Ireland
The Best of Ireland: The Coast, the Countryside and Dublin
Program No. 18731RJ
Discover ancient relics on the Islands of Aran, enjoy an exclusive dinner in Glenlo Abbey, explore the beauty and history of Dingle Peninsula and learn about Dublin's famous literature.
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15 days
14 nights
26 meals
13B 3L 10D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
4
The Ring of Kerry.
Killarney
5
Killarney National Park, Free Time
Killarney
8
Inis Mor, Free Time
Galway
14
Free Day in Dublin
Dublin
15
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
Discover the magic, myths and modern realities of the Emerald Isle on this comprehensive journey from the dramatic coast and the spectacular Ring of Kerry to the pilgrimage sites of Glencolmcille and the cultural hotbed of Dublin. Your Group Leader and a host of memorable and knowledgeable scholars and locals offer you “céad míle fáilte” (a hundred thousand welcomes) and share the best of their country with you.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to three miles per day; some uneven, rocky, and hilly terrain and cobblestones.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Delve into the rich archaeology of the Dingle Peninsula, finding prehistoric and medieval remains in one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
- Take an Irish language lesson at a Gaelic cultural center.
- Spend a full day on Inis Mór, the largest of the Islands of Aran, exploring remarkable ruins and relics.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Suggested Reading List
(11 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Best of Ireland: The Coast, the Countryside and Dublin
Program Number: 18731
How the Irish Saved Western Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
A compelling historical narrative that explores the crucial role of Ireland during a pivotal period in Western history, specifically from the fall of the Roman Empire to the rise of medieval Europe. First published in 1995, the book argues that as Europe descended into chaos and barbarism, Irish monks and scholars preserved the remnants of classical knowledge, ensuring its survival for future generations.
Dubliners
A seminal collection of fifteen short stories that provides a vivid and unflinching portrayal of life in early 20th-century Dublin. The narratives revolve around middle-class characters who grapple with themes of paralysis, disillusionment, and the quest for identity amidst the constraints imposed by society, religion, and politics.
Legendary Ireland – Myths and Legends of Ireland
This captivating book takes readers on a journey through twenty-eight atmospheric sites, each linked to legendary tales of love, betrayal, courage, and revenge, featuring iconic figures from Celtic lore such as Cu Chulainn, the children of Lir, and Queen Maeve.
We Don’t Know Ourselves
This acclaimed work intertwines O'Toole's own experiences with significant historical events, capturing the transformative changes in Ireland from 1958 to the present day.
I Never Knew That About Ireland
A treasure trove of fascinating stories, I Never Knew That About Ireland is packed full of information on the colorful history of the Emerald Isle. This irresistible book gives a captivating insight into the heritage, memories, and monuments that have shaped each county in Ireland, searching out their secrets and unearthing their hidden gems.
Tracing your Irish Ancestors
This book serves as an essential resource for both beginners and experienced genealogists, offering detailed insights into the various sources available for tracing Irish ancestry.
101 Things You Didn't Know About Irish History: The People, Places, Culture, and Tradition of The Emerald Isle
This book is packed with fascinating facts and stories about Irish history, culture, and traditions, making it a great introduction to the island of Ireland.
Ireland in the 20th Century
Ireland entered the twentieth century savaged by poverty and memories of the famine but inspired by the Celtic Dawn, a remarkable cultural renaissance led by Yeats, Synge and Lady Gregory. She left it in the era of the Celtic Tiger, with unparalleled prosperity and a new, confident, outward-looking view of herself and the world - although this prosperity and self-confidence is now giving way to uncertainty. In the intervening hundred years, Ireland has experienced more 'history' than almost any other country: beginning under the British crown, she was racked by revolution, the Anglo-Irish war, partition and civil conflict. Led by towering figures such as Michael Collins and De Valera, she has suffered terrible hardships and disputes but has nevertheless provided brilliant cultural and literary examples and is now a country of importance in the wider international community, providing leadership in a variety of moral and development issues. In this readable and authoritative study, Ireland's bestselling popular historian tells the extraordinary story of how contemporary Ireland came into existence. Covering both South and North and dealing with social and cultural history as well as political, this will surely become a definitive single-volume account of the making of modern Ireland.
The Rebels of Ireland
This historical novel spans over four centuries of Irish history, from pre-Christian times through to the establishment of the Free Irish State in 1922. Rutherfurd weaves together the lives of a diverse cast of characters—monks, noblemen, soldiers, and rebels—against the backdrop of significant historical events such as the Viking invasions, the Great Famine, and the Easter Rebellion.
A Brief History of Ireland
Designed as an introduction to Irish history, this pocket-sized book details the history of the island, from Viking and Norman invasions, Plantation and the Cromwellian wars to the present.
This is Happiness
A poignant exploration of life in the small, fictional village of Faha, County Clare, during the late 1950s, the story unfolds to reveal the complexities of human relationships, community bonds, and the bittersweet nature of existence.
