Ireland
The Best of Ireland: A Week on the Emerald Isle
Program No. 22088RJ
Go off the beaten path and learn the story of Ireland as you speak with locals, taste authentic cuisine, discover ancient traditions and enjoy expert-led excursions to historic sites.
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Protecting the Environment
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9 days
8 nights
14 meals
7B 2L 5D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
6
Transfer to Dublin, Waterford
Dublin.
8
Free Time, Irish Music & Dance
Dublin.
9
Program Concludes
Dublin.
At a Glance
From the ancient structures of Cashel to the academic legacy of Trinity College to the cultural hub of Dublin, experience the best of Ireland on this week-long learning adventure. Proud locals and knowledgeable experts take you off the tourist trail to show you the true meaning of their country’s heritage sites and centuries-old traditions.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 3 miles with some stairs in historic buildings.
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.
What You'll Learn
- Hear from a local expert as you explore the historic countryside of the Ring of Kerry.
- Explore historic Trinity College.
- Learn the story of Irish emigration to America and visit Cobh, the point of embarkation for millions of Irish setting sail for the New World.
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. Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with select dates of "The Best of Northern Ireland: Past, Present and Future" (#22092) for even more learning in Ireland!
Suggested Reading List
(20 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: A Week on the Emerald Isle
Program Number: 22088
For the Love of Ireland
Organized geographically, this rich anthology introduces Ireland through the words and lives of such luminaries as James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, Frank McCourt and Samuel Beckett.
Dubliners
James Joyce's unsurpassed collection of short stories depicting ordinary life in Dublin among the lower middle class -- a milestone in the history of prose fiction.
Ireland Map
A colorful map of Ireland at a scale of 1:400,000, featuring insets of the road approaches to major cities, as well as an index to cities, towns and villages.
In Search of Ancient Ireland
This spirited, illustrated history, the companion to a PBS documentary series, traces the foundation, archaeology and legends of ancient Ireland from 9000 B.C. to 1167 A.D. with style and substance.
Irish Fairy and Folk Tales
Edited by the Nobel Prize-winning poet who spearheaded the Celtic Renaissance in the early 20th century, these enchanting stories introduce a cast of changelings, ghosts, mermaids, demons, saints, priests and fairies.
Ireland, A Traveler's Literary Companion
Organized geographically, this anthology of short stories and tales by contemporary Irish authors captures the spirit, history and allure of Ireland.
Opened Ground, Selected Poems 1966-1996
The publication of Heaney's book Death of a Naturalist in 1966 changed Irish literature -- and poetry worldwide -- forever. Dive into the physical and emotional rhythms of Irish life in this volume, which chronicles the Nobel Laureate's best work from the last 30 years.
The Book of Kells
Written by the keeper of manuscripts at Trinity College, this book features 110 color illustrations, including enlargements, of some of the more spectacular decorations in this most famous of medieval manuscripts.
Eyewitness Guide Ireland
This superb guide is a wonderfully illustrated introduction to the country, featuring photographs, maps and short background essays on history and culture.
Ireland, In Word and Image
Jay Adlersberg's visual celebration of Ireland is accompanied by literary excerpts and poetry from Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats, James Joyce, Samuel Beckett and many others. With 75 gorgeous color photographs.
The Hill Bachelors
No one writes better short fiction than William Trevor. This collection of 12 stories captures the life and people of rural Ireland.
A Brief History of Ireland
Killeen traces the successive waves of warriors and colonists through the Celts, Vikings and Normans to Henry VIII, the era of rebellion and patriots to modern times in this brisk, measured history.
The Truth about the Irish
An irreverent A-to-Z guide to all things Irish by a native son and shrewd comic commentator, who casts aside many myths, starting with the first entry - A for alcohol (the Irish have the lowest per capita consumption of alcohol in the E.U., after Greece and Italy).
Connemara Mollie, An Irish Journey on Horseback
Hilary Bradt (publisher of Bradt Guides) recalls her journey across rural Ireland among the people of Galway, Mayo, Clare and Kerry in the 1980s in this sweet -- and sublimely affecting -- memoir.
Sun Dancing, A Vision of Medieval Ireland
This wonderfully inspired combination of scholarship and historical fiction, set at the monastery on Skellig Michael, carries the reader back to Ireland's early monastic tradition.
How the Irish Saved Civilization
This bestselling history tells the generally unknown story of Ireland's preservation of classical learning in the Dark Ages, revealing how the saints and scholars, monks and scribes labored to reproduce the important texts that spread as they evangelized Europe.
The Celts: A Very Short Introduction
A concise, revealing social history of the Celts by a reigning authority and popular writer.
A Traveller's History of Ireland
From the Celts to the Norman invasions to modern-day Ireland, this short history is highly recommended for those who would like a brief overview of the Emerald Isle through the centuries.
Birds of Ireland, An Introduction to Familiar Species
A fold-up, laminated card featuring color drawings and short descriptions of commonly encountered Ireland birds.
A Course Called Ireland
Not just a quest to play every seaside course in the Emerald Isle (60 by the time he got to Ulster), Tom Coyne's entertaining portrait of Ireland, its people, pubs and quirks illuminates "Uncommon Acts of Irish Hospitality."
Meals
14 Meals
7 Breakfasts
2 Lunches
5 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Low Fat, Low Salt, Vegetarian
Lodging
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Display
- Oct 16, 2024 - Oct 24, 2024
- Jun 05, 2024 - Jun 13, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Jul 03, 2024 - Jul 11, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Jul 31, 2024 - Aug 08, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Aug 14, 2024 - Aug 22, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Aug 28, 2024 - Sep 05, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Sep 04, 2024 - Sep 12, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Sep 11, 2024 - Sep 19, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Sep 18, 2024 - Sep 26, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Oct 16, 2024 - Oct 24, 2024 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Apr 23, 2025 - May 01, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- May 07, 2025 - May 15, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- May 14, 2025 - May 22, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- May 21, 2025 - May 29, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Jun 04, 2025 - Jun 12, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Jul 02, 2025 - Jul 10, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Jul 30, 2025 - Aug 07, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Aug 13, 2025 - Aug 21, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Aug 27, 2025 - Sep 04, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Sep 03, 2025 - Sep 11, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Sep 10, 2025 - Sep 18, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
- Oct 15, 2025 - Oct 23, 2025 (Cork to Dublin.)
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
4 nights
Cork
Clayton Hotel Cork City is Cork’s premier 4 star city centre hotel and is superbly located in Cork’s City Quarter, overlooking the River Lee and directly opposite the impressive architecture of City Hall and One Albert Quay.
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