Ireland’s Coasts from North to South

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Afternoon: If you arrive before rooms are available, you may leave your luggage with the concierge and go for a walk or relax in public rooms of the hotel. After checking in and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. At various points in the program, local expert will provide educational commentary and at some sites, it will be our knowledgeable Group Leader. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 18 miles, approximately 1.5 hours throughout the day. Walking about 1.5 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, some cobbled areas.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the full Irish breakfast buffet offers a rotating variety of choices such as eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, potatoes, cereals, fruit, toast, pastries and jams, plus milk, juices, coffee, tea, water.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local expert who will give us a presentation on the colorful and evocative political murals of Belfast. The political mural tradition in the north of Ireland is more than a century old, and the lecture will trace the history of this distinctive form of political expression from the earliest examples — painted before the War of Independence by loyalists who supported British rule — to its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s, and more recent murals painted since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. Next, we’ll walk to Belfast City Hall for a docent-led field trip. We’ll learn more of Belfast’s fascinating history as we explore this grand 1906 Baroque Revival building, and gain insights into its links with the ill-fated ocean liner “Titanic.” We’ll then board a motorcoach and ride to our lunch venue.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll board the motorcoach with a local expert for a visual overview of some of Belfast’s most significant sights, including Queens University, Crown Bar, the Opera House, Albert Clock, the Titanic Quarter and Film Studios, and the heart of Northern Ireland’s government at Stormont. As we ride, our expert will provide informative commentary detailing Belfast’s immense industrial heritage and complex political history. We’ll finish our field trip at the hotel.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 85 miles, approximately 3 hours. Walking about 1.5 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, tarmac and gravel paths. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: At the hotel, an expert from one of Belfast’s renowned universities will join us and introduce the complex history of the island of Ireland. We’ll then board a motorcoach and ride to Armagh, the smallest city in Ireland and the seat of the ecclesiastical heads of both of Ireland’s Christian churches. Armagh is one of only a few cities worldwide to have two cathedrals dedicated to the same saint, and its two St. Patrick’s Cathedrals sit on either side of the valley overlooking the town. We’ll begin our field trip at the Robinson Library, founded in 1771 by Richard Robinson, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh. Highlights of the library’s collection — which we’ll explore with local experts at the library’s main building and nearby No. 5 Vicar’s Hill — include many medieval manuscripts, Jonathan Swift’s own annotated copy of Gulliver’s Travels, archaeological finds, and an internationally significant collection of prints from the 15th to 19th centuries. We’ll complete our field trip across the street at the 13th-century St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, which we’ll explore with another local expert who will detail the complex history of Christian worship on the Hill of Armagh.

Lunch: At a local restaurant in the center of Armagh, we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Following our field trip in Armagh, we will return to Belfast by motorcoach. The remainder of the afternoon is free for independent exploration or to relax.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 105 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. Walking about 2.5 miles, periods of standing; paved streets and paths, some uneven grassy areas. It is possible to walk on the uneven hexagonal “steps” of the basalt formation at Giant’s Causeway. There are routes that involve minimal changes of level; shuttles available from visitor center to Causeway to reduce walking distance.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board the motorcoach and begin our transfer to Derry, stopping en route at Bushmills Whiskey distillery, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery having first become operational in 1608. During our docent-led exploration, we’ll follow the production process from grain to glass, and taste some of what the distillery produces.

Lunch: At a pub in the village of Bushmills, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we will take a field trip to the Giant’s Causeway. This natural amphitheatre — a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site — is made up of hexagonal-shaped basalt rocks. We will begin in the capable hands of a National Trust expert as we explore the site, then have some independent time to see what interests each of us most at this breathtaking natural phenomenon. Back aboard the motorcoach, we’ll complete our transfer to Derry and check in to the hotel with some time to relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 18 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking about 1.5 miles, periods of standing; wooden boardwalks, some uneven grassy areas; uneven stone steps to some areas at Grianán of Aileach. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to Grianán of Aileach, a stone hillfort constructed in the 6th or 7th century CE. The fort was severely damaged during conflict in the early 12th century, and sat as a ruin for hundreds of years until being restored in 1870. During our expert-led exploration, we’ll trace the history of the site within the context of Viking occupation, Norman invasion and native rule. We’ll reboard the motorcoach and return to Derry, then set out on an expert-led walking field trip around the city. Derry is the only remaining city in Ireland with virtually complete walls surrounding the old inner core. The walls were erected early in the 17th century as defenses against encroaching English and Scottish settlers. Today, they serve as a walkway to observe the combination of heritage and contemporary culture within the Renaissance Style street plan.

Lunch: At a local brewpub, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 170 miles, approximately 4.5 hours. Walking about 1 mile, periods of standing; paved and gravel paths.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Once checked out from the hotel, we’ll begin our transfer by motorcoach for Galway – the cradle of Gaelic culture in the West and often referred to as the “city of tribes” as it was home to 14 famous merchant families. We’ll make a stop at Drumcliffe, the final resting place of famed Irish poet W.B Yeats. Yeats is remembered as an important cultural leader, as a major playwright and as one of the very greatest poets of the century. The epitaph on his gravestone is well known: “Cast a cold eye / On life / On death / Horseman, pass by!” We’ll be joined on our journey through Yeats country by a local literary expert, who will interpret the landscape and read some of Yeats’ associated poetry.

Lunch: At a restaurant en route, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll then complete our transfer to Galway and check into the hotel upon arrival.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 130 miles, approximately 4.5 hours. Walking about 3 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, tarmac and gravel paths, some uneven grassy areas.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Today we’ll travel by motorcoach for a full day exploring Connemara. A broad peninsula between Killary Harbour and Kilkieran Bay in the west of County Galway, Connemara has long been regarded as the real emerald of Ireland. During our explorations this morning, we’ll visit the atmospheric village of Cong, where we’ll have some time for independent exploration. The streets of Cong may look familiar to cinephiles, as it was the filming location for John Ford’s Oscar-winning film “The Quiet Man.” We’ll continue by motorcoach to Kylemore Abbey. Situated in the heart of Connemara, this beautifully designed estate was built in 1867 as a private home and became a Benedictine abbey in 1920. We’ll learn from our Group Leader about the rich history and experience the oasis that is the walled garden, one of the last created in Ireland during the Victorian era. Although it fell into disrepair over time, the Benedictines began an authentic restoration in the late 1990s and only a few years later won a prestigious European award for their work.

Lunch: At Kylemore Abbey, we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Moving on, we’ll explore the sleepy seaside villages of Connemara stopping at Lough Inagh Lodge in the village of Recess. We’ll sip an Irish coffee in this beautiful old fishing lodge nestled on the shores of Lake Inagh. Next, we’ll explore the award-winning Cnoc Suain Heritage Centre where local experts will provide insights into the rural folklore, traditions, and way of life in the west of Ireland. We’ll also observe a demonstration of traditional Irish bread baking. We’ll return to the hotel by motorcoach after our field trips.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: We’ll return to Galway by motorcoach after dinner. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.

Activity note: Walking about 2 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, some cobbled areas. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: A local expert will join us at the hotel for an informative lecture on the Celts and the West of Ireland. Galway, the fourth largest city in the Republic of Ireland, is known as “City of the Tribes” from the medieval era when it was governed by fourteen chieftains. Remnants of Galway’s historic past can be found around every corner. Today Galway is highly popular with bohemians and students alike. A local historian will lead us on a walking field trip to learn more of the city’s fascinating history and heritage.

Lunch: At a traditional Irish restaurant on the river, we’ll have a 2-course plated and served meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Free time. On your own to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 160 miles, approximately 5 hours. Walking approximately 2.5 miles, periods of standing; varied terrain including paved streets and paths, flat grassy areas, uneven limestone surfaces. Main routes at Cliffs of Moher include numerous steps, alternative step-free access is available.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll check out of the hotel, board the motorcoach, and begin our transfer to the city of Cork. En route, we will stop for field trips to explore two of Ireland’s most incredible natural phenomena. We will begin at the Burren, where a local expert will lead us through one of the largest karst limestone landscapes in Europe. The Burren — meaning “rocky place” — is what remains of a tropical sea from 350 million years ago. The starkly beautiful karst limestone surface is almost moonlike in appearance. Geologists, botanists, and zoologists flock to this region to learn about its rare flora and fauna. The Burren together with the Cliffs of Moher forms a UNESCO-designated Global Geopark. Here at the Burren, a local expert will lead us on a hike through one of the largest karst limestone landscapes in Europe. We’ll reboard the motorcoach and drive on to our lunch venue.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Kilfenora, we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Our next field trip will take us to the spectacular, world-famous Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs rise like a cathedral into the sky some 700 feet over the wild Atlantic Ocean, with views stretching as far as Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Human activity here dates back at least 2,000 years. They are home to one of Ireland’s major colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds, and also lend their name to a popular fiddle jig performed at least as early as 1850. After an introduction by our Group Leader, we’ll have some time for self-directed exploration at the visitor center. We’ll then ride on to Cork City, Ireland’s second largest city. Founded in the 7th century, it is today a bustling, lively little city. Upon arrival, we’ll check into the hotel.

Dinner: In the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated and served dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour. Walking approximately 1.5 miles, periods of standing; paved streets and paths, some cobbled areas. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice. Transportation arrangements and driving distances for dinner with local families will vary and will be explained.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Free time to explore the fascinating city of Cork. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. We’ll regroup before lunch at an announced time and place, then travel by motorcoach to the attractive port town of Cobh.

Lunch: At the Cobh Heritage Centre, we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: At the Cobh Heritage Centre’s Queenstown Story exhibition, we’ll meet a local expert and recall the steps of 2.5 million adults and children who emigrated from Ireland on coffin ships, early steamers, and finally on great liners. We’ll then join our local expert and walk along the Titanic Trail through this picturesque seaside town, steeped in maritime history, that was the final port of call for the ill-fated RMS “Titanic.” As a special highlight, we’ll have dinner this evening with local families. After the field trip, we’ll meet members of our host families and travel to their homes.

Dinner: In the homes of host families from the surrounding area, we’ll be treated to family-style meals featuring traditional dishes. As we chat with our hosts and savor their home cooking, we’ll learn about the rhythm of daily Irish life.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Walking about 2.5 miles, periods of standing; varied terrain including paved streets, uneven grassy areas, gravel paths; steps to some areas at Blarney Castle, stone spiral staircases.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We'll depart Cork by motorcoach for Killarney, via Blarney Castle – home of the famous Blarney Stone. Tradition dictates that the gift of eloquence is conferred on all those who kiss the stone!

Lunch: At a restaurant in Blarney we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: As we continue our transfer by motorcoach to Killarney, we will stop at Muckross House for a docent-led exploration. This magnificent Victorian mansion is situated close to the eastern shore of Muckross Lake at the heart of Killarney National Park. Muckross House today is home to a research library that documents the history, folklife, and culture of Kerry. Upon arrival in the town, we’ll go on a short introductory walk around the area with our Group Leader.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated and served dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 105 miles, approximately 5 hours. Walking about 3 miles, periods of standing; varied terrain including paved streets, grass, uneven rocky areas, stone paving, gravel paths.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll begin with a talk and slide show by a local farmer who will discuss his experiences growing up on a farm on the Ring of Kerry. We’ll then board a motorcoach with a local expert for a field trip exploring the Ring of Kerry itself. This celebrated landscape is made up of spectacular coastal and mountain scenery and encompasses the towns of Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, and Sneem.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Cahersiveen, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll visit the family-run Kissane Sheep Farm in Kenmare, County Kerry. A traditional working farm with approximately 1,000 mountain sheep and hundreds of lambs, it is run by John and Anne Kissane, and has been in the hands of the same family for the last 150 years. One of the farmers will lead us around the fields and yards, explaining efforts to preserve the heritage of Irish mountain sheep farming; we’ll see some of the seasonal activities that take place on the farm.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 190 miles, approximately 4.5 hours. Walking about 2.5 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, some cobbled areas, gravel paths, uneven grassy areas.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out, we’ll begin our journey from the hotel by motorcoach to Dublin, Ireland’s capital city and our final destination. On the way, we’ll make a stop in the historic town of Lismore, where we will have a short introductory walk led by a local expert, beginning at the Lismore Heritage Centre. After the walk, we’ll have some time for independent exploration of the Lismore Castle grounds. The castle is still a private residence with historic gardens that now feature contemporary sculpture. The first castle here was built in 1185, on the site of a monastery that had its heyday in the 7th century. The castle, which was owned for a time by Sir Walter Raleigh, is home to the Burlington family today. We’ll reboard the motorcoach and ride on to Waterford City.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Waterford City, we’ll have a plated lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next on our schedule is the world-famous House of Waterford Crystal on the Viking Triangle. Originating in 1783 as the Waterford Glass House, this distinctive designer and manufacturer has gone through a number of incarnations until the present day. A docent will lead our exploration, during which we’ll see the traditional artisan skills of mouth blowing, hand finishing, sculpting, and engraving that produce incredible crystal glass pieces. We’ll continue the transfer to Dublin and check into the hotel upon arrival.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 85 miles, approximately 3 hours. Walking about 2.5 miles, periods of standing; varied terrain including gravel paths, uneven grassy areas, uneven stone floors in historic buildings; some paths at Glendalough may be muddy in wet weather. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: At the hotel, a local expert will join us for a presentation focusing on the Christian and monastic culture of Ireland. We’ll then board the motorcoach and ride to the spiritual center of Glendalough to learn about the history of this monastic site, known to locals as the “Monastic City.” Established in the 6th century, Glendalough is situated in a glacial valley between two lakes in County Wicklow. As a local expert leads us through the remains of the many buildings here — including the conical-roofed Round Tower that still stands almost 100 feet in height — we’ll consider the important role this important institution played in the emergence of early medieval Irish Christianity.

Lunch: At a restaurant in County Wicklow, we’ll have a 2-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Returning to the hotel by motorcoach, we’ll have some time to explore independently, freshen up, and relax.

Dinner: At a popular restaurant in Dublin, we’ll have a 2-course plated pre-theatre dinner with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: We’ll enjoy a performance in one of Dublin’s many renowned theatres. Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles, approximately 3 hours. Walking about 2 miles, periods of standing; uneven floors, low ceilings and low narrow entrance to Neolithic tomb at Brú na Bóinne; paved paths and grass outside burial mounds. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll board the motorcoach for an expert-led visit to Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves one of the most archaeologically significant prehistoric landscapes in the world. In addition to megalithic art, Brú na Bóinne includes a number of Neolithic age burial chambers. We’ll visit one of these tombs to learn how their survival through more than 5,000 years reflects the sophistication of their design, and the ingenuity of the Stone Age people who constructed them.

Lunch: At the Brú na Bóinne café, we’ll have a light lunch with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We’ll return by motorcoach to Dublin. The remainder of the afternoon will be free for independent exploration.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 3 miles, approximately 1/2 hour. Walking about 2 miles, periods of standing; paved streets, some cobbled areas. Extent of walking and other activities during free time according to personal choice.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach and ride to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, constructed between 1220-1260 CE, and one of only a few remaining medieval buildings in Dublin. It was built in honor of the national saint and is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. Author Jonathan Swift was Dean of the Cathedral in the 1700s and lies buried there. We’ll be able to learn more of its 800-year history and place in the heritage of the country as we explore independently. We’ll continue on foot to Dublin Castle for a docent-led field trip, during which we’ll gain an understanding of the history and importance of this iconic landmark. It has been in continuous occupation for over 800 years and, until 1922, it was the seat of British government in Ireland. Today the castle is used by the Irish government for state functions, including the inauguration of the president every seven years.

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Free time to explore Dublin on your own. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give advice.

Dinner: At the hotel we’ll have a 3-course plated meal with coffee, tea, water included; other beverages available for purchase. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner, accompanied by a performance of traditional Irish music and song by local musicians.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m. See your program’s Travel Information regarding transfers.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!