Join an escorted tour of Ireland, Land of Saints and Giants - Full Details, Rising Road Irish Tours

Tour the Land of Saints and Giants in Ireland

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Saints and Giants, what a spectacular name for an Irish tour! Doesn't it sound like some sort of American football excursion? Well, let me assure you, we won't be heading toward the gridirons on this tour.

This tour of Northern Ireland takes us across landscapes familiar to St. Patrick, one of Ireland's patron saints, and to Fionn macCumhail, the mythic giant credited in Irish legend with creating the Giant's Causeway. These two legendary figures provide the background for our ramblings across the six counties of Northern Ireland.

Optional three-day excursions to Dublin and environs can be added to any of our 2007 scheduled tours. Please contact us for details.

On the first day of our Saints and Giants adventure, host and guide Sam Couch meets the group at the Dublin Airport meeting point early in the morning. 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 Bru na Boinne and the spectacular passage tomb at Newgrange, which was already 500 years old when the Egyptian pyramids were started. The interior of this engineering wonder is fully illuminated by the sun for up to nine minutes for several days surrounding the winter solstice.

Our first stop in Northern Ireland takes us to Bushmills, where we will stay with Hilary Taggart at Montalto House, a livestock farming operation. Spectacular geologic wonders await us on this part of the journey. The Giant's Causeway, said to have been created by a legendary Irish giant, will highlight this part of the tour; this venue is a World Heritage Site. On one of our stops, we will journey from the Larrybane limestone quarry along a nature trail to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Carrick-a-Rede means "a rock on the road." The bridge connects the mainland to a small island where fishermen collected their nets. For many, the walk across this swinging landmark can be quite exciting.

One morning, we will tour the Bushmill's Distillery, the world's oldest licensed distillery founded in 1608. Weather permitting we will spend a few days traveling across the Glens of Antrim where we may visit the Antrim Castle Gardens. Drives along the Coast Road to Carrickfergus will take us to the Andrew Jackson Centre; it was from this part of Ireland that President Jackson's parents emigrated to America.

As we enjoy the wonderful scenery around Lough Neagh, our journeys will take us to the Cornmill Heritage Centre, the Benburb Valley Heritage Centre, and Tyrone Crystal where we will learn about Victorian life and the early industrial history of Northern Ireland. American history buffs will enjoy the U.S. Grant Ancestral Homestead.

After five days in Bushmills, our adventure takes us along the north Antrim Coast, where stops at Mussenden Temple on the Downhill demesne and at Dunluce Castle will give us glimpses into both the near and distant past. Our goal will be, a dually named city - Londonderry to the British; Derry to the Irish. During World War II, American naval and air bases were located in the city. The city wall, which we will traverse, is one of the few remaining complete mediaeval city walls in Europe. The Irish Civil Rights Movement started here in the late 1960s. It also was the scene of much unrest during "the troubles" of the late twentieth century. We will visit the Bogside and the Fountain, famous city ghettoes. Highlights of our journey about the city include visits to St. Columba's Cathedral, the Tower Museum, and the Guildhall, renowned for its beautiful stained glass windows. In Derry we will stay at The Saddler's House in the City Centre.

After a few days in Derry, we head to Armagh for the "Saints" portion of our excursion. We will be staying at Dundrum House, an 18th century farmhouse near Armagh City. Armagh is the Ecclesiastical Capital of Ireland and houses the bishopric sees of both the Roman Catholic and the Church of Ireland (Anglican) churches. In the city, we will tour the cathedrals, both named in honor of St. Patrick, which are located on opposite hills in the city. Brian Boru, the High King credited with driving the Vikings out of Ireland, is reputed to be buried in the Protestant St. Patrick's Cathedral. In addition to the cathedrals, other city sites include a Franciscan friary ruin; St. Patrick's Trian Visitor's Centre; the university planetarium; the Palace Stable Heritage Centre; and other historic churches and museums. Armagh is home to a beautiful park boulevard in the city centre. From our base, we may travel to the Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh. That journey will take us through the spectacularly beautiful Sperrin Mountains. AT the Navan Centre, we will find one of the finest interactive museums in the British Isles. This remarkable venue is situated near Emain Macha, seat of the High Kings of Ulster and the mound from which St. Patrick is reputed to have driven the devil from Ireland.

Early on the morning of our last day in the valley, we will arise, bid farewell to the Ulster's Land of Saints and Giants and journey back to Dublin for the homeward flight to the U.S.

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, all suggestions are given consideration. Some days (not travel days, of course), participants may wish to stay behind 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) ~ 828-648-8895 (Fax)
sam@risingroadtours.com

28 Newfound Street, Canton, North Carolina 28716 USA