Conn's 47 years of personalized tour planning makes for a wonderful touring experience. Rated "all 10s" by tour members! Described by former tour members as the "best planned, organized and conducted tour we have ever taken!"

We've also INCLUDED the Driver-Guide Gratuity!!

We take the time to provide a detailed proposal for you to review before you make your decision to pay your deposit. We are not the least expensive, but WE ARE THE BEST! See who said that - click here: WATCH VIDEO CLIP. The features and inclusions of our ESCORTED TOURS are numerous. When you make your comparisons with other tour companies, take that into consideration. They are COMPREHENSIVE & COMFORTABLE, as well as an excellent value....and a very PERSONALIZED style of touring... to provide what our clients tell us are "An Irish Symphony of Perfection!"

ITINERARY

Please arrange your air reservation to depart the USA on Friday, for Dublin, Ireland

Day 1 - Saturday
DUBLIN'S FAIR CITY
Welcome to Dublin, Ireland's Capital. You'll be met by Conn and your experienced Driver-Guide, Philip Smith, and transferred directly to the hotel. Rest up and relax from your journey. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. See the historic buildings, Georgian Squares and landmarks of Dublin on a panoramic tour. You have time to explore this 1000 year old city. You should visit Trinity College and view the Book of Kells, St. Patrick’s Cathedral. You may wish to visit Dublin Castle, seat of British rule for 800 years, and tour the State Apartments and Kilmainham Gaol, full of history of the political prisoners who were held here over the centuries. You may wish to visit the National Gallery, the National Museum or any of the many museums of Dublin. The evening is at leisure. Stay at the Dylan Hotel located in fashionable Dublin 4 at Eastmoreland Place. Note: Rest up and be fresh for the Northern Ireland tour tomorrow morning. Dinner is on your own this evening. There are many pubs and restaurants nearby to give you a choice of menus.

Day 2 - Sunday
ARMAGH & ULSTER FOLK PARK
Irish breakkfast this morning. Depart Dublin and tour across the Irish Republic crossing the border into Northern Ireland into County Armagh. Armagh is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. There are two St. Patrick's Cathedrals, one Prostesant (pre-Reformation Catholic) and one Catholic. Continue to the Ulster American Folk Park which is both an indoor and outdoor museum. It takes you from the Plantation Period through the emigration from Ulster to the New World. Continue to Derry City founded by St. Columcille in the 5th century. Stay at the Bishop's Gate Hotel. Tonight we enjoy a WELCOME dinner and chat about the upcoming Northern Ireland adventure.

Day 3 - Monday
DERRY CITY
Irish breakfast this morning. You'll enjoy a tour of the walled city with a local guide and walk the 17th century walls and view the Bogside and St. Colum's Cathedral. See the Guild Hall where the City Council sits. The Doherty Castle and the Derry City Museum take you back through time from St. Columcille in the 5th century to the 'Troubles' of the late 20th century. You‘ll enjoy the remainder of the day exploring this vibrant city. Be sure to visit the Heritage center on Bishop Street. This building is dedicated to Conn O'Scannlain's mother, Moira Hegarty O'Scannlain. As you look at Lough Foyle you may be able to visualize at the end of WWII, a fleet of German U-Boats surfacing in Lough Foyle as the German Commander refused to surrender to the British but instead surrendered to the US Navy base here in Derry. Stay at the Bishop's Gate Hotel. Dinner is included in the hotel restaurant.

Day 4 - Tuesday
GRIANAN OF AILEACH
Irish breakfast this morning. Cross into the Irish Republic, staying in the Province of Ulster, and visit Grianan of Aileach, the most interesting relic of antiquity in Ulster. This unique circular stone fort occupies the top of Greenan Mountain. It was built in 1700 BC and once was the residence of the Kings of Ulster - The O'Neills. Return to Derry City for a leisure afternoon with time to explore this fascinating city. Stay at the Bishop's Gate Hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening. There are many pubs and restaurants nearby to give you a choice of menus.

Day 5- Wednesday
DUNLUCE CASTLE, GIANT’S CAUSEWAY & BELFAST
Irish breakfast this morning. On to Dunluce Castle, a MacDonnell Castle, sitting precariously on a cliff edge. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge. Parts of the castle date back to the 14th century. A village surrounded the castle but was destroyed by fire in the mid-16th century. It was the headquarters of the MacDonnell Clan. The castle has been restored and a has a very fine interpretive center. On to the town of Bushmills and visit the oldest distillery in Ireland or Britain, Bushmills, which received its charter in 1608. Continue to the Giant's Causeway. The legend has it that Finn McCool, the mythical giant, built this bridge to Scotland to reach his beloved. The hexagonal shaped stone pilings and pillars are a geological marvel. Tour to Ballycastle, with views of Rathlin Island and Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland. Continue on to marvel at the scenic Glens of Antrim and visit the warrior-poet's grave, Ossian, son of Finn McCool the legendary giant. On south along St. George's Channel visiting the towns of Cushendun and Cushendall. Tour south along the North Channel with views of Scotland across the water (on a clear day). You pass Larne which is the ferryport to Scotland. Stop in Carrickfergus, at Carrickfergus Castle where King William of Orange landed in 1690 to fight the forces of King James II. On to Northern Ireland's capital - Belfast City. You’ll stay in Belfast at the Europa Hotel. Three U.S. President’s have stayed here. Dinner Included in the hotel restaurant.

Day 6 - Thursday
BELFAST CITY
Irish breakfast this morning. Explore Belfast City today. With a population of 300,000 it is attractively situated on the Lagan estuary at the foot of the Antrim plateau. On a panoramic tour of the city you will see that the architecture is similar to that of London; the City Hall, Linenhall Library and the Law Courts. Pass by the Royal Belfast Academic Institution, the Grand Opera House and across the street the Crown Liquor Saloon. It also has a fine cultural tradition which is not always recognized, and its museums and art galleries are worth a visit. Titanic Belfast is located in the heart of Belfast, right beside the historic site of this world-famous ship’s construction. Housed in an iconic, 6-floor building, this state-of-the-art visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic, from its conception in Belfast in the early 1900’s, through its construction and launch, to its famous maiden voyage and tragic end. The story is brought up to the present with the discovery of the wreck and into the future with live links to contemporary undersea exploration. You’ll stay in Belfast at the Europa Hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening. There are many pubs and restaurants nearby to give you a choice of menus.

Day 7 - Friday
DOWNPATRICK & CASTLE WARD
Irish breakfast this morning. You’ll enjoy an excursion to County Down with a stop at Saul where St. Patrick had his base and many sites here associated with him. His grave is located in Downpatrick Cathedral cemetery. On to Castle Ward near the town of Strangford. It is an 18th century mansion nestled in the rolling hillside and overlooking Strangford Lough. It is like stepping into the fantasy world of castles and dragons with the Georgian farmyard and the Lough shore. On to the town of Newcastle, home of the famous Royal Down Golf Club with its backdrop of the Mountains of Mourne sweeping down to the sea. Return to Belfast. You’ll stay in Belfast at the Europa Hotel. Dinner Included in the hotel restaurant.

Day 8- Saturday
BATTLE OF THE BOYNE & BOYNE VALLEY
Irish breakfast this morning. Tour south to the Irish Republic. Near Drogheda you will find Monasterboice, an early christian settlement founded by Saint Buithe in the 6th century. It is noted for its high crosses and one in particular is St. Muiredach’s Cross which is over 18 feet tall. It has carved panels that depict stories from the Bible. On to nearby Old Bridge and the Battle of the Boyne Center. It was here in 1690 that King William beat Kine James II. Continue to Dublin Airport where you stay at the Radisson BLU Hotel. Dinner is on your own this evening. The hotel has an excellent restaurant and lounge with a variety of food choices on both the Bar Menu and the Restaurant Menu.

Day 9 - Sunday
DEPART FOR HOME
Irish breakfast this morning.  Transfer to the Dublin Airport. Check in for your flight.   Depart  for Home.

Please arrange your air reservation to depart Dublin on Sunday for the USA

SLAN LEAT

BACK-TO-BACK TOURING:
Combine with the West & Northwest Tour
Extend your Ireland vacation and continue your touring through spectacular Northern Ireland. Ask Conn about a special discount for the combination. Click here: West & Northwest Tour

Combine with the South, Southwest & Clare Coast Tour of Ireland Tour
Extend your Ireland vacation and contonue your touring through the beautiful Southwest and South of Ireland. Ask Conn about a special discount for the combination. Click here: South, Southwest & Clare Coast Tour

TOUR INCLUDES:
• Arrival and Departure Transfers
• Sightseeing by Private luxury motorcoach
• Hotel accommodation with private bath for 8 nights
• Professional driver/guide throughout the tour
• Full Irish breakfast daily
• Dinner included on Day 2, 3, 5, & 7 evenings
• Dinner on your own on other evenings
• Visits and admissions to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Ulster American Folk Park, An Grianan,
  Dunluce Castle, Giant's Causeway, Titanic Belfast, Downpatrick Cathedral,
  Castle Ward, Monasterboice, Battle of the Boyne Center
• Irish History Books - to prepare you for your tour
• Fold Out Ireland Map
• Driver-Guide Gratuity
• Tips for baggage handling
• Conn's Ireland Souvenir Gift
• Day-by-day itinerary that allows you to get more out of your touring day!
• Government Taxes at 17.5%, 13.5% and 9%
• ESCORTED TOUR - LIMITED TO 10 TOUR MEMBERS
• Tour personally escorted by Conn O'Scannlain