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Lunch: In the hotel. A served lunch with water, tea and coffee. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Afternoon: Arrivals continue, with free time for those who have already arrived. Before dinner we will have an Orientation in the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities and answer any questions you may have. We have set aside some free time in the schedule for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: A seated dinner will be taken in the hotel dining room with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure to unpack, relax and prepare for the program ahead.
Breakfast: A full Irish breakfast in the hotel dining room. Choices vary but will include a variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, potatoes, cereals, fruit, toast, pastries and jams served with water, juices, tea and coffee.
Morning: This morning we'll explore the city of Galway. Discover the cradle of Gaelic culture in the West and often referred to as the “city of tribes”, as it was once home to 14 famous merchant families. You’ll enjoy an expert-led walk around the city, visiting Galway Cathedral, the Spanish Arch and part of the original city wall before finishing at the Galway City Museum for some free time. Should you wish to explore the museum, it houses a variety of permanent and touring exhibitions dealing with archaeology, local history, arts and crafts.
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: We’ll board the motor coach for a field trip to Coole Park. Coole Park is a nature reserve spanning over 1000 acres and was the centre of the Irish Literary Revival in the early 20th Century; the seven woods celebrated by W.B Yeats can all be found within its confines. Here you’ll be able to trace your fingers across the historic Autograph Tree, its bark deeply engraved with the initials of many of the authors who helped Ireland rise to literary prominence during the revival.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Relax and enjoy an evening of traditional Irish music and dance.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Today we travel by motor coach to view two of Ireland’s most incredible natural phenomena. We begin at the the spectacular and world-famous Cliffs of Moher. We’ll have time to linger by the cliffs, which rise like a cathedral into the sky some 700 feet over the wild Atlantic Ocean. The views stretch as far as Galway Bay and the Aran Islands, and the location is also home to one of the major colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds in Ireland.
Lunch: Enjoy a traditional pub lunch in the village of Kilfenora.
Afternoon: After lunch visit the Burren where we will meet a local expert, who will lead us through one of the largest karst limestone landscapes in Europe, stopping for a gentle walk on its moon-like terrain.
Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Today we transfer by motor coach to the historic town of Adare. En route we’ll take the opportunity to visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in County Clare, home to the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Originally built in 1425, Bunratty Castle was restored in the 1950’s and now mainly reflects how it would have looked in the 15th and 16th Centuries. Within the grounds of the castle lies Bunratty Folk Park, a living village where 19th Century life is vividly recreated through actors, volunteers and a painstaking attention to detail.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Free time in Adare for independent exploration. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: A seated dinner will be taken in the hotel dining room with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: A full Irish breakfast in the hotel dining room. Choices vary but will include a variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, potatoes, cereals, fruit, toast, pastries and jams served with water, juices, tea and coffee.
Morning: Take a pleasant walk to Killarney National Park, home to magnificent native Oak woods and one of the oldest Yew woods in Europe. Enjoy an expert-led gentle hike through the park, and take part in activities including capture and release of small animals, scavengers hunts, games, quizzes and scientific experiments.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Continue your outdoor fun with a ride in a traditional jaunty car.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: This morning a local farmer welcomes us to his land, as we learn about rural traditions and the modern challenges of farming in Ireland.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Enjoy a guided heritage walk of Adare. Adare is regarded as being one of Ireland's prettiest and most picturesque villages. Steeped in history, the village has been the subject of many rebellions, wars and conquests, leaving behind a great legacy of historical monuments.
Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: This morning we transfer to Dublin, Ireland’s bustling capital city, by motor coach. Along the way we’ll pay a visit to the Irish National Stud, a 1,000 acre holding where some of Ireland’s best racehorses are conceived and cared for. The site is also, somewhat surprisingly, the home to what is often considered to be the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe – a perfect place for quiet contemplation as you wander through its tranquil surrounds.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: The field trip and transfer continue.
Dinner: A seated dinner will be taken in the hotel dining room with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: A full Irish breakfast in the hotel dining room. Choices vary but will include a variety of eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato, potatoes, cereals, fruit, toast, pastries and jams served with water, juices, tea and coffee.
Morning: This morning we discover Dublin from a unique perspective - an amphibious vehicle, traversing the streets and waterways of this famous city. Led by a curious collection of expert Vikings, you'll don your traditional horned helmet and learn about the history of Dublin in an entertaining, informative and engaging commentary. Following our Viking adventure, we'll pay a visit to the Book of Kells at Trinity College, one of the finest examples of illuminated manuscript in the world. The artistry and attention to detail in its spellbinding calligraphy and illuminations truly is a sight behold and the book, dating back to 800 AD, is considered Ireland’s finest national treasure.
Lunch: A lunch allowance will be provided in a local Farmer's Market.
Afternoon: Free time for independent exploration.
Dinner: Early evening pre-theatre dinner.
Evening: Enjoy a performance at a local theatre.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Free time to explore Dublin independently.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Free afternoon.
Dinner: Farewell dinner and evening of traditional Irish music.
Evening: Later evening at leisure.
Breakfast: In the hotel. Some participants may depart prior to breakfast, whereupon a boxed breakfast will be provided.
Morning: Transfer to Dublin Airport (DUB) for onward flights. This concludes our program. 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. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!
