ENCHANTING IRELAND
Reserve risk-free: Your deposit is fully refundable up to 95 days before departure
$5,195 per person, land only, double occupancy
$5,395 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Boston, New York plus $497 airline taxes and fees
$5,695 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Washington, DC, plus $497 airline taxes and fees
$5,795 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $497 airline taxes and fees
A limited number of single rooms will be available for a supplement of $1,495 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Other Gateway Cities Are Available. A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $1,495 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Faculty
Caroline E. Janney, John L Nau, III, Professor of History
Program Highlights
- Dublin touring, including Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Magnificent natural scenery of counties Galway and Kerry: Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Connemara
- Irish sheepdog demonstration
- Beautiful Kylemore Abbey and the dramatic Aran Islands
- Ring of Kerry scenic drive
- Visit Blarney Castle
- Rock of Cashel
- Kilkenny Castle
- Outstanding small group accommodations that enhance the Irish experience
- Everyone on this trip will be required to be vaccinated against Covid 19
Carrie, a graduate of the University of Virginia, has worked as a historian for the National Park Service and taught at Purdue University and UVA. An active public lecturer, she has given presentations at locations across the globe.
She is a speaker with the Organization of American Historians Distinguished Lectureship program and a recipient of the Kenneth T. Kofmehl Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award from Purdue’s College of Liberal Arts.
She serves as a co-editor of the University of North Carolina Press’s Civil War America Series and is the past president of the Society of Civil War Historians. She is the author or editor of seven books, including Remembering the Civil War: Reunion and the Limits of Reconciliation and the forthcoming Ends of War: The Unfinished Fight of Lee’s Army after Appomattox.
Overview
Ireland delights on this tour, showcasing its many charms – old and new. Beginning in Dublin, visit Trinity College, home of the Book of Kells, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Departing for Galway, see Clonmacnoise, a 6th-century monastic site. Journey through the legendary Connemara to beautiful Kylemore Abbey, then take an excursion to Inishmore, largest of the fabled Aran Islands. Travel along County Clare’s spectacular coastline, encountering the rugged Burren and the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Ferrying to County Kerry, tour charming Killarney and historic Muckross House. Experience the stunning Ring of Kerry, stopping for an Irish sheepdog demonstration. In Blarney, visit the famed Blarney Stone, then see the celebrated Rock of Cashel. After exploring Kilkenny, Ireland’s cultural capital, pay a final visit to Dublin. Savor the dramatic Antrim Coast and lively Belfast with an optional 4-day/3-night post-tour Northern Ireland extension.
"Trinity College Library - Book of Kells" by larrywkoester is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
We arrive in the intimate, and beautiful, Irish capital today and check-in at our hotel located right on St. Stephen’s Green. Tonight, we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Conrad Dublin
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"St. Patrick's Cathedral - Dublin" by gcalsa is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.
This morning’s city tour includes a visit to Trinity College, home of the stunning 8th-century Book of Kells illuminated manuscript; and to St. Patrick’s, the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland.
This afternoon we embark on an informal walking tour (led by our tour director), passing some of the haunts and hiding places of Ireland’s beloved literary sons. Dinner tonight is on our own in this enchanting city.
Conrad Dublin
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We leave Dublin this morning for Galway in the West, the region some consider to be the “most Irish part of Ireland.” En route we stop for tea and coffee at Tyrrellspass Castle then continue on to 6th-century Clonmacnoise, Ireland’s most important early monastic site.
Located on the East Side of the River Shannon, the monastery occupied a central position in Ireland. For that reason, it was the chosen burial place of the Kings of Connaught as well as those of Tara, including Rory O’Connor, the last High King of Ireland. At one time, it was also the most illustrious school in Europe, predating many universities.
After lunch on our own we resume our journey, reaching Galway City this afternoon. We dine at our hotel located in the village of Bearna just outside the city.
The Twelve Hotel
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A day of scenic highlights is in store as we travel through western County Galway in the legendary region known as Connemara, a rugged, silent landscape of mountains, glacial lakes, endless roads, and uninhabited bog lands. Our first stop is at beautiful Kylemore Abbey, built as a private home in 1861 and one of Ireland’s most photographed castles.
We then continue our tour of this rugged region that offers spectacular views of the Twelve Ben Mountains on one side and the pounding sea on the other, returning to our Galway hotel late this afternoon.
Tonight, we have dinner together at Padraicins, a noted local establishment in a dramatic rural setting overlooking Galway Bay. Along with dinner, we enjoy a performance by traditional Irish musicians and dancers.
The Twelve Hotel
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"Kylemore Abbey -Irlanda" by abraja1 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
Today we embark on an excursion to Inishmore, the largest of the fabled Aran Islands, whose unique culture and history have been an inspiration to artists, writers, and filmmakers. Sitting across Galway Bay in the midst of the Atlantic, the islands feature primitive stone forests, early Christian churches, and medieval castles – as well as shops, galleries, and restaurants.
An islander guides our tour here, imparting local lore along the way. We stop at Dun Aenghus Fortress, the three prehistoric stone walls crowning the tallest cliffs of Inishmore; have lunch in a local pub; and enjoy some free time before returning to the mainland and our hotel late this afternoon.
Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant in the village of Bearna.
The Twelve Hotel
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Another day of breathtaking scenery as we leave Galway for Killarney, traveling south along the fabled coastline of County Clare. We pass through the Burren, the 116-square-mile “rocky place” of craggy gray karst (limestone) formations that stretch endlessly in all directions.
Then we visit the Cliffs of Moher, the majestic flat-topped “mountains” that rise vertically from the sea for five miles from north to south. After lunch on our own here, we cross by ferry into County Kerry, reaching Killarney in beautiful Killarney National Park late this afternoon.
This evening we enjoy dinners in local family-run B&Bs.
Killarney Royal
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Our exploration of this attractive town, founded as a resort in the 18th century, begins with a jaunting cart ride from the center of town to 15th-century Ross Castle, the last stronghold to fall to Oliver Cromwell’s forces in 1652.
Then we travel by boat to Muckross House, a 19th-century Elizabethan-style manor housing the Kerry Folklife Centre, which showcases the art and craft of bookbinding, pottery, and weaving.
We tour the elegantly furnished rooms, as well as the informal garden, with its lush rhododendrons, and the rock garden, with its collection of rolling dwarf conifers. Lunch is on our own here before we return to Killarney mid-afternoon. Dinner tonight is on our own in this charming town.
Killarney Royal
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"Muckross House" by Allan Henderson is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Today we experience one of Ireland’s most popular attractions, the stunning mountain and coastal scenery of the Ring of Kerry, a 110-mile route connecting Dingle, Iveragh, and Beara peninsulas. This is the Ireland of postcards and pictures, with tiny villages dotting the breathtaking landscape; we stop in one of them for an Irish sheepdog demonstration and in another for lunch.
We also drive through the village of Waterville, home to the famed golf links, before heading back to Killarney. We dine together tonight at our hotel.
Killarney Royal
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On our way to Kilkenny this morning we stop in the small town of Blarney to visit the ruins of the 15th-century castle, with its celebrated Blarney Stone believed to bestow the “gift of gab” on those who kiss it.
We also visit the Blarney Woolen Mills, housing an excellent selection of Irish crafts as well as knits and woolens of all kinds. After lunch on our own in Blarney, we continue on to the Rock of Cashel, the celebrated – and beloved – archaeological complex (c. 432 CE) of medieval ruins atop a limestone outcropping that presides over the surrounding plain.
Late this afternoon we return to Kilkenny and our hotel, where we dine tonight.
Pembroke Hotel
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Today is devoted to Kilkenny, a well-preserved medieval city known as Ireland’s cultural capital – and the country’s smallest city. We tour 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, considered one of the country’s most beautiful, then embark on an informal walking tour of Kilkenny itself, noting the many buildings of “black” or Kilkenny marble, quarried locally. After lunch together at a local pub, the remainder of the day is at leisure.
The city offers the Kilkenny Crafts Trail to guide visitors to the best of the jewelers, potters, glassblowers, ceramicists, and wood and ironworkers who live and work here – in the center of Ireland’s artisan and handcraft industries. Kilkenny also boasts other important historic and architectural sites, including ancient monuments, monastic settlements, old country homes, and burial sites.
Pembroke Hotel
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"Kilkenny Castle, The Parade, Kilkenny (506829)" by Bob Linsdell is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
We leave Kilkenny this morning for a final visit to Dublin, where we tour fascinating EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum depicting 1,500 years of Irish history in an interactive environment.
Mid-afternoon we reach our hotel outside Dublin; tonight, we celebrate our adventure over a farewell dinner.
Barberstown Castle Hotel
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We leave this morning for the Dublin airport and our return flights to the United States.
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October 18-21, 2022
4 days/3 nights for $1,295 total price
Single Supplement: $295
Savor the dramatic beauty of the Antrim Coast, one of the most scenic in all of Ireland and the British Isles, and encounter the lively capital city of Belfast.
Your Extension Tour Price Includes:
- Round-trip private motorcoach or van transportation Dublin/Belfast
- 3 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Belfast at Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast (Deluxe); 1 night in Dublin at Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport (Superior First Class)
- 7 meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
- Extensive sightseeing including Belfast, Antrim Coast (Giant’s Causeway UNESCO site, Bushmills Distillery, Carrick-a-rede Bridge), new Titanic Museum in Belfast
- Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
- Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters
"The Giant's Causeway" by ~ l i t t l e F I R E ~ is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
- Dublin– Conrad Dublin – 2 nights
- Galway – The Twelve Hotel – 3 nights
- Killarney– Killarney Royal – 3 nights
- Kilkenny – Pembroke Hotel – 2 nights
- Dublin – Barberstown Castle Hotel – 1 night
22 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 8 dinners
$5,195 per person, double occupancy, land only
$5,395 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Boston, New York plus $497 airline taxes and fees
$5,695 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Washington, DC, plus $497 airline taxes and fees
$5,795 per person, double occupancy, with economy class round-trip airfare from Charlottesville, VA, plus $497 airline taxes and fees
Other Gateway Cities Are Available.
A limited number of single rooms will be available for a supplement of $1,495 to the per person, double occupancy rates.
Business Class upgrade (subject to availability) on round-trip Trans-Atlantic flight: $3,595 per person from Newark, Washington, DC.
Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646 or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
A refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve your spot. Your deposit is refundable until 95 days prior to departure. Final invoicing will be done approximately 110 days prior to departure. Final payment is due 95 days prior (July 3, 2022) to departure.
Deposits can be made by personal check or credit card. Our tour operator, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., reserves the right to cancel any reservations that are not paid in full at any time after final payment is due. If you make your reservation after the final payment date, payment in full will be required upon reservation.
Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Please read this information carefully, as payment of a refundable $500 deposit per person represents your acceptance of the following Terms and Conditions.
Cavalier Travels reserves the right to use photos that might include you in marketing materials and for other purposes unless you specify otherwise.
Payment Schedule: A refundable deposit of $500 per person confirms your reservation. The balance of your invoice is due 95 days (July 3, 2022) before departure.
Included in Tour Price: Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; flights within itinerary; 11 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First Class; extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees; 22 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 8 dinners; services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director; private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip; luggage handling for one bag per person; gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers.
Not Included in Tour Price: Airfare and airport transfers when purchasing a Land Only package; airfare from your hometown to your departure city; costs of passports and visas; personal expenses such as beverages, laundry, room service, and meals not specified; communication charges; optional sightseeing; gratuities to your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director, which are at your discretion (suggested gratuities: $10–$15 per traveler, per day); and travel protection insurance. Additional baggage fees may apply and are subject to change at any time. You should confirm directly with your airline(s) prior to departure.
Cancellation, Refunds, and Changes: If you must cancel your trip, the effective date of cancellation will be upon the University of Virginia’s receipt of your notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges: cancel 95 days or more before departure: full refund; cancel 94-65 days before departure: 25% of tour price; cancel 64-45 days before departure: 50% of tour price; cancel 44-30 days before departure: 75% of tour price; cancel 29-0 days before departure: no refund. If you make any changes to your reservation from 94 to 30 days prior to departure, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. will apply a $100 per person administrative fee, in addition to any fees or penalties imposed by third parties. Changes are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. If your reservation changes from double occupancy to single occupancy for any reason, you will be charged the single supplement. No changes are allowed within 30 days of departure.
Upon reservation, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport, as well as your date of birth and gender. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with the ticket’s reissue.
Responsibility: The liability of the University of Virginia, as sponsor, and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc., as tour operator, is strictly limited. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. purchases transportation, hotel accommodations, and restaurant and other services from independent suppliers not under our control. We serve only as agents for these suppliers in securing tour arrangements, and therefore will not accept responsibility for wrongful, negligent, or arbitrary acts or omissions of these independent contractors, or of their employees, agents, servants, or representatives. The University of Virginia and Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. are not liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, or delay that may be caused by events not within our control, including, without limitation, acts of terrorism, war, strikes, the defect of any vehicle, or the negligence or default of any third party. All coupons, receipts, and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the air carriers, cruise lines, and other independent suppliers. We will make every effort to operate our tours as planned, but we reserve the right to make itinerary changes as necessary. If unforeseen circumstances require us to change a hotel, we will select alternative accommodations of the same or better quality.
Health and Medical Issues: We request that you be in good health to participate in this University of Virginia tour. There is a considerable amount of walking, and you must be able to get on and off motorcoaches on your own. We regret that we cannot offer individual assistance; in such cases you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of our itineraries, for reasons beyond our control, cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Please call or e-mail us to inquire and we will do our best to answer any questions you may have. We reserve the right to remove anyone whose physical or mental condition, in our opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other passengers. In that event, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. and the University of Virginia assume no financial responsibility for any unused portion of the tour.
Air Transportation – Important Information: Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. includes in its tour price round-trip economy air from designated gateway cities, and contracts with those airlines the company feels provide the level of service, routings, and value necessary for your entire trip. While another airline may offer a more direct connection, it may be at a price unavailable at the lower group rates. You will receive your preliminary air schedule approximately 2½ months prior to departure. Please note that seat assignment on your international flight is usually done at airport check-in. Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. is unable to guarantee any seat assignments. Due to the nature of tour operator tickets, other restrictions apply, including, but not limited to, frequent flyer mileage accrual, stopovers, alternate travel dates, upgrades, and airline taxes and fees. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, Land Only is available on most tours. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations, you do not purchase non-refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. If you choose to make your own air arrangements, Odysseys Unlimited, Inc. shall not have any liability for any loss resulting from cancellation of this tour or changes in this tour.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols: The well-being of our guests and staff members on tour will continue to be our highest priorities. To maintain a healthy environment for travel, we will be establishing and adhering to a detailed set of health and safety protocols for all facets of your tour. We are committed to following the guidelines of the State Department, CDC, WHO, and authorities of respective countries regarding travel to a particular destination. Detailed protocols for this tour, based on conditions at the time, will be provided approximately 115 days prior to departure.