Shawn O'Donnell's Irish Heritage Tour

Itinerary

Shawn O’Donnell’s Irish Heritage Tour
October 10-19, 2019

Day 1 - Thursday, October 10 
-Depart the United States
Day 2 - Friday, October 11
-Dublin Arrival, Dublin Walking Tour, Welcome Reception
Day 3 - Saturday, October 12 
-Epic Ireland, Guinness Storehouse, Slane Castle
Day 4 - Sunday, October 13
-Tullamore Dew, Ballykilcavan Brewery
Day 5 - Monday, October 14 
-Kilkenny Castle, Tea & Scones at McCarthy’s Pub, Blarney Castle
Day 6 - Tuesday October 15
-Gallarus Oratory, Dingle Whiskey Distillery, Pub Dinner
Day 7 - Wednesday, October 16 
-Connors Pass, Adare, Cliffs of Moher
Day 8 - Thursday, October 17
-Kylemore Abbey, Quiet Man Tour
Day 9 - Friday, October 18
-Sean’s Bar Pub Lunch, Farewell Dinner at Clontarf Castle
Day 10 - Saturday, October 19
-Transfer to Airport, Return to the United States

Full Itinerary

Day by day trip details

Day 1 – October 10, 2019

DEPART THE UNITED STATES

Group Contracted Airfare on Delta $949 per person

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SEA -> JFK DL182 11:25a – 7:49p

          5h 24m Boeing 757-200

JFK -> DUB DL044 10:19p-9:50a(+1)

          6h 31m Boeing 767-400

Day 2 – October 11, 2019

DUBLIN ARRIVAL

Welcome to Ireland

“Cead Mile Failte,” a hundred thousand welcomes! After clearing passport control, please claim your luggage to complete the arrival formalities. You will then exit through the Arrivals Hall, where your driver will meet and escort you to the waiting vehicle.

Introduction Travel Director

Your Travel Director is a highly trained professional and will enrich your travel experience with a wealth of expert knowledge. Departure times and a balance between driving and sightseeing can be agreed upon each day. In addition, advice on entertainment, restaurants, and more is readily available.

Dublin Walking Tour

What better way to experience the 2000-year-old city of Dublin than by foot. This exciting tour will show off the most interesting and beautiful areas of the capital. You will experience all the Gems of Dublin’s Fair City as you stroll around viewing, beautiful architecture, ancient city walls, and backstreets alive with history, heritage and culture.

Welcome Reception - Nancy Hands Pub

This evening, enjoy a welcome reception at Nancy Hands Pub.

OVERNIGHT: The Mont Clare Hotel, Dublin

Day 3 – October 12, 2019

Dublin & More

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Epic Ireland

Visit Epic Ireland, an authentic and epic story of 10million journeys and the roots

of 70 million people, told with memorable style and passion. Through 21 galleries,

using interactive technologies, explore the many tales of Irish migration.

Guinness Storehouse & Connoisseur Experience

Guinness originated in St James's Gate, the heart of Dublin, where Arthur Guinness established his business in 1759. Nowadays, the fermentation plant at St. James's Gate Brewery has been transformed and redeveloped so that you can experience how Guinness is produced from start to finish. The tour ends at the Gravity Bar for a tasting of the dark ale.

Next, settle in the Guinness Connoisseur luxurious private bar and experience the most exclusive Guinness beer tasting experience in the world. You will be brought on a sensual journey through the four most popular variants of Guinness Draught, Original, Foreign Extra Stout and Black Lager.

Slane Castle & Distillery Tour, plus dinner

On arrival enjoy a Welcome Signature Cocktail. Next, tour Slane Distillery where you are taken through their heritage room, barley room, cooperage, and maturation warehouse before a final stop that provides a view of the pot stills and production areas. The tour concludes in the best way possible with a taste of our signature triple casked blend, Slane Irish Whiskey. Then visit Slane Castle, set in the middle of a 1,500 acre estate, has been a family home since 1701. The historic Battle of the Boyne was fought just downriver. The parklands were laid out by the distinguished landscape architect, Capability Brown. After your tour of Slane Distillery and Slane Castle, retire to the Gandon Room in Slane Castle. You will be welcomed by a family member, before you enjoy an excellent 3 course dinner in this magnificent setting.

OVERNIGHT: The Mont Hotel, Dublin

Day 4 – October 13, 2019

Tullamore & Kilkenny

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Tullamore Dew

Stop off in Tullamore, and enjoy a visit to the Whiskey Distillery. Here, Tullamore D.E.W. enthusiasts, experts and aficionados can truly get to know their favourite whiskey. For those not so well acquainted with the whiskey, they will get the chance to investigate the distilling process a little deeper.

Ballykilcavan Brewery

Visit Ballykilcavan Farm Brewery, situated in a prime malting barley growing area, just outside Stradbally, Co. Laois. It has been farmed by the Walsh family since 1639 and the current owners, David and Lisa are the 13th generation of Walshs to live and work here.

OVERNIGHT: Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny

Day 5 – October 14, 2019

Blarney & Dingle

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Kilkenny Castle

In Kilkenny, a city that dates back more than 1,500 years, enjoy a guided visit to Kilkenny Castle. This impressive structure began life as a Norman fortress. Its picture gallery includes portraits by Van Dyck and Lely.

Tea and Scones

Enjoy tea & scones at McCarthy's Pub, owned by an uncle of Shawn O’Donnell.

Blarney Castle

Visit Blarney Castle, built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland's greatest chieftains. Legend tells us that the Blarney stone situated on the grounds of Blarney Castle imparts the gift of eloquence to those who kiss it.

OVERNIGHT: Dingle Skellig Hotel, Dingle

Day 6 – October 15, 2019

Dingle and around

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Gallarus Oratory

Visit Gallarus oratory, Ireland’s best preserved early Christian Churches and a must see on any tour of the Dingle peninsula.

Dingle Whiskey Distillery

Visit the Dingle Whiskey Distillery, just outside Dingle town. See their three distinctive, hand-crafted copper pot stills used to create what they believe is the ultimate Irish whiskey.

Pub Dinner

This evening enjoy dinner at a local pub.

OVERNIGHT: Dingle Skellig Hotel, Dingle

Day 7 – October 16, 2019

Epic Views and vistas

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Connors Pass

Set in the stunning mountains of the Dingle peninsula the Conor Pass links Dingle Town on the south coast of the peninsula with the settlements along the north. The views from the road are breathtaking, as the glaciated landscape of mountains and corrie lakes comes into view.

Adare

Visit the picturesque village of Adare, which is billed as the prettiest village in Ireland with its thatched roof cottages and Tudor

style houses.

Cliffs of Moher

Travel to the Cliffs of Moher, rising approximately 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic waves and stretching to 8km. Perhaps visit the interpretive centre, housed in an underground building, a huge domed cave contains images, exhibits, displays & experiences that will delight young and old alike.

OVERNIGHT: The Galmont Hotel And Spa, Galway

Day 8 - October 17, 2019

Galway & surroundings

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is placed one hour from Galway. Built in the late 1800s by a man inspired by his love for his wife and his hopes for his beloved Ireland he created an estate boasting "all the innovations of the modern age". Today Kylemore Abbey is owned by the Benedictine Community who have been in residence here since 1920.

Quiet Man Tour

Travel to Cong, nestled on the shores of Lough Corrib, a true gateway to Connemara. Your tour of Cong includes a visit to the locations from the John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara film “The Quiet Man. After the tour explore the Quiet Man Cottage Museum and take in some of the local history.

OVERNIGHT: The Galmont Hotel And Spa, Galway

Day 9 – October 18, 2019

Return to Dublin & Farewell from our Castle for the evening

Breakfast at hotel

Breakfast is included at your hotel this morning.

Sean's Bar Pub Lunch

Enjoy lunch and a visit to what is quite possibly the world's oldest pub.

Farewell Dinner at hotel

Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening at your hotel

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: Clontarf Castle, Dublin

Day 10 – October 19, 2019

Return to the United States

Breakfast at Hotel

Transfer to Dublin Int’l Airport

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DUB -> JFK DL45 11:35a-1:55p

          7h 20m Boeing 767-400

JFK -> SEA DL1922 4:29p - 8:12p

          6h 43m Boeing 737-900

Pricing Agreements 

Land Costs:

$3,399 per person, based on double occupancy (two people to a room), $3,599 starting June 1st (100% Deposit Due)

-Single Supplement is $800

Includes all ground transportation roundtrip Dublin Airport, tours as described, accommodations as described, breakfast daily, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, entrance fees for indicated attractions, and transportation to and from each location.

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NOT included: gratuities to driver and tour conductor, meals not expressly indicated in the itinerary, alcohol, items of a personal nature, airfare, or trip insurance*

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Deposit of $200 required by May 31st to secure space on this trip, final payment due June 30th, 2019

Airfare Costs:

We’ve contracted a special group flight to Dublin from Seattle for $949 per person. We have 30 seats reserved at this rate. Flight details are on the itinerary attached. Clients may request different flights if they wish to arrive earlier, stay longer, etc. and we can provide a customized airfare quote. Tour extensions are possible – please contact Cliff Steinhauer to arrange seamless extensions to the group tour.

Deposit of $100 required by May 31st, final payment due June 30th, 2019

Travel Insurance:

We recommend travel insurance to protect your trip investment as well as cover unforeseen medical and travel problems. The cost of insurance is dependent on the price of the trip and the traveler’s age. Please request a quote.