See an engaging slide show of your tour at SmithsonianJourneys.org/Ireland

Guaranteed small group of no more than 24 Smithsonian travelers per departure

Visit 15th-century Ross Castle in Killarney National Park.

From Dublin to the ruggeD West Coast

Day 1: Depart the U.S. for Dublin, Ireland

Day 2: Dublin Upon arrival in Ireland’s dynamic capital, check in to your hotel located on St. Stephen’s Green. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon before gathering at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 3: Dublin Enjoy a day getting to know the engaging city of Dublin, where almost every Irish writer lived for some time. Highlights of today’s tour feature Trinity College to see the extraordinary Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by monks around A.D. 800, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by a free afternoon to enjoy your own individual pursuits. You may also wish to join your Tour Director and Study Leader for an optional tour of the National Museum of Archae-ology for an in-depth overview of Ireland’s heritage, culture, and natural history. (B,L)

Day 4: Galway Head west to the region some con sider the “most Irish part of Ireland,” and where traditional Irish is often heard. En route, stop at the 6th-century Clonmacnoise, Ireland’s most important early monastic site and burial place of the last High King of Ireland. Arrive in charming Galway City

in the afternoon and enjoy dinner at your hotel, located in the nearby village of Bearna. (B,D)

Day 5: Aran Islands and Galway Today’s destination is Inishmor, the largest of the fabled Aran Islands, whose unique culture and history have been an inspiration to artists, writers, and film- makers. Located across Galway Bay, the islands feature primitive stone forts, early Christian churches, and medieval castles. Meet a local islander who shares knowledge and stories during a special tour, then enjoy time to explore on your own. Return to the mainland in the late afternoon and explore Galway’s many restaurants and pubs tonight. (B,L)

Day 6: Connemara Evocative and legendary Connemara is a dramatic, rugged landscape of mountains, glacial lakes, and uninhabited bog lands. During a full-day excursion, stop at the beautiful Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s most photographed castles, which was built as a private home in 1861. Enjoy spectacular views of the Twelve Bens mountain range in the background. This evening enjoy dinner at an atmospheric local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 7: Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Killarney Traveling south along the fabled coastline of County

The emerald Isle

Your Small Group Tour HighlightsEnjoy Dublin touring, including Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral ... Admire the magnificent scenery of counties Galway and Kerry, including the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Connemara ... Climb Dun Aenghus fortress during your full-day tour of Inishmor ... Meet a local family during a home-hosted dinner outside Killarney ... Drive around the Ring of Kerry with stunning mountain and coastal scenery ... Explore the ancient Rock of Cashel ... Tour medieval Kilkenny Castle, considered one of the country’s most beautiful ... Learn about Ireland’s horse racing industry at the National Stud Farm

Day Itinerary Hotel Rating 1 Depart U.S. for Dublin

2-3 Dublin The Shelbourne

Deluxe

Dublin

4-6 Galway The Twelve Hotel Sup. First Class

7-9 Killarney Killarney Royal Sup. First Class

10-11 Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel Sup. First Class

12 Dublin Dunboyne Castle Deluxe

13 Depart Dublin for U.S.

Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel industry standard reference.

Avg. High (°F) Jun Aug Sep OctDublin 65 67 63 57Killarney 67 70 66 61

Kilkenny

Galway

Killarney

Celtic Sea

IRELANDDublin

AtlanticOcean

Irish Sea

DestinationMotorcoachExtension (motor-coach/van)Entry/Departure

Belfast/AntrimCoast

NORTHERNIRELAND

13 days from $5,258 total price from Boston, New York, Newark ($4,895 air & land inclusive plus $363 airline taxes and departure fees)

Steeped in history and boasting a rich tapestry of arts and cultural activities, Ireland wel-

comes travelers eager to explore its breathtaking landscapes and fascinating literary heritage. Join us on this intimate small group adventure and go beyond the landscapes to meet the people and experience the culture of the Emerald Isle.

EUROPE

20 On The Web

Clare, stop to admire the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, which rise vertically from the sea and stretch for five miles from north to south. Pass through the Burren, the 116-square mile rocky landscape of craggy gray karst (limestone) formations. Then cross by ferry into County Kerry, and arrive in the late afternoon in Killarney, set in beautiful Killarney National Park. Tonight, enjoy dinner with a warm and welcomingfamily outside Killarney. (B,D)

Day 8: Killarney Explore this vibrant town from the perspective of a historic jaunting-cart, then continue to 15th-century Ross Castle, the last stronghold to fall to Oliver Cromwell’s forces. Travel by boat to Muckross House, a 19th-century Elizabethan-style manor, where you’ll tour the elegantly furnished rooms and informal garden. Also explore the Kerry Folklife Centre, which showcases traditional arts and crafts such as bookbinding, pottery, and weaving. (B)

Day 9: Killarney and Ring of Kerry Today, admire and experi-ence the Ireland of postcards — the stunning mountain and coastal scenery of the Ring of Kerry, a 110-mile route around the Ardagh Peninsula. Stop at a 1,000- year-old Ring fort, and view several primitive Ogham stones

revealing an ancient alphabet. This evening dine at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, a 150-year-old family-run establishment at the entrance to the Gap of Dunlow. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Blarney, Cashel, Kilkenny Travel southeast to the small town of Blarney and visit the ruins of the 15th-century castle, with its celebrated Blarney Stone. Continue to County Tipperary and the Rock of Cashel, once home to the High Kings of Munster. Arrive in Kilkenny late this afternoon. (B,D)

Day 11: Kilkenny A small medieval city, Kilkenny is known as Ireland’s cultural capital. Enjoy a tour of 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, considered one of the country’s most beautiful, then embark on an informal walking tour, noting the many buildings con-structed of black limestone or “Kilkenny marble.” Spend the remainder of the day at leisure exploring this charming town with its contemporary craft and design studios and well-preserved historic architecture and monuments. (B,L)

Day 12: Dublin Set out for Dublin this morning, and visit the National Stud Farm, the center of Ireland’s horse racing industry. Mid-afternoon reach your hotel, located just outside Dublin. Tonight celebrate your Irish adventure at a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 13: Depart Dublin for the U.S. Transfer to the airport this morning for your flights to the U.S. (B)

Your Tour Price Includes• Round-trip air transportation from listed cities• 11 nights accommodations in Deluxe and Superior First

Class hotels• 22 meals: 11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners• Extensive sightseeing as described, including all

entrance fees• Services of a professional Tour Director• Lectures by Smithsonian Expert• Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip• Luggage handling for one bag per person • Gratuities for Tour Director, local guides, dining room

servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers

Admire the rugged landscape of the Aran Islands.

Irish country scene 2014 Tour Dates and Pricesincluding international airfare and all taxes, surcharges, and fees

Jun 15 Sep 21 Aug 10

Boston, New York, Newark $5,258 $5,458

Baltimore, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, $5,558 $5,758 Tampa, Washington, DC

Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, $5,658 $5,858

Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis

Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Phoenix,

$5,758 $5,958

Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle

Land Only $4,595 $4,695

Please call if your city is not listed. Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and departure fees of $363, which are subject to change until final payment is made. Single travelers please add $1,195. All 2014 tour prices above (excluding airline taxes, fuel surcharges, and departure fees) are guaranteed.

Business Class upgrade on round-trip transatlantic flight: $3,995 per person from Newark (upgrade is on request and pricing is subject to change).

Your Tour Price Includes• Round-trip private motorcoach or van transportation

Dublin/Belfast• 3 nights accommodations: 2 nights in Belfast at Fitzwilliam

Hotel (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 a World Heritage site, Bushmill’s Distillery, Carrick-a-rede Bridge), and Ard’s Peninsula (Ulster Folk Museum)

• Services of a professional tour representative• Gratuities for tour representative, dining room servers,

airport and hotel porters

NorTherN IrelaNd4 days/3 nights for $995 total price

Single Supplement: $195

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.

Post-Tour Extension

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Smithsonian ExpertCassandra Hannahs is an expert in the cultural and political ex-changes that have linked England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Con-tinent over the centuries. With a Ph.D. in medieval history and numerous publications, Cassandra

has spent most of her academic career at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she was a tenured profes-sor of history and taught courses on Viking, Celtic and Anglo-Norman Studies. Cassandra will lead the August and September departures. The June departure will be led by a comparable expert.

“This program is a ‘must do’ for everyone.”- Liesl and David N.

Call 1-877-338-8687 or visit SmithsonianJourneys.orgTo Register