St. Patrick's Day in Ireland: Irish Pubs & Folklore Tour

March 13-March 22, 2009
$2,799 per person, plus air taxes (currently $159.56 per person)

YOUR TRAVEL VALUE INCLUDES

• Airport transfers on days 2 and 10

• Twin-bedded rooms in hotels listed or similar; hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling

• 8 breakfasts (B), 1 morning coffee (MC), 1 lunch and 3 dinners (D)

• Services of a professional Irish Tour Director

• Private deluxe motorcoach with airconditioning, reclining seats, and emergency restroom

• Sightseeing, special features and scenic highlights as indicated in the itinerary, including admission charges where applicable

• Portfolio of travel documents BRENDAN HOTELS

DUBLIN -- Alexander Hotel (SF) or Radisson SAS St. Helens (DLX)
GALWAY -- Jurys Inn (ST)
KILLARNEY -- Killarney Towers (SF)
KILKENNY -- Pembroke Hotel

ITINERARY

DAY 1 -- Depart Phoenix
Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Ireland mapDAY 2 --Arrive in Dublin
Welcome to Dublin! Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Spend the afternoon relaxing or travel to the Guinness Storehouse and discover what goes into making a pint of Guinness. Hear how Guinness has traveled to 150 countries and how the famous brew has been advertised over the years. The journey ends on the roof in the Gravity Bar with a pint.

While in Dublin, why not explore the traditional bars just a stone's throw away from your hotel. O'Donoghue's, a landmark pub established in 1789, is not only famous for its original Victorian interior, but it has also been the setting for a host of famous musicians throughout the years. It is an attraction not only for tourists from all over the world but is also a favorite haunt of local Dubliners, who enjoy the real Irish music experience which this pub offers seven nights a week.

Other bars close by which are worth having a pint in include Toners, Foleys and Doheny & Nesbitts, where you are guaranteed a memorable experience.

DAY 3 -- Dublin
Pass Christ Church on the way to St. Patrick's Cathedral. Then on to the seat of learning at the heart of Dublin -- Trinity College. Walk across the cobbled squares to the old library and see one of Ireland's greatest treasures -- the famed 8th century Book of Kells. Your Tour Director will also reveal a hidden treasure. Spend the rest of your day exploring the city's stylish shops, Georgian squares, galleries and museums or find a corner in a café or pub. This evening, meet at 7:15 p.m. in the Duke Pub and join the "Dublin Literary Pub Crawl." You are transported away from everyday life to the richness of Ireland's famous writers, including Joyce, O'Casey, Yeats and Behan. Each group is led by actors on a trail from pub to pub -- no props, no lights, no make-up, just the voice and personality of the actor. Nothing like it exists anywhere else in the world. (B)

DAY 4 -- Dublin / Galway
Depart Dublin and travel through the midlands to Locke's Distillery in Kilbeggan. Established in 1757, Locke's is the oldest licensed pot-still distillery in the world. Now open as a museum, guided tours follow the process from the grinding of the grain to the casking of the final product. Learn about the lives and the working conditions of the people who toiled here. At the end of the tour, you are treated to a complimentary sample of six-year-old Lockes Irish Whiskey. Next, on to tour Galway, including Galway Cathedral. (B,D)

DAY 5 -- Connemara Excursion
In the west of Ireland, the beautiful mountains of Galway and Mayo drop down the coast. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a castellated neo-Gothic mansion, occupied by the Irish Benedictine community of nuns who came from Ypres after World War I. The balance of the evening is free to explore Galways' pubs. (B)

DAY 6 -- Galway / Cliffs of Moher / Killarney
Leaving Galway, stop for morning coffee at Rathbaun Farm. See an Irish farming family carrying out their everyday chores. Continue to the Burren, a lunar-like area petrified in carboniferous limestone. Stop at the Cliffs of Moher, one of the outstanding features of County Clare. Moving on, cross the wide Shannon estuary on the Tarbert Ferry and visit the Flying Boat Museum at Foynes, which was the center of the aviation world from 1939 to 1945. Foynes is also the birthplace of Irish Coffee. There is time to sample the famous beverage before continuing to Killarney. (B,MC,D)

DAY 7 -- The Ring of Kerry Travel the road that winds around the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, better known as "The Ring of Kerry." Mountains, valleys and lakes blend into a palette of scenic splendor. Claiming the best views in Ireland, stop off at the Scarriff Inn, half way round "The Ring" for a light lunch. Later, take a jaunting car ride along the lake to the 19th century Muckross House and Folk Museum. (B,L)

DAY 8 -- Killarney / Blarney / Kilkenny
Your first stop today is in the village of Blarney. There is time to browse through Blarney Woolen Mills to shop for Irish knitwear and crafts. Don't miss Blarney Castle with its magical stone that gives the gift of eloquence for a kiss. Then on to Kilkenny. Walk with a local guide for an introduction to the medieval city. Stop in at Langton's Bar, known throughout Ireland, having won the award of 'National Pub of the Year' a record four times along with 'Super Pub of the Year.' (B)

DAY 9 -- Kilkenny / Dublin
Travel through Ireland's horse country to The Irish National Stud. A guided tour shows you the stallion boxes, foaling unit and museum. Return to Dublin with some time for last minute shopping. Tonight enjoy a traditional Irish evening with dinner, song and dance. (B,D)

DAY 10 -- Depart Dublin
Transfer for your homebound flight. (B)

About Dublin Pubs
At one time Dublin had over 4,000 pubs where locals could indulge in their favorite tipple. As time passed, laws came into being to control the number of pubs in the city. Now Dublin has almost 750 licensed pubs. The Dublin pub is far from being a mere drinking emporium. Each has its own special character, and many have developed far-flung reputations for specializing in specific aspects of Irish culture -- traditional music, song & dance, sports, literature and local cuisine. All, however, are centers of Irish community life, where the art of conversation finds effortless expression and no one remains a stranger for long.

Call Travelation at 602-252-1140, or toll-free at 888-751-2032, to book! You can also contact Rosanne directly via e-mail at rosanne@travelationonline.com