We'll collect those who come over early and meet the rest at the Dublin airport to begin our tour with a drive north into Northern Ireland.  We'll start with a tour of the brilliant Titanic Experience - the ultimate museum dedicated to the most famous ship in the world.  Built in the shape of ship's prows, right in front of where it was built, the museum's height matches that of the Titanic's hull.  Its centerpiece is a series of interpretive galleries exploring aspects of the building, design, sinking and legacy of Titanic.

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We'll enjoy a hearty welcome dinner and head to our lodgings for the next two nights.

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OVERNIGHT:  NORTHERN IRELAND

A day of natural and man-made wonders...  The centerpiece of the day will be a visit to the UNESCO-tapped Giant's Causeway, named from a Gaelic myth about an Irish and a Scottish giant fighting on a bridge between Ireland and Scotland (visible from this location).  The true formation of this incredible landscape is due to an ancient volcanic fissure, creating 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, and the breath-taking size and uniqueness of this location draws nearly a million visitors per year.  We'll also visit some incredible castle ruins and take a walk among the Dark Hedges, an avenue of towering beech trees - made famous in HBO's "Game of Thrones."

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OVERNIGHT:  NORTHERN IRELAND

Today will be a travel day.  We'll begin with the city of Londonderry/Derry, the fifth largest city in Ireland and rich in tragic history between the Catholic Irish and the Protestant British, dating back to the formation of the Ulster Plantation in the early 1600s.  The history of this oldest planned city in Ireland is full of bloodshed - from O'Doherty's Rebellion to the Siege of Derry to the more recent period of conflict between Ulster (Protestant) police and Catholic protestors, known as the Troubles.  We'll stop at Free Derry Corner as the remaining centerpiece of this important part of Irish history.

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From here, we head to a place of incredible beauty.  We'll drive out along the northwest coast to a unique sweater factory:  Rossan.  Operated by three generations of family members and friends, they have one of our favorite sweater designs of them all.  We'll enjoy a little factory tour before heading over to park and walk out to behold the tallest sea cliffs in Europe:  Sliabh Liag!

We'll then make our way towards Galway, stopping at the church and burial plot of one W.B. Yeats is buried, one of the greatest contributors to literature in the 20th Century.

OVERNIGHT:  SLIGO

We have another driving day ahead, but our destination at the end of these two days of travel will put us in one of the most charming little villages, surrounded by some of Ireland's most famous sights.  

Today will begin with a somber reflection on the Great Famine.  We'll drive out to the western edge of the peninsula above Galway and enter into a haunting, gorgeous and unique landscape as we make our way to the Doolough Valley Famine Memorial - a story that well represents those terrible days of starvation and death.

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Our journey will turn much brighter as we drive over to Joyce Country Sheepdogs for a demonstration and a most enjoyable interaction with the owner, one of the very best in the business (and full of hilarious stories!)

We'll enjoy a late lunch at a favorite inn/pub as we make our way south out of County Galway and into perhaps Ireland's most beautiful:  County Clare.  We'll make our way to a favorite village along the coast for the next chapter of our tour.

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OVERNIGHT:  BALLYVAUGHAN

Wake up in the home of the Burren - a massive limestone upland that reaches out into the ocean to form the Aran Islands.  The landscape here is most unique and rather untouched. 

In the morning, we'll visit several amazing spots, including the Poulnabrone Dolmen - a single-chamber portal tomb dating from 3800 - 3200 BC.  There will be several historical plaques describing its history and importance, and it remains the most famous of the 172 dolmens found in Ireland.  We'll then head over to the famous Cliffs of Moher...  One of the most visited destinations in all of Ireland, this well-known stretch of coastline runs for about 9 miles and reaches over 700 feet above the surf.
 

We'll hit up a proper pub along the coastal drive back to our hotel, away from the throngs of tourists, visit a lighthouse and walk around on one of the best stretches of the Burren, before heading back to our hotel in charming Ballyvaughan.  And you'll want to keep your bellies empty, for we'll be heading to one of my favorite seafood restaurants on the planet, located directly across beautiful Galway Bay from its namesake.

OVERNIGHT:  BALLYVAUGHAN

Once again, we'll move counties...  

This time we head down to Ireland's most famous: Kerry.  Home to the majestic Killarney National Park, we'll make the three-hour drive down, with a stop or two along the way, before going through this scenic landscape.  We'll pass through Moll's Gap, among many other breathtaking spots, before driving the final stretch of highway to delightful Kenmare - one of our favorite places in all of Ireland.  

We'll get checked into our hotel and then meet up for a short orientation walk.  After that, you're free to explore on your own.  Kenmare is a favorite travel destination for the Irish - and others who know better.  It is a brightly colored town centered on a triangle of three roads - filled with shops, pubs, and restaurants.  

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OVERNIGHT:  KENMARE

You can hang around in Kenmare for the day and take a break from the van...  I have a great list of shops, restaurants, pubs, and even a walk to the Kenmare Cemetery for you.

Or you can head out with yours truly to explore the Ring of Beara.  Yes, there is the Dingle Peninsula, the Iveragh Peninsula (home to the Ring of Kerry), but the Ring of Beara is much less touristy and full of amazing scenery and history.  Today will be a great day for photography as we visit some hidden lakes (loughs - or as the Scots would call them, "lochs"), ruins, cemeteries, and a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Iveragh Peninsula from a distance.

We'll stop in the port town of Castletown-Bearhaven for a bite, before visiting a memorial to the nearby ancestral home of the infamous Sullivan Brothers of WWII fame/tragedy.  On the way back to Kenmare, we'll cross over Healy Pass and stop to soak up an epic view of the landscape.

This day will be a glorious slice of the beauty of Ireland.  We'll take the road out of Kenmare heading across another pass over the top of the Beara Peninsula, stopping at the famous Molly Gallivan's store for souvenirs, gifts, and perhaps a sweater or hat that catches your eye.  We'll then stop at the giant Quill's store for an incredible array of fine Irish handmade goods.

We'll grab lunch along the route, before we turn into some of the most spectacular scenery you'll ever behold as we make our way to perhaps the most beautiful sight in all of Ireland:  the breathtaking shoreline at Mizen Head, traditionally regarded as the most southerly point on the island of Ireland.  From there, we'll make our way a little further down the coast to our lodgings for the next two nights.

OVERNIGHT:  GLANDORE

Today will be a day of leisure.  You'll be free to take it easy or join in a morning or afternoon excursion to some nearby sights of great interest:  the Drombeg Stone Circle, which dates back to between 1100 - 800 BC and/or the ruins of Michael Collins' house and the Michael Collins Museum in the nearby town where he was educated.  Collins is greatly adored by the Irish, as he is widely considered to be the man responsible for bringing Great Britain to the table and creating the path for Irish independence.  We'll learn more and more about this chapter in the days to follow, but we'll even stop at the ambush site where he was killed by men from his home county during the Irish Civil War that followed the first steps towards independence.

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OVERNIGHT:  GLANDORE

Today we'll head to our final stop on our Irish Lap before we arrive into Dublin.  We'll make our way to Cork, stopping at the very ambush site where Michael Collins was killed.  Throughout the journey, I'll share more and more of the Irish story of independence, which will build up to some epic stops in Dublin - and you'll be versed enough at this point to really take it all in.

But our next stop is some Irish history that all Americans are well familiar with...  the Titanic.  Cobh, formerly known as Queenstown, is a most unique city in Ireland, as it sits inside one of Europe's biggest natural harbors.  Home to two of the most well-known shipping lines in the heyday of the passenger liner days, ,many immigrants boarded ships bound for the United States from this famous port city, including the last passengers to board the Titanic.  The ruins of the wooden dock they stepped off of still stands, though the waves will take them under at some point, too.  

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We'll meet up with my good friend Dr. Michael Martin, a former member of the Irish Navy (its one base also located in this harbor), author, lecturer, and important advisor in several key governmental departments.  He put forth great efforts to save Cobh's history and created the Titanic Walking Trail.  He will take us on a two-hour journey to learn all about Cobh's history.  

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After the tour - and the pint that comes with it, you'll have the afternoon to explore Cobh and relax.

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OVERNIGHT:  COBH

Now for a wee bit of the very touristy...  We'll head off to Blarney Castle to kiss the Stone and walk the beautiful gardens.  I've done it twice, and while it is cheesy and overrated, aim low and feed the little kid in you.  It's quite a lot of fun to do this!

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Afterwards, we'll head into Cork for a stroll on its famous walking street, check out the English Market, and, of course, have a pint or three.

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We'll head back to Cobh for dinner, and if all goes to plan, we'll join Michael and the other locals at the Roaring Donkey - the local pub away from the more touristy areas.  This was one of the absolute highlights of my tours last year.  It's as Irish as you can get!  We'll be the only Americans there, and the traditional music night we'll attend is absolute gold.

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OVERNIGHT:  COBH

We head north to Dublin today, and we'll make two stops that are part of the Irish story.

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First up is the Rock of Cashel - considered to be the home of the Irish kings, commencing with a story of a king converting to Catholicism here.  From the 4th Century to the Norman Invasion over 800 years later, this was the seat of the Irish kings of Munster.  

And because of its significance, when the English Parliamentarian troops invaded, they put both the Irish troops and the clergy to the sword and sacked the place.  In the mid 1700's the Anglican archbishop of Cashel had the roof removed, hastening its demise - but its remains have become a tourist attraction (and the Queen of England herself visited here in 2011!)

Our last stop before Dublin will be to pay respects at the gravesite of Wolfe Tone, hero to the men who fatally led the final uprising against the British and sparked the final turn towards Irish independence.  Wolfe Tone's story is a remarkable one, and he was the inspirational figure that all later Irish figures would point to in the final struggle for Irish independence.

Then we're on into Dublin where we'll check into our hotel and have a nice stroll for some food and drink!

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OVERNIGHT:  DUBLIN

The final two days in Dublin will consist of some epic historical stops, and after 12 days around Ireland, you'll have enough general knowledge to really understand the significance of these important sites: 

Kilmainham Gaol would be the one place I would go, if I could only visit one spot in all of Ireland.  It tells the story of the Great Famine, of English rule, of Irish poverty, and its last chapter is the most moving of them all...  It was here that those who declared Ireland free of British rule and took over multiple government buildings, right in the middle of WWI, were taken after capture and executed.  These executions would be the driving force behind a complete swing of Irish public opinion from tolerance and acceptance of British rule - to one of complete rebellion.  This place will move you deeply.

Glasnevin Cemetery will be another site we'll visit, both as part of arranged private tours.  The cemetery will come to life as our guide tells the story behind grave after grave and really brings Irish history to life.

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And in proper Irish fashion, when our tour of the cemetery is over, we'll head out the back gate and visit the John Kavanaugh, known affectionately by the locals as "the Gravedigger's Pub."  It is considered the best pint of Guinness in Dublin, and as Guinness is brewed in Dublin, it's the best pint on the planet.

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OVERNIGHT:  DUBLIN

So now you can say that you've been to Ireland.  You'll know much more about its history, its culture, and its people.  And you'll understand a few Irish songs far better than most, and you'll truly be able to appreciate Ireland for so much more than a big day of drinking green beer back in the USA.  

You'll have a free final day to roam around, whether it be a trip to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College, dive into the Guinness Experience at the giant brewery complex, or stroll the streets of Dublin and take in the color and revelry in Temple Bar (Dublin's Bourbon Street - only MUCH cleaner and more fun), shop on Grafton Street, or stroll under the trees and take in St. Stephen's Green, one of my favorite city parks in the world.

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I will help everyone find whatever they are looking for, and I'll happily lead a final expedition if we have a group consensus on an activity.  We'll have a final group meal together before getting back to our hotel to pack up and ready for flights.

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OVERNIGHT:  DUBLIN

I'll get everyone coordinated for their appropriate transportation to Dublin Airport.  Some will be staying in Europe longer, and others will be heading home.  The beauty of flying out of Dublin is that you clear US Customs IN Ireland, so when you land in the USA, you land as a domestic flight and can walk over to make your connection without having to spend another 45 minutes to an hour going through all of the checkpoints and baggage pickups.  

That is the tour, in a nutshell.  I have an itemized itinerary, along with the pricing available for any interested parties.  Just send me an email by clicking on the link below, and I'll respond.