The Essence of Ireland

Embark on an Irish adventure with alumni and friends from April 11-18, 2024 traveling from Shannon to Dublin, before joining fellow Hoyas for the John Carroll Weekend. Ireland possesses an abundance of pleasures, many of which will be experienced during this six-night journey. Be awestruck by the dramatic seaside cliffs that line Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, especially the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Stroll along the cobbled streets of medieval towns and admire their age-old castles and fortifications. Tour a grand home adorned with intricate plaster work and admire its sumptuous gardens and woodlands. Be moved by the ethereal beauty of an ancient monastic site. Along the way savor some of the joys that define the Irish experience: from learning the art of falconry, to tapping your foot along with Irish musicians playing in a local pub, to partaking in a whisky-tasting session at a distillery, to playing a round of golf on a legendary golf course. Our tour concludes with a drop-off at the College Green Hotel on April 18th for John Carroll Weekend Dublin.

Need help making plans for the John Carroll Weekend:

Registration for the John Carroll Weekend Dublin 2024 must be done separately from the Essence of Ireland tour. Please visit JCW.Georgetown.edu to sign up for John Carroll Weekend Dublin 2024 and to access the hotels available for the John Carroll Weekend 2024 event.

Essence of Ireland Tour Dates and Rates:

Tour Dates: April 11 – 18, 2024

Tour Rates:

$7,499 per person based on double occupancy.

$9,499 per person single occupancy or please contact us to inquire about any possible roommate options

Tour Status: Confirmed & Open for Reservations. $1,000 per person deposit required to confirm reservations. Request a reservation for the Essence of Ireland tour today

Please contact the Georgetown Travel Society at 866-525-8664 or GeorgetownTravelSociety@Georgetown.edu for more details about the Essence of Ireland Tour.

Tour Highlights:

• Wander among the glory of Powerscourt House & Gardens, an 18th-century stately home with spectacularly landscaped gardens
• Schedule in some optional leisure time and learn about the kingly art of falconry, play a round of golf or indulge in a luxurious spa treatment.
• Marvel at the Cliffs of Moher, which tower over the rugged West Clare coast, and enjoy the stunning scenery and spectacular vistas over the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands while catching glimpses of over 20 different bird species, including puffin, guillemot, and razorbill
• Revel in a dinner hosted in the Medieval Banquet at a 15th-century castle, complete with a lively musical performance
• Sip “uisce beatha” (Gaelic for whiskey, meaning water of life) at an Irish distillery tour and tasting
• Be moved at a 7th-century monastic site which helped Ireland become known as a place of spiritual enlightenment.
• Visit several ancient castles whose medieval legacies are on full view

Tour Itinerary:

Thursday April 11 DEPARTURE

Depart for Shannon, Ireland on independently arranged overnight flights.

Friday April 12 COUNTY CLARE, IRELAND (D)

Arrive this morning and transfer to the hotel. Guests opting for the suggested flights will be met at the airport and take the group transport to the hotel. This evocative “castle” hotel is our home for the next 2 nights. If time permits, make like a royal and schedule some archery, clay shooting, falconry or enjoy a stroll through their Walled Garden. Then gather for a festive dinner at nearby Bunratty Castle, a 15th-century tower house considered one of Ireland’s most beautiful and well-preserved castles. Before dinner, explore the Folk Park, an open-air museum featuring a reconstructed village with traditional thatched-roof cottages. You will be transported to the Middle Ages at the castle’s Medieval Banquet, welcomed to the Castle’s 15th-century Great Hall with a glass of mead and with the famed Bunratty Castle Singers offering evening entertainment.

Accommodations: Dromoland Castle Hotel

Saturday April 13 COUNTY CLARE / CLIFFS OF MOHER / COUNTY CLARE (B, L, D)

Arise early to drive to the stunning western coastline of Ireland to view the visually spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Formed over 320 million years ago this UNESCO Global Geopark is host to major colonies of nesting seabirds. These vertical, sheer cliffs offer stunning views across the seas of the dramatic Aran Islands. Enjoy lunch together in the area then drive to the nearby beach town of Lahinch which is one of Western Europe’s “surf centers”. The small, welcoming, and lively resort town of Lahinch boasts one of best known and most loved beaches in Ireland with its golden sands stretching almost two kilometers around Liscannor Bay. Stroll through the streets with its shops, pubs, and restaurants. Then return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Enjoy a group dinner at the hotel tonight.

Accommodations: Dromoland Castle Hotel

Sunday April 14 COUNTY CLARE / CASHEL / KILKENNY (B, L)

Check out of the hotel and drive to the historic Rock of Cashel. Set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone is found the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland, some dating back to the 12th century. Housed here is a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars, which houses several Celtic relics like the original Cross of St. Patrick, a 15th-century Tower House, and Cormac’s Chapel which contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland. After lunch, continue to the medieval town of Kilkenny and arrive at Smithwicks Experience, where 300 years of history combine with innovative brewing processes. Through this guided experience, learn how the Smithwick’s family brewed this Irish ale style beer and then stay for a tasting of this ruby red ale with a creamy head. Continue our hotel for the next two nights. Dinner is at leisure.

Accommodations: Mount Juliet Hotel

Monday April 15 KILKENNY (B. D)

Enjoy a special morning walking tour of Kilkenny which began as an early 6th-century ecclesiastical foundation and was granted city status in 1609. Take a stroll through one of Ireland’s prettiest towns, with its medieval buildings and its delightfully tangled narrow streets filled with charming shops. Stop to view the remarkably well-preserved 13th-century St. Canice’s Cathedral, the second largest in Ireland after St. Patrick’s and an important site for Christian worship for over 1,400 years. Visit the grand 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, built to control a fording part of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways, and which now includes an art gallery. Enjoy some free time to visit the 18th-century buildings opposite the Castle, reimagined now as the Kilkenny Design Centre featuring local artists designs and crafts. Have lunch at leisure in the town. Return to the hotel for an afternoon of optional activities: golf on a championship course, thrill to the “sport of kings” falconry demonstrations, or indulge in a spa treatment. Dinner tonight is at the hotel.

Accommodations: Mount Juliet Hotel

Tuesday April 16 KILKENNY / GLENDALOUGH / ENNISKERRY (B, L)

Depart and drive through the heart of County Wicklow famous for its tranquil landscapes, lush valleys, and heather-covered glens. Stop at a nearby parish church, St. Kevin’s, for an informal mass (pending confirmation). Afterwards, drive to the ethereal monastic site of Glendalough. In the 6th century, in a stunning glaciated valley, one of Ireland’s most revered saints founded a monastery which became one of the most famous religious centers in Europe. The remnants of this monastic complex include a superb round tower, several medieval churches and intricately carved crosses. Have lunch in the area and then drive to Kilruddery House. Tour this lovely private home (pending confirmation) and farm, the family residence of Lord & Lady Ardee and three generations of the Brabazon family. Stroll through this magnificent 800-acre estate which features formal 17th-century landscaped gardens, flowering woodlands, and a walled garden. Continue to our hotel for the next 2 nights with dinner at leisure.

Accommodations: Powerscourt Hotel

Wednesday April 17 ENNISKERRY (B, T, D )

After breakfast, drive to nearby Powerscourt House & Gardens, one of the most magnificent estates in Ireland. Stone terraces provide vantage points to view this stunning garden with formal fountains. Housed within are Italian and Japanese gardens, and a Walled Garden. The lovely Palladian-style mansion was voted One of the Top Ten Houses and Mansions Worldwide by the Lonely Planet Guide. It is also home to the best of Irish design in gifts, clothes and furniture. Following the visit, arrive at Powerscourt Distillery where a 300-year-old converted mill house now houses the modern distillery. See the huge copper pot stills and watch a master distiller craft whiskey. End the tour at their tasting room to sample their award winning Fercullen Whiskey. Return to the hotel for a lovely afternoon tea and the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner tonight is at a traditional Irish pub with traditional Irish music and dance.

Accommodations: Powerscourt Hotel

Thursday April 18 ENNISKERRY / DUBLIN ( B )

After breakfast, drive to Dublin to meet up with the Conference attendees. Drop off at College Green Hotel Dublin this afternoon to meet fellow Hoyas for the John Carroll Weekend Dublin 

Inclusions:

• Six nights  accommodations
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, T = Tea, D=Dinner). Bottled water, soft drinks, juices, and coffee/tea with all meals; wine with dinners
• Airport/Hotel group transfers for all participants on suggested arriving flights
• Escorted sightseeing, transportation, and entrance fees for all included visits
• Gratuities to local guides and drivers; customary gratuities
• Taxes, service, and porterage charges
• Drop at College Green Hotel Dublin April 18 for John Carroll Weekend attendees (please visit https://jcw.georgetown.edu/  for JCW registration, hotels and event information)

Not Included: John Carroll Weekend event fees, registration fees, accommodations, etc. International airfare; passport/visa fees; meals not specified; alcoholic beverages other than what is noted in inclusions; personal items and expenses; excess baggage; airport transfers other than for those on suggested flights; trip insurance; any other items not specifically mentioned as included. Please visit https://www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms for complete terms and conditions applicable to this program.

Cancellation Policy:

All cancellations must be made in writing. No refunds are given for cancellation on or after the day of departure, or for unused portions of the tour, for any reason. The following cancellation charges will apply:

• All cancellations are subject to a $500 per person administrative fee
• 119 to 91 days prior to departure: 20% of the Program cost is non-refundable
• 90 to 61 days before departure: 50% of the Program cost is non-refundable*
• 60 days or less before departure: 100% of the Program cost is non-refundable
• Please visit https://www.arrangementsabroad.com/terms for complete terms and conditions.