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The Emerald Island
Culture and Walking in Ireland
June 15-21, 2004
Aran Island Extension June 21-24
Is it a surprise that Ireland was just voted the best place to live in the world? Well, we know it is a fantastic place to visit and to soak in the uniqueness and beauty that is Ireland. Ireland is one of our most fabulous European destinations. Imagine - the colorful people, the many shades of green, the wonderful walks, the stubborn sheep that sit in the middle of road, the lively and heartwarming music sessions, the soothing and scrumptious homemade brown bread and the rib-sticking and tasty Guiness. This trip highlights destinations in Dingle, Killarney, Doolin, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher.
Day 1: Arrival – After picking our group up at the Shannon Airport, we journey westward to Dingle. We will have a brief introductory meeting to fill us in on the details of the week. Have your walking shoes ready, since we will do an easy walking tour of Dingle immediately after our meeting. We will spend the night in Dingle and have dinner at a local restaurant, sampling local specialties. After dinner, we may stroll downtown and visit one of the many pubs where we can listen to traditional music.
Day 2: There is no other landscape in Western Europe with the density and variety of archaeological monuments as the Dingle Peninsula. Because of the peninsula's remote location, with minimal specialized agriculture, there is a remarkable preservation of over 2,000 monuments. The Dingle Peninsula in southwest Ireland provides a variety of settings for the walker, ranging from country roads, to beaches, cliffsides and mountains. Today’s walk will be filled with breathtaking beauty and historical sights. Our day will end relaxing in the warm atmosphere of Dingle.
Day 3: Today will begin with a trip to Killarney via mini-bus. Upon arrival, we will walk in the Killarney National Park and visit Muckross House and Gardens, located in the heart of the Park. Home for the next two nights will be at a quaint country guesthouse that is idyllically situated at the edge of a wooded river traditionally known as Fairy Glen.
Day 4: Our day starts with a boat ride that departs from Ross Castle, taking us through the three Lakes of Killarney to Lord Brandon’s Cottage. After lunch, we have an easy walk that meanders through a forested trail and peat bog. Our walk continues along the old Kenmare Road back to Killarney via Torc waterfall.
Day 5: Today we will depart the Ring of Kerry and head for County Claire, where we will visit the dramatic Cliffs of Moher. O’Brien’s Tower is the best location from which to view the cliffs that plunge 700 feet into the sea and extend along the shore for 5 miles. On a clear day, one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, The Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk Mountains to the north in Connemara, as well as Loop Head to the south. We will spend the night in Doolin, which is a quaint village considered the traditional music capital of Ireland.
Day 6: In northern County Clare, the Burren region is an extraordinary place. The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. The area is visually similar to a moonscape, yet shelters a mixture of flora and archaeological sites that have mesmerized visitors for centuries. There are traces of ancient civilizations, as evidenced by dolmens, round towers, ancient churches and holy wells. The options for walks here are endless.
Day 7: After breakfast, those who are not joining us for our extension to the Aran Islands and Connemara will be transferred to Shannon Airport.
Extension to the Aran Islands June 21-24th.
Aran Islands The Aran Islands, with their magnificent wild terrain, display evidence of the years of battering by wind and water. The islands - Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer - lie about 30 miles out across the mouth of Galway Bay and are criss-crossed by miles of stone walls and dotted with some fine iron age archaeological sites. The islands' isolation allowed Irish culture to survive when it had all but disappeared elsewhere. Irish is still the native tongue, and until recently people still wore traditional Aran dress. The women still knit the famous Aran sweaters; historically each family used a different pattern in order to recognize fishermen drowned at sea. The islands are a haven for botanists and nature lovers with their abundance of flora, fauna and nesting birds.The Aran Islands are rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland.
Day 7: Departure from Doolin via ferry to Inis Mor. There are numerous ecclesiastic ruins, prehistoric forts and megalithic tombs that we will explore on the island.
Overnight & Dinner Inis Mor
Day 8: Inis Mor is roughly 9 miles long and 3 miles at it’s widest but it offers fabulous walking. The island is a timeless land in an endless sea, weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, meandering walls, and patchwork fields which are best explored on foot. Today’s walk includes many highlights such as the ruins of a beautiful 12th century church, Clochan na Carraige, a great example of a beehive dwelling and dramatic scenery!
Overnight & Dinner Inis Mor
Day 9: After a breakfast we will fly to Galway. It is located on the West coast of Ireland, sitting on the River Corrib. We will participate in a guided walking tour of Galway so we can explore this vibrant yet historic city. Overnight and Dinner in Galway
Day 10: Transfer back to Shannon
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