Ireland and the Wexford Opera Tour October 15 to 25,2022

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This is definitely one trip you don’t want to miss! Known for its culture and history, Ireland is a country you have to visit! But did you know that on top of being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, it also boasts an incredible music festival many around the world flock to experience? Join us for two amazing performances at the Wexford Opera Festival during this 11-day adventure, and also visit places like Killarny, Kildare, Dub- lin, Gallway, and Sligo. Visit historical areas like Kylemore Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, The Dingle Peninsula, The Cliffs of Moher, and the Westport House. Have the opportunity to walk the widest street in Dublin while also looking at the longest river, spot wild Reindeer in Phoenix Park and visit the Strokestown Park: House, Gardens & National Famine Museum! If you ever thought about visiting Ireland, this is the tour you want to take— see all Ireland has to offer with Executive Cultural Tours!

Arrival in Dublin. Late morning departure on a panoramic tour of Dublin! During your drive, you’ll be able to view such things as:

Sitting along the sidewalks you will see an example of impecca- ble architecture: the world’s tallest structure, “The Spire,” and the General Post Office which is now Ireland’s main post office but was once the main focus of the Easter Rising of 1916.

Upon arrival at your hotel, The Gresham Hotel, check in and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

This morning, enjoy a lovely breakfast at the hotel before leaving to visit the Chester Beatty Library.

The Chester Beatty Library was founded by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty who was a mining magnate, philanthropist, and one of the most successful businessmen of his generation. Upon arriving in Ireland in the early 1950’s, he opened the library in order to store his collection of African, Asian, European and Middle Eastern manuscripts, rare print books, prints, and art objects. It now con- tains the largest collection of Islamic and Middle Eastern artefacts and is the premier source for scholarship in the Old and New Tes- tament. All artefacts were bequeathed to the Irish people upon Beatty’s death. This year celebrates the 125th anniversary of its conception.

Following this, you will tour the Christ Church Cathedral; the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glen- dalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ire- land. It is also the oldest Cathedral of the two (the other being St. Patrick’s) in Ireland.

Take a break from all your perusing and stop for lunch at a restau- rant nearby.

As your final tour of the day, visit the Trinity College and Book of Kells. Walk through the cobbled stones of Trinity College within the University of Dublin and discover the row upon rows of books, and then head to the Book of Kells exhibition. This exhibition is a life-sized illuminated manuscript Gospel book. Peruse the walls of glowing images and Latin texts taken straight from The original Book of Kells believed to have been created in 800AD!

Return to your hotel for dinner on your own and your overnight

After breakfast this morning, you will leave Dublin behind and travel west to the town of Sligo, a coastal seaport and the second largest urban center west of Ireland, with its history going as far back as Medieval times.

Enroute, you will visit Strokestown Park House, Gardens & National Famine Museum. The Strokestown Park House is an 18th century mansion, fully restored, but still containing the original furnishings. It is also home to a fully-restored 6-acre Geor- gian walled garden complex. Connected to the property is the Famine Museum, which holds important items from the Stroksetown Collection to explain the The Great Irish Fam- ine. The house provides a fascinating glimpse into the Anglo-Irish ascendancy and retains many of its original furnishings. Many rooms are on show including a schoolroom and a child’s bedroom, complete with 19th century toys and mirrors.

Also known as The Great Potato Famine to the non-Irish, this era was a black spot in history where more than a million people lost their lives and a million more emigrated from Ireland between 1845 and 1849 due to a widely spread potato disease.

Following the museum, you will continue your drive, with a stop for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by a tour of Arigna Mining Experience.

The Arigna Mining Experience is a unique community inspired initiative which records 400 years of mining history in the area. After the tour, arrive and check into The Glasshouse Hotel to enjoy dinner on your own followed by your overnight.

Following breakfast this morning, board the motorcoach for your journey to Galway.

Along the way, you will make one stop in Westport at the Westport House. Built in the 18th century, it was designed and built by three differ- ent architects and is one of Ireland's most beautiful historic homes open to the public. It is situated in a parkland setting with a lake, terraces, and garden views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Ireland's Holy Mountain. It was built and owned by the Browne family, who are direct descendants of the 16th-century pirate queen Gráinne O'Malley. View an 18th century dining room, library, and kitchen, along with the Westport Dungeons, gardens, and breath-taking architecture!

Board the motorcoach to continue your journey, grabbing lunch enroute.

You will arrive in Galway mid-afternoon and once you have checked in you can use the remainder of the afternoon and evening to enjoy dinner on your own. Over- night in Galway at the Maldron Hotel.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel this morning and then depart for a full day of touring the region of Connemara. This region of West Galway is where you can experience traditional Irish culture; many parts of the area still speak Gaelic. Connemara is bordered on the west, north, and south side by the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of multiple peninsulas. With its natural beauty, it’s traditional Irish culture, and its beautiful mountainous scenery, you will see Ireland as it was meant to be seen.

Board a cruise boat for a tour of Killary Harbour; a 16 km long and 45 meter deep fjord between the counties of Galway and Mayo.

Continuing on, you will journey towards Kylemore Abbey and the Victori- an Walled Gardens, with a stop enroute for lunch.

Kylemore Abbey and the Victorian Walled Gardens is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle and be- came a safe-haven for the Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium during World War I. The website describes the tour as: “Ireland’s best loved and most iconic tourist attractions...visit the restored rooms of the Abbey and learn about its history of tragedy, romance, education, innovation and spirituality.” This is sure to be a momentous occasion.

Early evening, you will return to Galway for dinner on your own followed by your overnight in Galway.

This morning, you will check out of your hotel and travel through The Burren as you make your way to Killarney.

The Burren is primarily located in northwestern County Clare, Ireland, dominated by glaciated karst landscape. This landscape of bedrock incor- porates a vast cracked pavement of glacial-era limestone, with cliffs and caves, fossils, rock formations and archaeological sites. Part of the Burren forms the Burren National Park, while the full Burren and adjacent territory including the Cliffs of Moher are included in the Burren and Cliffs

You will continue on afterwards to the Cliffs of Moher; seaside cliffs that rise in one area to 120 meters above the Atlantic Ocean and 8 km to the north, reach their maximum height of 214 meters just north of O'Brien's Tower, a round stone tower near the midpoint of the cliffs, which was built in 1835.

Afterwards, you will stop for a nice lunch in Clare.

Then, travel from Clare to Kerry by ferry. Upon arrival in Kerry, you will continue your day’s journey to Killarney.

Check into your hotel, enjoy dinner and evening on your own followed by an overnight in Kil- larney at the Randles Hotel.

Wake this morning for breakfast followed by a full-day tour of the Dingle Peninsula; the north easternmost point of the major peninsulas in Ireland. One of the most notable events to have occurred in this area was the failing of the MV Ranga, a Spanish container ship that lost power on the Dingle Peninsula in 1982. Due to its position thereafter, it is has been nearly impossible to retrieve all the parts of the failed and abandoned ship and, to this day, the bow and some smaller sections are still visible along the rocks.

While traveling along the Dingle Peninsula, you will stop at Dingle Distillery. Although this distillery is still somewhat young, it has grown great feats in the previously failing Irish whiskey industry and has become the first independent Irish distillery to release a single pot whis- key in many decades. Their website states: “The release of this single malt whiskey marks a watershed moment in the story of Irish whiskey and the revival of the whiskey industry in Ireland, and heralds the emer- gence of a new generation of artisan distiller.”

Continuing on, you will stop for a quick lunch and then take a step into ancient Ireland at the Fahan Beehive Huts. Also known as Caher Conor, these ancient stone “huts” are thought to once be single family dwellings and are attached to each other with inter-connecting doorways, linking them all together. There is no way of knowing just when these huts could have been built, but many believe it was well during, or prior to, the 12th century. Regardless, these are definitely a sight to see!

Following this amazing visit, return to your hotel for dinner on your own; enjoy your overnight.

Following breakfast this morning, you will check out of your hotel in Killarney and make your way to Wexford, an ancient county in Ireland that was founded by Vikings near 800 AD and was the center of the 1798 rebellion against British rule. These days, however, it is Ireland’s hub for music; most specifically, the Wexford Opera Festival, held in Wexford since 1951.

Enroute, you will stop at the Titanic Experience COBH. This once-in-a- lifetime experience which will allow you to step into the world of the passengers of the Titanic COBH. Where you stand is the exact loca- tion that the White Star Line passengers set off on their journey. You will then be taken on a virtual journey as if you were, in fact, a passenger on this ship and then hear passenger recounts of their experiences on the ship offering you a taste of what it was like for first-class passengers.

Enjoy a nice lunch on your continued travel to Wexford where you will arrive mid-afternoon. Check into the Maldron Hotel and enjoy some relaxation and dinner on your own before venturing to your even-ing performance at the Wexford Opera Festival!

After this amazing performance, return to your hotel for an overnight in Wexford.

After breakfast this morning, you will make your way to Waterford Crystal Visitor Center before continuing on to Kilkenny, stopping for lunch along the way.

Once in Kilkenny, you will visit Kilkenny Castle. Built in 1195, its stone walls and towers replaced a wooden castle built by Richard de Clare, a Norman Knight, prior to the Norman Invasion. The castle eventually became the seat of Butlers of Ormonde, a very powerful family at the time who continued to rule the area surrounding the castle until 1919 after which the castle was abandoned for 30 years. In 1967, the castle and its property were purchased by The Office of Public Works for £50.

Following the visit, as well as dinner on your own, you will then transfer to another astounding performance at the Wexford Opera Festival followed by your overnight in Wexford.

This morning, check out of your hotel after breakfast and board the motorcoach to travel to Kildare. This beautiful and historic town dates from the 5th century, when it was the site of the original 'Church of the Oak' and monastery founded by Saint Brigid.

Enroute, you will stop in Avoca Village. This tiny village shot to fame in 1996 when it was chosen as the location for the popular TV series Ballykissangel. The focal point of the village is Fitzgeralds, an Old World pub with its fine restaurant. Also in the village is Avoca Hand Weavers established in 1723 and which claims to be Ireland’s oldest surviving business.

Then, you will move on to visit Glendalough Visitor Center. Glendalough is home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the “Monastic City” - it is really a sight to behold.

Check in at the Killashee House Hotel. This evening you will be invited to a “Farewell Dinner” at your hotel where you can eat, mingle and reminisce about all the experiences you’ve had in this gorgeous country.

After breakfast this morning, transfer to Dublin Airport marking the end of this breathtaking tour and returning home with amazing new insight to an already mysterious and beautiful historical country.

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General Conditions

RESPONSIBILITY

Executive Cultural Tours and/or their agents, affiliates, or subsidi- aries act only as agents for the hotel, airlines, bus companies and operators providing accommodation, transportation, meals, tours or other services and all coupons, ex- change orders, receipts, contracts and tickets issued by the Company are issued subject to all tariffs, terms and conditions under which the forgoing or any other services what- soever are provided by such hotels, airlines, bus companies. By the acceptance of such coupons, exchange orders, receipts, contracts and tickets, the tour member agrees that the Company shall not become liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage to the person, firm or corporation. Further, the Company shall not become liable or responsi- ble for any loss, injury or damage due to an Act of God or Act of War. The tour opera- tor reserves the right to withdraw a tour, to refuse to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time or to make changes in the itinerary whenever in their sole judgment conditions warrant or if such changes result from circumstances beyond the control of the tour operator. Executive Cultural Tours and/or their agents shall not be responsible for the injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or other, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying or providing transportation to the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour or otherwise in connection therewith, or of any other hotel proprietor or employee. The aforesaid and their agents can accept no responsibility for losses or accidental expenses due to delay or changes in schedules or hotel overbookings or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger.

CONDITIONS

 

BOOKING

Both a CA $1,000 deposit plus single supplement, if applicable, as well as the optional package tour insurance cost, are required upon reser- vation. .A second deposit of $1,500.00 is due February 15, 2022. Bal- ance will be due on July 15, 2022. Credit card payments are accepted. Cheques should be made payable to Uniglobe The Premiere Travel Group.

CANCELLATION

Full refund up to 120 days prior to departure less $700 per person. Between 120 and 90 days prior, full refund less $1500 per person. Be- tween 60 and 90 days prior, full refund less $2,500 per person. Less than 60 days prior, no refund will be made for any unused hotel ac- commodation, meals, transfers, sightseeing, etc. Notice of cancellation must be made in writing.

INSURANCE

The following insurance packages are optional but highly recommended.

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