Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Shannon aboard an internationally recognized airline.

Breakfast (in flight), Dinner

Welcome to the Emerald Isle! A Go Ahead representative greets you at Shannon Airport after you clear customs and escorts you to your hotel in Galway. This afternoon, your Tour Director introduces you to Galway, Ireland’s third-largest city. For 400 years Galway was an independent city-state—as recently as the 19th century, local citizens were still in the habit of setting their clocks 40 minutes behind Dublin time. At tonight’s included Welcome Dinner, meet your fellow travelers.

Breakfast

This morning, depart Galway and travel through the limestone plateau known as the Burren. Stop to see the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, which rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. These are among the most dramatic views in Ireland, and film fans may recognize them as the “Cliffs of Insanity” from the classic movie The Princess Bride. Enjoy this afternoon at leisure in Galway. You might choose to visit the broad expanse of Eyre Square or visit the 16th-century Spanish Arch on the banks of the Corrib. Lovers of pub culture will delight in Galway’s traditional public houses, from The Quays, Murphy’s Bar, Monroe’s Tavern and so much more. Pubs aren’t just bars in the American sense of the word—they’re communal meeting houses where a civic spirit is nurtured over crisps, ale and good craic (pronounced “crack,” it’s Gaelic for fun and conversation). Tonight, dine at our optional Castle Banquet dinner (seasonal).

Optional Excursions

Castle Banquet Dinner $115* pp

Enjoy a feast fit for a king inside Dunguaire Castle, a 17th-century castle overlooking Galway Bay. Sip from a goblet of mead and learn the history of the castle before proceeding up the spiral staircase to the banquet hall, where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous, four-course dinner and an evening of live entertainment, including songs and stories. Please note: This excursion is seasonal from April to October.

Breakfast

Blarney Castle

Drive to Cork, a city synonymous with the Irish spirit of rebellion. To this day, Corkonians refer to their city as the “real” capital of Ireland and to one another simply as “Rebels.” En route, visit Blarney Castle. This 15th-century fortress is known above all else for the legendary Blarney Stone, said to grant magical powers of eloquence to those who kiss it—which you can attempt by climbing the steep staircase to the top of the parapet and leaning out of the battlements. This afternoon explore Cork with your Tour Director, a city best seen on foot. This charming seaport spans both sides of the River Lee, and you’ll cross back and forth over the city’s web of canals as you walk about. You may want to stop in at the Princes Street Market (also known as the English Market) to peruse local specialties such as drisheen, an Irish black pudding.

Breakfast

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College

Drive to Dublin, and enjoy the “forty shades of green” that Johnny Cash famously noted as your motor coach zips through the scenic Irish countryside. Your route will take you through the heart of Ireland, an area once ruled by the Kings of Munster and where a fiercely independent streak can still be found today. This afternoon, your stay in Dublin will begin with a guided sightseeing tour of the city, starting with Phoenix Park, the largest enclosed public park in Europe, which includes the Arás an Uachtaráin (Presidential Residence). Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded by Ireland’s patron saint in A.D. 450, and then visit Trinity College, where you can view the illuminated Book of Kells in the university’s library.

Breakfast

Today is yours to explore on this festive day. You might want to catch a glimpse of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, or take advantage of the many musical, arts, and sporting events held across the city throughout the day. Or simply wander through this very walkable city, making sure to take in O’Connell Street, the city’s main boulevard, and cross the River Liffey on the nearby Ha’Penny Bridge, so named for the toll pedestrians were once charged. Make sure to stop into one of Dublin’s many neighborhood pubs, and celebrate the day with locals and some live traditional music. Tonight in Dublin, opt to join a Traditional Irish Evening of song, dance and food.

Optional Excursions

Traditional Irish Evening $99* pp

Enjoy this special evening of Irish food, music and live entertainment. Dinner will be served first, giving you a taste of traditional Irish dishes. You’ll then be treated to a live show of Irish music and dance. Join in the fun as you enjoy a merry and memorable night. Please note: The specific venue and day of the week for this optional may change due to availability.

Breakfast, Dinner

Continue to discover Dublin at your own pace today. Alternatively, join an optional excursion into the countryside of Wicklow to visit Powerscourt House, where you can walk through Ireland’s most beautiful formal gardens, and Glendalough, a romantic glen where St. Kevin founded Ireland’s most important monastery in the 6th century. Powerscourt was originally created as a military stronghold in the 13th century but underwent considerable transformation 500 years later. During the 18th century, the seventh Viscount Powerscourt toured France’s Versailles, Austria’s Schonnbrunn and other famous estates throughout Europe; upon turning 21, the Viscount ordered Powerscourt to be remade in the image of his favorite castles. The new estate’s gardens took two decades to flourish, but today, they’re among Ireland’s most beautiful. Glendalough, by contrast, reflects the monastic ascetism of its founder St. Kevin. Here you’ll find a collection of ancient drystone buildings, including an enormous round tower, one of only a handful remaining in Ireland. Tonight, tip a (pint) glass to your Irish adventure and enjoy traditional Irish fare and entertainment at your Farewell Dinner.

Optional Excursions

Powerscourt & Glendalough $79* pp

County Wicklow is home to some of the wildest and most spectacular scenery in Ireland, as well as two of the country’s most important historic sites. Your first stop is at the picturesque village of Enniskerry, where you’ll visit Powerscourt, an elegant country mansion with the finest formal gardens in the country. Later, continue on to Glendalough, which became famous throughout Europe as a center of Christian learning before it was sacked by Viking crusaders in the 10th century. You’ll also see St. Kevin’s Cross, the remains of the 6th-century cathedral and the remarkable Round Tower, thought to have been used by the monks as a place of refuge.

Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

A Go Ahead representative accompanies you to the airport for your return flight home.