itineraries



	All trips include a day by day spiral-bound itinerary personally prepared for you with places that you would like to see. It will include airline information, pre-booked accommodations of your choice, daily driving directions and places to see in the area. The itinerary will have pictures of interesting B&B's, hotels and castles, and touring maps. We also prepare local information, historical background, Irish humor, and driving tips by "Left Lane" Maureen. Sample Irish Itinerary The power of Ireland is not in its land but in the people you meet along the way. The incredible warmth of the Irish people makes you feel welcome, and they always have time for strangers. Ireland is a land where strangers call you friend. Irishmen are born talkers. And since tradition lives on the lips, this ease of communication is much to the advantage of the seeker after local lore. Enjoy the people and the countryside of Ireland. *"They'd Steal Your Heart Away"* Friday May 12th Be sure to be at airport 2 1/2 hours ahead of time, for international flights. Leave Lambert Airport - Saint Louis, American flight - at 12:34 p.m. Arrive Boston Logan airport at 4:52 p.m. Transfer to International Terminal E. Depart Boston on Aer Lingus at 8:40. When you get settled on the plane set your watch 5 hours ahead to Irish time and forget the time difference. If you mentally forget the time change you will have a good first day with a good night's rest. The Aer Lingus plane for the trans-Atlantic flight, is an Airbus 330, with Irish hospitality and gracious in-flight service. Flight time across the Atlantic should be about 6 hours. You will should arrive in Shannon about 7:15 a.m., if they can get the sheep off the runway. Saturday May 13th Arrive Shannon Airport Pick up a phone card for calls, then you don't need as much change. Pick up your car. Familiarize yourself with the car before leaving the lot. When you get to the road wait for a passing car to see what side of the road you will be driving on. Remember you drive on the left side of the road! May the road rise up to greet you, Drive to Bunratty Castle Hotel ( located across the street from Bunratty Castle) for a cup of tea and some breakfast. Return to N18 and head towards the airport and take the turn for Bunratty Castle. You'll know you are in Ireland when you see Bunratty Castle. The 15th century castle is the centerpiece of a fantastic folk park. From the top of the castle you can see the River Ratty and the surrounding countryside. Bunratty Folk Park is a good introduction to Irish villages and towns from the 1800's thru the early 1900's. You can turn the clock back and see thatched roof cottages, crafts and the Irish lifestyles. When finished with Bunratty Folk Park get back on N18 and drive to Ennis. Ennis would be a good town to have lunch. Next door to the Ennis Friary ruins, which date to the 14th and 15th century is Francis Street. The Queen's hotel was one of the settings for James Joyce's novel "Ulysses" The Cliffs of Moher is a must see. The Cliffs are one of Ireland's most spectacular sights. They are rebuilding the visitor facilities and there is a temporary parking lot across the street during the construction. They are building a state-of-the-art visitor center in harmony with the landscape, which will be open in 2007. The development will include elevated viewing areas with fenced in pathways. I knew it was only time before the fence went up. These awe-inspiring bastions of rock rise sheer from the sea toa height of nearly 670 feet and run relentlessly for five miles. Cost is 4 Euro when leaving the lot. "I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer, And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say," Return to the B&B. A good place for dinner and Irish music is "Durty Nellie's". It's only smart and polite to reconfirm your Hotel and B&B accommodations midmorning to let them know your approximate arrival time. Sunday May 14th This morning after your Irish breakfast you will be driving to Knock Shrine and County Mayo. Return to N18, through Ennis and Gort. As you pass through Gort you might want to stop by Yeat's retreat, Thor Ballylee. Take the bypass around Galway and continue on the N17 north to Claremorris. Knock Shrine is on the N17 northeast of Claremorris. Driving time is about 3 ½ hours. Pace yourselves and make 2 stops. I have given you information for Nora Barnacle's house and Padraig Pearse's Cottage if you have the time or inclination to stop. You are passing through Joyce country on your way to Knock and Westport. Cong and Maam Cross is the spot where the movie "The Quiet Man" was made and there is a replica cottage, but the roof burned in February. Knock Shrine is the site of an apparition by the Blessed Mother, Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist in 1879. Pope Paul came here to pray in 1979 and Mother Theresa in 1993. It is the site of numerous pilgrimages. I try to bring back small vials of holy water, which seems to comfort friends when they are very ill. We hope you enjoy this journey. After your visit to Knock Shrine, go back to Claremorris, and take N60 to Castlebar, and N5 to Westport. Enjoy walking the streets and stopping in the pubs of Westport this evening. The Chieftains' musician, Matt Molloy has a pub in Westport, that is enjoyed by many visitors. Monday May 15th Today you will be making your way to Adare and Croagh. Return to Galway, then down to Ennis and on to Limerick. Leave Limerick on N21. Adare is a lovely town with thatched roof cottages, narrow streets and ivy covered churches. Many of the cottages are craft and knitwear shops. There is a lot of history in this town. It's the Irish picturesque town that you have dreamed about. After Adare on N21 ( about 2 miles) you will see signs for "Hillcrest Country Home" and follow the signs off the main road. Lough Gur, the restoration of an ancient Irish Settlement Tuesday May 16th Today you will drive to the town of Dingle and the Dingle Peninsula. Take N21 to Tralee. Leave Tralee on N86 to Dingle. You will be going over the Slieve Mish Mountains. Outside of Tralee is the Blennerville Windmill. "Dingle"- the name rings a bell. The attractive little port of Dingle with its colorfully painted shops and pubs, will make a good base for exploring the Dingle Peninsula. Fishing boats bob in the harbor unloading bountiful catches of fish and shellfish, which supply the many excellent seafood restaurants. After dinner ask where you can go to hear traditional Irish music. Dolphin mania struck the town after Fungi, the Dingle Dolphin, took up residence offshore some years ago. Wednesday May 17th The Gaeltacht is a name given to several areas of Ireland, where Irish (Gaelic) is the spoken language. Because Irish is the official language of the peninsula, the signposts will be in Irish. The town of Dingle is an important commercial fishing port built around an enclosed natural harbor. The Anglo Normans discovered the advantages of the great harbor. Dingle reached its prime importance in the 16th century because of the commercial trade with Spain. After the death of Garoid, the rebel Earl of Desmond and following shortly thereafter the Cromwellean Wars, Dingle's prominence as a seaport waned for almost a century. Leaving Dingle you can take the road, which twists you upward to the summit of Connor Pass. A backwards glance gives you a magnificent view of Dingle, its harbor and the surrounding fields. But in a moment the mist can roll in and everything vanishes. It is the highest mountain pass in Ireland open to cars. Castlegregory Beach is one of Ireland's finest beaches with miles and miles of golden sand washed by the broad Atlantic Ocean. It is a perennial inspiration to painters. Our friend, Father John Morton, lost many a day on his water color paintings. His paintings always told a story, that only God could have made this seashore. Take time to experience the beauty and tranquillity offered by the unspoiled scenery of the beaches and rocky shoreline. Thursday May 18th Take the coast road out of Dingle and turn on N22 to Killarney. Leave Killarney on N72 to Mallow and Fermoy. You will be going through a lot of darling Irish towns. Leave Fermoy on N8 to Cahir. Cahir Castle is a good stop and has a excellent audio visual show. I found it to be one of the most interesting restored castles, and there is much information on the life and battles of that time. A little north on N8 is The Rock of Cashel From N8, the Rock is concealed by smaller hills, until the last minute. Cashel means 'fortress' and a fortress it is. The roofless castle is one of the places where the high kings of Ireland were crowned. Friday May 19th After Lunch you will be driving to Howth. Leave Cashel on N8, picking up M7 and N7. Turn on M50 and drive around the north end of Dublin City. Take M50 till the carriageway ends, and then follow the road to the coast and into Howth. When you arrive today you could freshen up and go over to Malahide Castle and gardens. A beautiful spot is the Summit which looks out over the water and Irelands' Eye, home to a large variety of birds. The Abbey tavern is in Howth and is world renowned as being one of the oldest pubs and they usually have excellent traditional music. Saturday May 20th Today you will visit Dublin's Fair City. Sunday May 21st Your flight home is today at 3:00 p.m.. You will have to be at the Dublin airport at about 12:30 p.m.. Return your car to the rental lot. Finish up shopping at duty free and turn in V.A.T. slips for credit card refunds. Your flight Aer Lingus will leave at 3:00 p.m. and arrive in Chicago about 5:15 p.m. After you go through customs and before you go the exit door, there will be an American Airlines counter to recheck you luggage to Flight When you pass through the exit doors, look for the people mover tram which will take you to Terminal #3. Your American Airlines, Flight will leave at 7:42 p.m. and arrive in Saint Louis about 8:55 p.m. Have a great flight home! The little roads of Ireland will twist and turn, and when you are four thousand miles away, The little roads of Ireland will stay, forever in your mind. Now that you've read a bit about Ireland, here is some information about what Sullivan's Travels can offer to you!