Tour Christmas in Ireland 2010

December 1-10, 2010 - Register by October 20
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Our winter Irish adventure begins early on the morning of December 1, 2010, when host and guide, Sam Couch, meets the group at the Shannon Airport. We will take time to get some eye-opening coffee and to get acquainted following the long flight from the U.S. After we collect our luggage and are properly fortified, we will head down the road for our first stop at the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. These spectacular sea cliffs provide nesting grounds for many Atlantic sea birds.

From the cliffs, our journey will take us across the Burren, a remarkable karstic (limestone) landscape that is known the world over for its microflora. Stops at the Lisdoonvarna Salmon Smoke Shop, the abbey ruins and high crosses at Kilfenora, and the wedge tomb at Poulnabrone highlight our journey toward Galway Bay.

Our goal for the first night is Wellfield House in Oughterard, County Galway. Our hosts at this pleasant venue located at the southern end of Lough Corrib are Mary and Pat Rattigan who run a successful, family-owned, Hereford beef operation. After a long day's drive, we will be pleased to sit by the parlor fire and enjoy a welcoming snack of tea and biscuits.

For the next three days, we will enjoy visiting sites in the Connemara, including Kylemore Abbey, Aughnanure Castle, and the charming seaside village of Clifden. In addition, we can gather Connemara marble at an abandoned quarry near the picturesque mountains known as the Twelve Bens. It was in this region that the famous movie, "The Quiet Man" was filmed. We may also add a day trip to one of the Aran Islands, weather permitting. If we can't get to the islands, a day in Galway City at Christmas time will provide a pleasant interlude.

Our Connemara adventure at an end, we head north across County Mayo. We may visit the Ceide Fields, a Stone Age farming complex that is a World Heritage Site. On the way northward, we will stop for a rest at Leenane, filming site for "The Field." As we leave Mayo and head into Sligo, a refreshing stop at the seaside village of Inishcrone offers an opportunity to enjoy steam and sea kelp baths at Kilcullen's, a Victorian bathhouse which has been in the same family for generations. Many Irish people make weekly visits to these baths to ease the pains of arthritis.

We stop that night at Ardtarmon House, Ballinful, County Sligo, where Charles and Christa Henry will welcome us. Since Ardtarmon sits in the shadow of Ben Bulben, a mountain made famous in the poetry of William Butler Yeats, our local visits will take us to sites from those early poems – Lissadell House, Glencar Falls, the lake isle of Inisfree, Hazelwood Forest, and Drumcliff Churchyard where Yeats is buried.

Other Sligo visits may include stops at Parke's Castle, a tour around Lough Gill, Sligo Abbey ruin, and a visit to the Famine Graveyard. The highlight of our Sligo stop will be a visit to the former butcher shop in Wine Street now home to the famous raconteur and woodcarver, Michael Quirke. Michael will regale us with tales of ancient battles, Druids, and heroes from cycles in Irish mythology. If time permits, we may visit the Carrowmore Cemetery, once the largest megalithic tomb complex in Europe. A walk around historic Sligo Town will cap off this day.

After our short visit in Yeats Country, we head further north into County Donegal. Before leaving Sligo, we will stop at the Creevykeel Court Tomb near Grange. On the way, we will make a detour into Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to visit the famous Belleek Parian China Factory. Here is a good place to pick up quality Christmas gifts which can be shipped home. A short stop in Donegal Town will afford us the opportunity to visit Donegal Castle and the shops surrounding The Diamond, Donegal's town square. Of particular interest here is Macgee's where the few remaining weavers of Donegal tweed practice their craft. Tea and an internet café stop will fortify us for the trip westward across the Sliabh Laeg peninsula. On the way, we pass through Killybegs, Ireland's largest Atlantic fishery, and the coastal town featured in the charming film, "The Secret of Roan Inish."

Our goal that night is Millstone Guest House in Gleann Cholm Cille, County Donegal. Our hosts, Geraldine and Sean Byrne, run a successful sheep operation. Gleann can boast of 7000 years of continuous human occupation. While stopped here, we will visit a Folk village with cottages representing three different centuries of Irish living styles. Since the village is located in the heart of the Gaeltacht (the Irish-speaking area), visitors will hear both Irish and English spoken on the streets, in the shops, and in the pubs. Gleann is famous for standing stones, churches, and the holy well associated with the turas or pilgrimage round of St. Columba, which has taken place for over 1400 years in the valley. Columba is one of the three patron saints of Ireland. Other sites we may visit in the parish include Kilclooney Mhor, megalithic dolmen; Glen Gesh Pass, said to be the most picturesque mountain pass in Ireland; Dun Alt, an Iron Age fort ruin; Tra Ban, the silver strand; and, the Irish language College Oideas Gael where we will see a facsimile copy of the Book of Kells, a famous illuminated manuscript. Our visit in the valley would not be complete without a visit to Sliabh Laeg, the highest sea cliffs in Europe. We will have the opportunity to walk partway up the mountainside; and, if the weather cooperates, we may take a sea journey in front of the cliffs to get in some fishing. As with most of rural Ireland, there is ample opportunity to hear good traditional Irish music. In the village of Teelin, many famous musicians make their home. Perhaps there will be some good craic (fun) in one of the pubs sometime during our visit.

A few days in Northern Ireland will help us get a further sense of the island's history. We will stop one day in Derry/Londonderry to visit the mediaeval wall, the Tower Museum, and the Guild Hall. A journey across the North Antrim Coast will take us to Mussenden Temple, Dunluce Castle, and on to the World Heritage site at the Giant's Causeway. For this portion of the tour, we will stay in the rural village of Bushmills.

After our few bucolic days in rural Ireland, it will be time to head toward "dear, dirty Dublin," as Joyce called the capital city. In Dublin, we will have the opportunity to experience the magic of Dublin as it prepares for Christmas. We will make one day trip out from the city to visit the ancient passage tombs at Bru na Boinne, the most famous of which is Newgrange. Our visit coincides with a very famous event which occurs each month of December at the tomb. Of the many sites in Dublin, we will be able to enjoy only a few. Some highlights will include visits to historic Kilmainham Gaol; Leinster House, seat of the Irish government; a night at the theatre; the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) Museum in Croke Park; and lots of Christmas shopping for fine Irish jewelry, crafts and artwork near Grafton Street.

On December 10, our van will head for the Dublin Airport as the happy (and probably exhausted) travelers embark for the homeward journey to America.

These itineraries are based on our experiences, but Sam is quite flexible and we try to keep our tours relaxed and stress-free. If group members wish to make reasonable changes to our plans or can suggest more appropriate alternatives for our visits, we will consider all suggestions. Some days (not travel days, of course), participants may wish to stay in the farmhouse B&Bs and relax; anyone who wants or needs to rest is encouraged to do so.

Please remember that tour itineraries may be changed based on weather conditions, accommodation availability, and/or venue opening times. If changes are made based on these factors, Rising Road Tours makes every effort to reschedule events or to replace them with experiences of equal or greater interest.

Our goal is to offer our guests an experience of Ireland that is relaxed and pleasant.
If this looks like the tour for you, contact us today.

Rising Road Tours
828-648-8893 (Tel) ~ 888-648-8893 (Toll-free) ~ 888-371-8895 (fax)
sam@risingroadtours.com

P.O.Box 9322, Moscow, ID 83843 USA

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TOUR DETAILS: A Taste of Ireland | A Taste of Scotland | Celtic Sampler | Ireland North and South | Ireland's Rings | Donegal Southwest by Northeast | Historic Ireland | Saints and Giants | Into the West | Christmas in Ireland | Highland Hill Walking | In The Steps of St. Columba | Birthplaces of Golf | Scotland's Wild North: Shetland and Orkney Isles