Ireland 2024 | patkanemusicandtours

The “Four Green Fields" Tour, June 29 - July 12, 2024

may be subject to change

$4400 pp sharing.

single travellers add $700

COVERS AIRFARE, TRANSPORT TO AND FROM AIRPORT,

IRELAND TRANSPORT,

TRIP INSURANCE, ALL TOUR ADMISSIONS,

HOTELS, BREAKFAST & DINNER EVERY DAY,

SONGS & STORIES ALL ALONG THE WAY!

Sat June 29: Cead Mile Failte! Depart home on Terp’s comfortable coach. Leave Corning Wegmans 8am, Elmira Holiday Inn (now Clarion Inn) 8:30am, Waverly Salvation Army 9am, Wegmans in JC at 10am. Rest stop at Siamsa Pub in Stroudsburg 12noon, on to Newark Airport; check in 2pm. Flight time, 5:15pm. Overnight flight on Aer Lingus flight EI 100 . Sleep on flight, as much as you can.

Sun June 30: Arrive in Dublin airport, 5am. Meet our Glynn’s Coaches driver, board coach 6am for a leisurely drive across Ireland, with stops along the way. First stop, Kildare, home of St. Brigid, Ireland’s female patron saint. We’ll have breakfast and walk about the ancient abbey and charming town. We proceed to the Rock of Cashel, one of St. Patrick’s ecclesiastical seats. We will see Tipperary town, Limerick City, then through North Kerry to Listowel. Check in at hotel 6pm, freshen up before dinner, 7pm, followed by a brief after-dinner get-acquainted party.

Listowel Arms Hotel, 011-353-68-21-500 (3 nights)

Mon July 1: Sleep in a bit, if you wish Hotel breakfast 9am board coach 10am for a day trip of North Kerry. We start by visiting the village of Foynes and the Flying Boat Museum, a project funded by Maureen O’Hara. We proceed along the river Shannon to Bunratty Folk Park for a tour of the park and the castle. See authentic thatched cottages, and a high street of shops and pubs lovingly rebuilt from all over Ireland. Enjoy the convivial Durty Nelly’s pub, and the medieval castle banquet. Board coach 9:30pm to return to our base in Listowel.

Tue July 2: Take some leisure this morning, and enjoy the busy market town of Listowel. Breakfast is available from 7 to 10am. Let’s visit Listowel Castle at 10am, and visit the John B, Keane pub for “sangwidges and pints and a few stories.” This afternoon, we take a wee trip to the pretty seaside town of Dingle. Let’s be sure to drop in at the Geaney family pub. We’ll find dinner and some entertainment, before heading back to Listowel.

Wed July 3: Hotel breakfast 8am board coach 9am. Day tour to the West Clare Peninsula, and cliffs! We’ll cross the Shannon river ferry at Tarbert. We’ll see Kilrush and Scattery Island, and the Church of the Little Ark. See the Keane family farm and cemetery near Cross. Take the cliff road to St. Kee’s Well and Kilkee. Visit the West Clare Railway 3pm. Board coach 4pm, for a trip to Galway and the 6:30 ferry to the Aran Islands. About 40 minutes across Galway Bay to Inis Mor, check in at hotel, 7:30, dinner and music at hotel.

Aran Island Hotel, 011-353-996-1104 (3 nights)

Thu July 4: Hotel breakfast until 10am, board the vans for a trip around the island. See the ancient fort of Dun Aengus, have a cuppa at the café there, or visit the wee shops. See the Church of the Seven Romans, and the seals along the coast road. Or, do all this on your own by bicycle. Or, stay in Kilronan and walk about the harbor, bother the fishermen, and meet us at 5pm at the Aran Knitwear shop for an Irish coffee meet & greet. Not far then, back to the hotel for dinner 7pm and music after.

Fri July 5: Happy Independence Day! Today, it’s an easy day on Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands. Hotel breakfast by 10am. Sleep in if you wish, read a book, go hiking or biking or swimming, take a pony cart ride. For the ambitious, try hiking over the mountain and see the “Wormhole.” Tour around the island to see what you missed yesterday. such sights as the Dark Fort, St. Enda’s church. Meet for dinner at the hotel, 7pm with music to follow. Pack for an early departure in the morning.

Sat July 6: Hotel breakfast 7am, meet ferry at 8:15am. We will take a leisurely drive for some free time in Galway city. Take hours for a leisurely walk through the pedestrian-friendly streets, to the beautiful cathedral. On the way, there will be plenty of places for an interesting lunch, like McDonagh’s Seafood, The Pie Maker, or Sheridan’s Cheesemongers wine tasting. For shopping, try The Treasure Chest, or Powell’s for musical instruments, or O’Maille’s for yarn and sweaters. Maybe Dillon’s for Claddagh jewelry. Meet bus 2pm north to visit the Shrine of Knock and Sligo area: Continuing north, we will visit Patsy Sullivan’s farm at 5pm. Check in and dinner at hotel 7pm. There will be pubs nearby, but maybe get some rest!

Gateway Hotel, Buncrana 011 353 74 936 1144 (3 nights) (3 nights)

Sun July 7: Hotel breakfast 8am, meet bus at 9am. We will explore a bit of historic Ulster today, including a tour of Derry City 10am, a drive along the chalky cliffs of the north coast to visit Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway. We will have time for lunch and a fair bit of hiking for those whose wish. Back through historic Bushmills and Limavady to catch sunset views at An Grianan hilltop fort 5:30pm. Back home to Buncrana, dinner 7pm, music on the town.

Mon July 8: Hotel breakfast 8am, board coach by 9am. We will tour Donegal’s Inishowen Peninsula today, visiting the Gap of Mamore, Glenevin Waterfall, the Famine Village of Doagh, then heading to Malin Head, Ireland’s northernmost point. Soon after, we will be lifting Ireland’s northernmost pint in Farren’s Bar. Our next stop will be the Mass Rock in Carndonagh, one of the places where Mass was held in secret during Penal Times. Back to our hotel for dinner 7pm, entertainment in town tonight.

Tue July 9: Hotel breakfast 8am, board coach by 9am. We will proceed south and east across Ireland to the Dublin area. On the way, we will visit the ancient hill fort of Conor Mac Nessa, then St. Patrick’s favorite town of Armagh, We will swing by Keady to visit the Tommy Makem music center. We will see Newgrange and the Hill of Tara, ancient crowning place of Ireland’s High Kings. We hope to arrive at our hotel in Bray, just south of Dublin in the Wicklow hills, by 6pm check-in. Dinner at 7pm and an early bedtime!

The Wilton Hotel, Bray, 011 353 1 276 0258 (3 nights)

Wed July 10: Hotel breakfast 8am, meet bus at 9am. Today, it’s a full day in Dublin, Ireland’s capital. This day will contain many stories of the Rebellion of 1916, but will also be a good overview of the city. We will make stops at Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness Brewery, Trinity College and the Book of Kells. We will tour up O’Connell Street by the GPO and Parnell Square, to Glasnevin Cemetery. Board coach 5pm for Taylors dinner and Irish show, 6pm, then board our coach 9pm for home in Bray.

Thu July 11: Hotel breakfast, morning hike to the top of Bray Head, for breathtaking views of the Irish Sea, the coast, and the Wicklow Mountains. We board the coach by 10am for a full day on your own about town in Dublin. We may try taking the commuter train into the city, just for fun. Try the Hop On Hop Off bus system, shop in the pedestrianized Grafton Street area, visit the National Museums, loaf around in the Dublin pubs, etc. In the evening, meet the coach 6pm. Hotel dinner at 7pm back in Bray. Pack for tomorrow’s departure.

Fri July 12: Hotel breakfast 8am, board coach 9am, for an early quick drive to Dublin airport to check in 10am. Say farewell to our faithful Glynn’s Coaches driver… Last minute shopping at duty free, take off 1pm on our Aer Lingus Flight EI 101 back home; lands in the US about 4pm. Meet our Terp’s driver, make it back to Corning by 8pm if all goes to plan!

Slan abhaile, slan go foill!