Sun, Jun-02

DEPART THE UNITED STATES

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.

Mon, Jun-03

DUBLIN ARRIVAL, CLONMACNOISE, GALWAY CITY

After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs, and immigration formalities. Your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland and escort you and your luggage to the coach.

Our first stop of your Ireland with Michael tour is breakfast at a local restaurant or pub!  We are headed to center of Ireland, it’s Hidden Heartland to the spectacular site of Clonmacnoise. The ancient monastic settlement was founded in 545 and is beautifully set on the banks of the River Shannon. We’ll tour Clonmacnoise and learn the history of what was once the center for learning in Europe. Visit the ruins which include a Cathedral, two round towers, three high crosses, nine churches and over 700 early Christian grave slabs. The original high crosses include the magnificent Cross of the Scripture are on display in a purpose-built visitor center adjacent to the monastic enclosure.

We move on to the medieval city of Galway. There’s so much to see in the city that was chosen as European Capital of Culture for 2020. We’ll start our Galway adventure with a gentle walking tour with a local guide. See the medieval city walls, Lynch’s Castle, the narrow streets, and age-old alleys, and learn about the history of this truly unique place. Let Galway get under your skin, and it will never leave you, as Michael discovered on his walking tour of Galway in Season #3 of Ireland with Michael on PBS.

Next stop is our hotel, the 4-Star luxury Salthill Hotel, where you’ll check in and settle into your room. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome drink, followed by dinner in the hotel restaurant.

OVERNIGHT & DINNER: SALTHILL HOTEL, GALWAY

Tue, Jun-04

SKY ROAD, CONNEMARA, ROUNDSTONE, MUSIC SESSION, WILD ATLANTIC WAY

Enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Salthill Promenade over breakfast, before setting off to travel along the storied Sky Road to see some of the most spectacular scenery Ireland has to offer. The 10-mile circular route takes you along the Kingston Peninsula to Clifden, where it offers stunning panoramic views over Clifden Bay, its offshore islands and the Connemara countryside. There are very few places in Ireland which can rival the rugged beauty seen from the Sky Road. We’ll continue our trip along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way as we head for the village of Roundstone, beautifully set on one of the most spectacular coastal drives in Ireland overlooking the Atlantic at the foot of Errisbeg Mountain. Here we’ll stop to enjoy a traditional music seisiun arranged by Michael.

Afterwards we return to your hotel in Galway where you can take some time to explore it on your own, listen to the buskers, stop into a pub, or mosey through the many small shops that line the main street. Dine in one of the many fine restaurants that Galway has to offer or perhaps you’ll relax at the hotel, which by the way was voted best Irish hotel in 2021.

OVERNIGHT: SALTHILL HOTEL, GALWAY

Wed, Jun-05

CONG, QUIET MAN TOUR, LOUGH CORRIB CRUISE, CLEW BAY, WESTPORT

After breakfast, we set out for the village of Cong, where we’ll take a walking tour of the village made famous by the 1952 movie “the Quiet Man” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. We’ll see some of the movie memorabilia in the Quite Man Heritage Cottage and discover places featured in the movie along the way. See more about the filming of the iconic film when Michael visited Ashford Castle on the shores of Lough Corrib in Season #2 of Ireland with Michael. (Insert Pirate Queen clip timer 19:36-21:05)

Our next stop is on the shore of Lough Corrib, where we’ll embark on a scenic cruise of the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland. Measuring 68 square miles and with 365 islands, this lake is one of the cleanest in all of Europe. Many of the islands on Lough Corrib are host to historic ruins and are rich with wildlife.

After breakfast, we set out for the village of Cong, where we’ll take a walking tour of the village made famous by the 1952 movie “the Quiet Man” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. We’ll see some of the movie memorabilia in the Quiet Man Heritage Cottage and discover places featured in the movie along the way. See more about the filming of the iconic film when Michael visited Ashford Castle on the shores of Lough Corrib in Season #2 of Ireland with Michael.

We head next to our hotel, the luxury 4-star Hotel in the center of Westport town, where you will check in and settle into your room. Spend some time exploring Westport before joining your group in the award-winning hotel restaurant for a delicious meal.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: WESTPORT PLAZA HOTEL

Thu, Jun-06

ACHILL ISLAND & DESERTED VILLAGE, WILD ATLANTIC WAY, WESTPORT

This morning after breakfast, we journey along the Corraun Peninsula, on the Wild Atlantic Way, which extends from the mainland of County Mayo to reach Achill Island by a bridge. As we pass along the Great Western Greenway, through the Gaeltacht (designated Irish language speaking region) we follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful and wild scenic views of steeply sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean.

As we cross into Achill, we’ll stop to view the Deserted Village on the southside of Mount Slievemore, which provides a haunting reminder of times past on the Island. From here we will head for Keel, where we will enjoy lunch with our group at the delightful Beehive Craft and Coffee Shop.

Onward to the famed Keem Strand, sheltered between the steep slopes in the west of Achill Island. Even from a distance the horseshoe-shaped beach attracts all eyes; its white sand standing out in intense contrast to the lush green of the surrounding hills. Keem was one of 7 locations on Achill used in the Oscar nominated movie the Banshees of Inisherin and has been the winner of best beach in Ireland on many occasions. Michael tells the story of the trail blazing pirate queen and chieftain Granuaile (Grace O’Malley) in Season #2 of Ireland with Michael.

Afterwards we return to our hotel in Westport and spend the rest of the day free to sightsee, shop and dine on your own. Westport is a quintessential Irish town, offering nature, culture, history, and a lively and authentic pub scene. A gorgeous river flowsthrough the town with tree-lined promenades and cafes on both sides.  It’s charming town center with Georgian architecture boasts many fine restaurants, specializing particularly in seafood, providing a friendly welcome and warm hospitality. There are plenty of pubs with live music nearby including Matt Molloy’s, a great spot for live traditional music, seven days a week! Matt may be known to you as member of the famed Grammy winning group, The Chieftains.

OVERNIGHT: WESTPORT PLAZA HOTEL

Fri, Jun-07

CÉIDE FIELDS, KYLEMORE ABBEY, WESTPORT TOWN

After breakfast, we’re off to the award-winning heritage site of the Céide Fields in County Mayo. The Céide Fields are a neolithic site that contain the oldest known stone walled fields in the world, dating back over 6,000 years. Our Stone Age ancestors constructed houses, walls and fields that created an early farming community, complete with megalithic tombs. One of these communities was the Céide Fields which overlook the mighty Atlantic Ocean, which gently laps (or vigorously pounds, depending on the weather!) up against the cliffs below. The fields were discovered in the 1930’s by a local farmer cutting turf (peat), and later excavated by his son, an archaeologist, to discover cultivated fields, houses and tombs which had lain hidden for many centuries.

We travel east along the Wild Atlantic Way, past the stunning beaches of Strandhill and Rosses Point in Count Sligo. Take in beautiful views of Knocknarea to the south and Benbulben to the north. The village of Rosses Point is set against the backdrop of the spectacular Dartry mountain range and the beauty of Sligo Bay.

As we travel towards County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, we make our way through the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark located in the rugged, mountainous uplands and the gentle rolling lowlands of counties Fermanagh and Cavan. Taking in the world-famous Marble Arch Caves and the famous Stairway to Heaven, the Geopark boasts some of the finest natural landscapes in Ireland and offers a window into the area's 650 million year past.

We arrive to the island town of Enniskillen, nestled on a small island separating Upper and Lower Lough Erne, Enniskillen’s beautiful waterside setting, bustling with cruisers in the summer, makes it the perfect base to explore the charms of County Fermanagh. Enniskillen offers wonderful scenic landscapes on its doorstep, making it the perfect location for embracing Fermanagh’s giant spirit.

We’ll pay a visit to the small monastic settlement on Devenish Island set in the heart of Lower Lough Erne. Dating back to the 6th Century we’ll see the best-preserved round tower in Ireland and an Augustinian Abbey, ancient graveyards and a high cross.

See Michael’s visit to Devenish Island in Season #1 of Ireland with Michael:

We arrive at our hotel, the lovely 4-star Westville Hotel, located in the heart of Enniskillen town and check in for your stay. Tonight, you have dinner with your fellow travelers in the hotel restaurant.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: WESTVILLE HOTEL, ENNISKILLEN

Sat, Jun-08

DONEGAL CASTLE, HANNAH HATS & STUDIO DONEGAL, ENNISKILLEN TOWN, LIVE MUSIC

Our first stop after breakfast is Donegal Castle, standing tall in the very heart of Donegal Town, towering over the River Eske. The castle was built in the 15th Century by Red Hugh O’Donnell as his personal fortress and the home of one of the most powerful Gaelic Clans in Ireland. Brought back to its former glory in the 1990s, the castle reflects a long and turbulent history which Michael learned when he visited Donegal Castle in Season #3 of Ireland with Michael on PBS

Next, we pay a visit to the nearby Hannah Hats, world famous for its tweed hats, woven wool, and other fine apparel. Check out what Michael learned about tweed hat and cap making in Season #3 of Ireland with Michael.

We then head west along the coast for Studio Donegal Handweavers in Kilcar, observing along the way the beautiful views and colors of Donegal, which have for centuries inspired its tweed making industry - drawing inspiration from the dramatic beauty of the rugged coastline, the sky, and hills, and echoing these elements in the intricate beauty, color, and tones of their tweeds. We’ll visit the mill at Studio Donegal for a tour before enjoying some time to browse their traditional hand-woven products.

We return to our hotel in Enniskillen and spend some time at your leisure before dining in the hotel restaurant. After dinner enjoy a musical night with your fellow travelers as arranged by Michael.

DINNER & OVERNIGHT: WESTVILLE HOTEL, ENNISKILLEN