across the street from the Small Bridge Pub and easy access to all of the best music pubs and restaurants in Dingle.

 

Day 7               DINGLE PENINSULA TOUR

 

Today discover the beauties of the Dingle Peninsula, made famous by David Lean’s movie, “Ryan’s Daughter.” Drive along the south shore of the peninsula for plenty of vistas of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach and rocky headlands. There will be frequent stops at strategic locations to admire the views and take photos. As you motor through the peninsula, admire the largest collection of ogham stones, which are the earliest form of Irish writing and may have been used as landmarks, or could have been linked with land ownership. South of the road, in the town land of Fahan, visit Dunbeg Promontory Fort at Cathair Con ri. This fine fort is a triangular headland defended on the landward side by a massive, restored dry-stone wall with elaborate entrance and internal terraces, and to seaward by high, eroded cliffs. The first town land you come to when you pass Slea Head is Dun Chaoin, nestled in a fertile valley with Mount Eagle as a backdrop to the east and the Blasket Sound to the west. Much of the filming for the film 'Ryan's Daughter' was done here. Also, visit Dún Mór, a Celtic fort dating from 1000 B.C. overlooking the Blasket Islands. Return to Dingle for a free evening.

 

OVERNIGHT: DINGLE BENNERS HOTEL, DINGLE

 

Day 8               GREAT BLASKET FERRY & ISLANDS

 

After breakfast, drive to Dun Chaoin and set out by ferry to appreciate the beauty of the Dingle Peninsula as you travel to the Great Blasket Islands. As you cruise to the magical islands, relax and enjoy the wonderful nature, unique landscape, and stunning seascapes. View the spectacular Cathedral Rocks, surely one of the seven great natural wonders of Ireland. The old village, White Strand, is situated on the north-eastern side of the island, facing the mainland and Slea Head. Occupied from pre-history, the island overlooks the location where a number of the Spanish Armada ships were wrecked. Allow time to explore the standing stones and ring forts before returning to Dingle for dinner on your own.

 

OVERNIGHT: DINGLE BENNERS HOTEL, DINGLE

http://www.greatblasketisland.com/

 

 

Day 9               CRAGGAUNOWEN PROJECT & ENNIS

 

This morning depart Dingle and drive away from the mountains and into the fertile grazing lands of County Limerick.  Travel through the village of Adare and the outskirts of Limerick.  Cross the River Shannon and drive north to just outside of Quin to visit the Craggaunowen Project. See reconstructions of a Crannog, a Bronze Age lake dwelling, and a ring fort, where Iron Age farmers protected themselves and their animals. These displays illustrate how early settlers in Ireland lived. Also, see the “Brendan,” the leather vessel in which Tim Severin crossed the Atlantic 30 years ago. After your visit, drive a short distance into Ennis where you will embark on a walking your with a local guide to see the principal sights and learn some its extensive history.  Then check into your hotel and enjoy some time to relax.  In the evening you are free to choose from the many restaurants and pubs that Ennis has to offer. 

 

OVERNIGHT: TEMPLE GATE HOTEL, ENNIS

http://www.heritageisland.com/Craggaunowen,%20The%20Living%20Past.asp

 

http://www.templegatehotel.com/

 

Day 10             RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES  Aer Lingus  133

 

Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day.  Transfer to Shannon Airport in good time to check in for your flight.   You may do some last minute shopping at the duty free stores. Then clear U.S. Immigration before boarding your aircraft and flying across the Atlantic Ocean back to the Boston.  

 

 

FOR INFORMATION, OR TO ASK SPECIFIC LOGISTICS QUESTIONS,  E-MAIL MONICA AT   CELTICTRAVELER@GMAIL.COM     

 

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