Page 25 - 2018 Quilt Tours

Starting Location Northern Ireland
Overnights
Visits
Tour Routes

Galway Dublin

Atlantic Ocean Ireland
Wicklow

Cashel Kilkenny

Killarney
Kinsale
Muckross House and Gardens

DAY 8 It’s another day of spectacular scenery, along one of the
world’s most beautiful coastal routes, the Ring of Kerry. Enjoy
panoramic ocean views and post-card villages, stopping at the Gap
of Dunloe to shop for traditional Irish crafts. Atop a rugged mountain
pass, “Ladies View” is the vantage point for the Lakes of Killarney.
Tonight’s dinner in Killarney is included. B D

DAY 9 Get ready for more scenery as we travel through the wild rocky
Merino Sheep, Ireland
landscapes of the Burren, known for its stark beauty. Learn to make
scones with a lesson at Rathbaun Farm, where we’ll watch sheep
DAY 4 Explore Kilkenny’s stone-paved streets at leisure, perhaps visiting shearing and a sheep dog demonstration. We’ll have a city tour in
medieval Black Abbey or 12th-century Kilkenny Castle and gardens. At Galway, tonight’s home. B
Cashel we’ll see the Rock of Cashel, a medieval complex on a hilltop
where St. Patrick preached. A local expert leads us on a walking tour of DAY 10 Our scenic drive from Galway arrives at Clontarf Castle in
quaint Kinsale, famous for lacemaking, before our included dinner in plenty of time to enjoy its tranquil setting overlooking the Irish Sea,
Ireland’s gourmet capital. B D before our gala Farewell Dinner with Irish music. B D

DAY 5 On to Blarney Woollen Mills, a center for Irish woolens and DAY 11 After a leisurely breakfast, we can gather for a farewell group
THE place to get your Kelly green sweater to prove you’ve kissed the picture before saying goodbye to new friends. B
famous Blarney Stone. Perhaps you’ll stroll the castle’s gardens before
riding a traditional jaunting car to Muckross House and Gardens. Irish Landscaping
This 60-room Victorian mansion underscores the era’s “upstairs –
downstairs” contrast between elegantly furnished upper floors and the
basement servants’ quarters. A ride through lush countryside takes us
to Killarney, home for the next four nights. B

DAY 6 A quilting instructor joins us this morning for a Celtic
Impressions class. We’ll learn more about the region’s quilting history
at a trunk show this afternoon, then sample local dishes at a typical
Killarney pub or restaurant (included). B D

DAY 7 Follow Ireland’s famed coastal route – the stunning Dingle
Peninsula, where we’ll drive the beautiful Slea Head road for some
of the country’s most spectacular landscapes. After lunch at a local
restaurant, we’ll have a show and tell on the beach. Tonight, get a taste
of Irish culture by joining new friends at your choice of local pub. B L
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