O’Brien’s Irish Cottage

Presents

   EXPLORING SCENIC IRELAND

July 8 – July 19, 2010

Itinerary

Thursday July 8	UNITED STATES TO SHANNON Depart your hometown and take an overnight flight across the Atlantic. Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meal service as you travel to start your vacation.
Friday July 9	SHANNON ARRIVAL & WALKING TOUR OF ENNIS After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon Airport, your driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland, take you to your coach and head to Ennis. This morning your group leader will take you on a walking tour of Ennis.  You may continue on to a shopping tour or you may opt to see the county museum and the Ennis Abbey both steeped in O’Brien lore.  You will check into your hotel and be directed to places of interest to have your evening meal.  The balance of the day is at your leisure.     OLD GROUND HOTEL, ENNIS
Saturday July 10	BUNRATTY CASTLE/BANQUET Today you will travel in the footsteps of Brian Boru.  First a short trip to Dromoland Castle for a guided tour.  Then onto Bunratty Castle where you may walk the stairs once trod upon by Boru himself.  The folk park and shops across the way will give you a taste of the wares you will see in Ireland.  You head to Killaloe and the East Clare Heritage Centre.  This evening you will enjoy a medieval banquet at Knappogue Castle.  Breakfast meal included. OLD GROUND HOTEL, ENNIS
Sunday July 11	CLIFFS OF MOHER/GALWAY CITY Before leaving Ennis, you may choose to attend mass at the Friary across from our hotel then drive to the coast of Clare to view the Cliffs of Moher which rise 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and extend for five miles along the coast.  You will pass through the town of Doolin before driving through the Burren Country, an area of silvery-gray limestone that has weathered into curious pavements and elsewhere into mountains or cliffs. Despite its windswept appearance, it is home to a number of rare Irish wild flowers.  Arrive in Galway, see Kennedy square and Old Town.  Check into your hotel, enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. Breakfast meal included. JURYS INN, GALWAY
Monday July 12               Tuesday July 13	CLONMACNOISE/DUBLIN Board the bus early for your trip to Dublin.  You will drive to the center of Ireland to visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement founded in 545 AD by St Ciaran.  See round towers, elaborately decorated Celtic crosses and the ruins of many churches.  Upon arrival in Dublin you will check into your hotel and meet in the lobby for a walk to Grafton Street and The Temple Bar area.  You may choose from many locations for your evening meal. Breakfast meal included. GRAFTON CAPITAL HOTEL, DUBLIN   DUBLIN CITY TOUR Today you will board the bus for a city tour and then be on your own to see the Kilmainham Jail, Trinity Collage Guinness Brewery or spend the day in the shopping district.  Use your Independent bus tour voucher, you may stay on the bus for the entire loop or get off at any of the 23 stops near major attractions.  Breakfast meal included. GRAFTON CAPITAL HOTEL, DUBLIN
Wed’day July 14	GLENDALOUGH/ This morning take a drive south through the lovely Wicklow Mountains to visit the Glendalough Visitor Centre and learn about St. Kevin’s 6th century monastery.  Walk through the ruined churches and round tower which are set in a peaceful valley between two lakes.  Journey on to Kilkenny and visit Kilkenny Castle and stroll through this medieval town at your leisure.  Breakfast meal included.   HOTEL, KILKENNY
Thursday July 15	COBH HERITAGE CENTER/ KINSALE Drive to Rock of Cashel and see the Rock rise above the town and the surroundings as the only elevated place within miles.  In the early years the building was used as an assemble place for kings and not until years later as a church.   Then on to Cobh, a port town to the east of Cork city.  Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, located in the railway station where emigrants transferred from train to set out by ship for the United States.  Learn about emigration patterns and the ships that called to Cobh, including the “Titanic.”   Now to the Middleton Brewery for a tour and a taste.  Go on to Kinsale and check into your hotel for the night.  Breakfast meal included. FRIARS LODGE, KINSALE
Friday July 16                       Saturday July17	KINSALE/BLARNEY CASTLE Kinsale, originally a Georgian garrison town and harbor, this charming seaside town is a popular yachting center today. Roam around the steep streets with brightly-painted houses and flowers. In the center see the Old Courthouse, now a regional museum.  Travel to Blarney which is located a few miles outside Cork.  Here visit Blarney Castle to climb to the battlements where the “Stone of Eloquence” is located.  Enjoy some time to browse around the village and the Blarney Woolen Mills.  On your way to Kilarney travel through the pleasant towns of Skibbereen, Clonakilty, and Glengarriff, located at the head of Bantry Bay.   Then on to Kenmare for more sightseeing before arriving in Killarney.  This evening you might want to enjoy dinner and a night of traditional Irish entertainment in Danny Mann’s Pub. Breakfast meal included. EARL’S COURT, KILARNEY   RING OF KERRY TOUR Today explore the Ring of Kerry ‑ 100 miles of marvelous scenery consisting of the highest peaks in Ireland on one side and a coastline scattered with golden beaches and rocky headlands on the other. Enjoy plenty of stops to view the scenery or take photos. Travel through Glenbeigh, Cahirciveen then on to Waterville and the colorful village of Sneem.  Stop at Moll’s Gap for a view of the three lakes of Killarney with the mountains and the town in the background.  Return to Killarney for overnight , spending the balance of the day conducting independent activities.  Breakfast meal included. EARL’S COURT, KILARNEY
Sunday July 18	ADARE/ This morning you may go to mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral.  Today you will leave Killarney, travel through Tralee on your way to Adare, which is famous for its main street of thatched houses and colorful gardens.  After a photo stop, journey onto Limerick, the town of King Johns Castle.  Limerick City is magnificently sited on one of Europe's finest rivers, the Lordly Shannon, here where the soft bog and fresh water meet the salt of the sea. Today, it is difficult to picture the 9th century scenes, when fleets of Viking vessels sailed upriver to plunder and terrorize the Monastic Midlands. In later centuries these Norsemen settled and founded the trading port of Limerick.  Your night will be your own when you arrive back to the now familiar town of Ennis.  Breakfast meal included. OLD GROUND HOTEL, ENNIS
Monday July 19	RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES 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 United States.  Rates: Double Occupancy $2750.00 Per Person   Single occupancy add $500.00 for total of $3250.00  Included in Price: 12 days and 10 nights, Round Trip Air fare from Detroit Metro Airport Air taxes and Fees (subject to increase until paid in full), Hotel and Transfers, Tour bus and driver for the duration,  Irish breakfast, Medieval Banquet, entrance fees to the Cliffs of Moher and voucher for the bus in Dublin.  Not included in price: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of $200.00 per person.                                             Reservation Form     Rates: Double Occupancy $2750.00 Per Person   Single occupancy add $500.00 for total of $3250.00       First deposit of $250.00 per person due upon reservation.  *Reservations are made on a first come first serve basis.  There is limited space available.  Final payment due May 1, 2010.   Make Checks Payable to:     Monica H. O’Brien    OBriensIrishCottage@msn.com For Reservations Contact:   O’Brien’s Irish Cottage                                                 13717 19 Mile Road                                                Sterling Heights, Mi 48313                                                (586)-566-9686   Attn: Monica H. O’Brien   Your Name: Salutation:______ First:____________________Middle:_______________Last:____________________Suffix:______           (Mr., Mrs., Rev.,)                                        (Please print as it appears on Passport)                                                                       (Jr., Sr.)   Rooming With:__________________________________________________________________________________                                                               ( Please print as it appears on Passport)   Your Address:________________________________ Email Address:______________________________________     City:____________________State:______Zip Code:________ Phone:(    )_________________________Cell:(     )_____-________     Passport Number:____________________ Date of Issuance:________________Expiration Date: ________________     City, State, Country of Issuance:_____________________________________________________________________     Date of Birth:____________________ City, State, Country of Birth:__________________________________________     Gender:________Male  ________Female      Citzenship:_________________________________________________   Emergency Contact Name:________________________________ Phone:(     )_____-___________________Relationship_________________   I wish to purchase cancellation waiver and insurance at $200.00 per person:_____Yes_____No (Payment due with first deposit.) Please note: O’Brien’s highly recommends the purchase of waiver insurance.  If you choose not to purchase the Waiver Insurance Plan, you will incur penalties for changes and cancellations (see flyer for more details).     Deposit Amount:$____________Waiver/Insurance Amount:$ ____________Total Amount Enclosed:$ _____________   Please advise your departure airport for this tour:_______________________________________________________ O’Brien’s Irish Cottage accepts American Express Discover, MasterCard, or Visa as payments toward your reservation. If paying by credit card, please complete the authorization form. Exploring Scenic Ireland July 8, 2010 – July 19, 2010

O’Brien’s Irish Cottage

CREDIT CARD AUTHORIZATION FORM

EXPLORING SCENIC IRELAND

July 8 – July 19, 2010

If paying by credit card, please complete this form and return to O’Brien’s Irish Cottage.  We can only charge your credit card for the amount noted if the signature, address and phone number are listed below.  Thank you!