It’s an Irish road trip and pub hop! The estimated cost per person is approximately $2,000 (which should be cheaper once the final number is established) which includes
- airfare from Springfield (or other locations),
- B&B’s each night, breakfast every morning, and one night of dinner.
- vehicle to drive entire stay
The thought is you can break into small groups/cars so everyone could do different things if they wished, so feel free to invite others if you’d like.
The trip requires a $200 deposit up front with the remainder due within 60 days of departure. I would love to have a final head count no later than
Dec 1, 2018, so I can lock in tickets/reservations.
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The preliminary itinerary is as follows:
Aug 3-depart from Springfield to Dublin
Aug 4-arrive Dublin, pick up rental car and go to: 
City Centre Dublin, for Temple Bar pub crawl area, view Trinity College Library where the Book of Kells is kept. St. Stephen’s green, River Liffey shopping.
Overnight in Temple Bar area.
Aug 5-depart for Waterford area to tour House of Waterford Crystal (if wish, or can just shop there-tour is $14.50 per person)
Drive on to County Cork where you’ll spend two nights at either Imperial Hotel or Maryborough Hotel & Spa (based on availability).
-Jameson Whiskey Distillery tour available here ($26-60 per person)
-Visit Blarney Castle (@$18 pp) Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. Though earlier fortifications were built on the same spot, the current keep was built by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty, a cadet branch of the Kings of Desmond, and dates from 1446.
–Shops in St. Patrick’s
–Gardens of Fitzgerald’s Park
Some of the best bars in Ireland are located here (in County Cork) include De Barra’s, O’ Flaherty’s, Brú Bar and Old Oak. There are also music clubs and dance clubs, such as Half Moon and Club FX.
Aug 7–head out to Killarney and overnight at Muckross Park Hotel, near
Castle Ross, tour the Muckross gardens and Abbey. Full spa here with indoor pool, 2 lounges on property and a fitness center. (A research library is at Muckross House!)
Aug 8–depart for Shannon area. You’ll overnight 2 nights here, either Dromoland or Bunratty Castle Hotel, both have indoor pool, spa, fitness areas, etc. lounge/bar, and restaurant on premise. From here you can visit:
Cliffs of Moher (approximately 45 minute drive from hotel)
Galway (about 1 1/2 hour drive)
Doolin (music hot spot for local artists in pubs)
Visit Bunratty Castle, a large 15th-century tower house in County Clare, Ireland. It is located in the centre of Bunratty village, by the N18 road between Limerick and Ennis, near Shannon Town and its airport. The castle and the adjoining folk park are run by Shannon Heritage as tourist attractions.
Visit Shannon Estuary: Scenic estuary for walking, fishing & bird-watching, with occasional dolphin sightings.
There are, of course, many more things to see and do in each location, but these are some of the highlights!
Aug 10-check out of hotel, drop off car rental at Shannon Airport and return home to Springfield, arriving that evening.
*other routes through Ireland are available-if interested in seeing something specific, please just contact me
*all hotel/B&B are based on inventory at date of deposit
*rates subject to change till deposit is made
I’ve taken this trip a couple of times to Ireland, it is a fun, easy trip and great way to see so much of the country!
Let’s Go Travel,
Sharon
