Moranning Pre-Wedding Tour 2016

20th August 2016

Table of Contents

Notes ...... 3 Contact List ...... 7 Day 1: Saturday 20th August 2016 ...... 8 ...... 9 ...... 11 Day 2: Sunday 21st August 2016...... 13 Killarney National park ...... 14 Ring of Kerry ...... 18 Day 3: Monday 22nd August 2016 ...... 20 Adare ...... 21 & Folk Park ...... 23 Cliffs of Moher ...... 25 Day 4: Tuesday 23rd August 2016 ...... 27 Dan O’Hara’s Visitor Centre ...... 28 Kylemore Abbey ...... 30 Day 5: Wednesday 24th August 2016 ...... 34

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Notes

Enclosed with this pack is information pertaining to your group vacation in Ireland which we hope you will find useful.

Upon arrival at Airport, your driver/guide will be waiting to greet you. He will show you to your luxury coach and assist with loading the luggage. If you have a large group with more than one coach, please ensure that your fellow vacationers note which coach they board and are aware that this will be their coach for the remainder of the tour. The driver/guides will normally be with the group throughout the tour, although in exceptional circumstances they may be changed during the trip.

Itinerary

Your itinerary is attached and a copy has been given to the driver/guides. The driver/guides may recommend “off route” sightseeing but will ensure that these do not impact on the basic tour. In fact, it is more likely that these hidden gems will enhance the trip. Although we appreciate that this is your client’s vacation and that their enjoyment of the tour is paramount, it is essential that departure times from the hotel are strictly adhered to so as to ensure that all pre-booked attraction arrivals are made on time. In many cases we have arranged private guided tours for your party and the attractions have allocated one of their own guides to accompany your group, so late arrivals may impact on their daily work and your enjoyment of the attraction.

During the daily touring, the driver/guides will recommend certain rest stops and if there is a specific type of food that you may want for your group, please advise the driver first thing in the morning so he can make any necessary arrangements in advance of your arrival.

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There may have been changes to your group between receiving these documents and your arrival, which necessitate new vouchers. These revised documents will be sent to the driver/guide who will hand them over to you upon your arrival in Ireland.

Hotels

All hotels have been booked and pre-paid according to the itinerary and rooming list which is attached. Rooms will all have a private bathroom and toilet which will include both a bath and shower or shower only. A full Irish breakfast will be provided daily unless otherwise stated and table d’hote dinners will consist of a starter, main course and desert. Drinks such as wines, beers etc. are not included and should be paid for directly to the hotel.

Smoking is not allowed in the general areas of hotels in Ireland, but guests can request smoking bedrooms, although this cannot be guaranteed and is subject to availability. There are usually designated smoking areas outside hotels and their bars and restaurants.

Most hotels now provide some form of internet connection in the public areas and some in the bedrooms. There may be a charge to use the internet connection provided by the hotel, so please check upon arrival.

Members of your party may have charged extra items to their room account and you should ensure that all these bills have been settled before the coaches depart the hotel. It is not unusual for guests to forget they have charged extras to their account especially if they have stayed at an hotel for more than one night.

Coaches

The coach companies we use are all approved by Failte Ireland and their vehicles conform to European standards. All are fitted with seat belts and most are air-conditioned. We ensure that you are provided with a coach that is suitable for the size of your group and that there is ample room for luggage.

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All the drivers used are also Bord Failte approved Tour Guides and will do all they can to ensure your party’s visit to Ireland is one they will never forget. They are always available to offer advice and assistance to you and members of your group. They are proud of their country and will want you to experience as much as is possible during your stay. Their local knowledge of pubs, shops and restaurants can be invaluable at times and will only add value to your tour.

They will do everything to ensure that departure times are adhered to by all the party so that the full benefit of the tour will be experienced, so if they seem they are rushing you or your party, they have a good reason to do so and it is all for your benefit.

Attractions

Your driver/guide will wait until all passengers are off the coach and secure it before joining you at the attraction, where possible. For some attractions, especially in Dublin, he may not be able to leave the coach where he dropped you off. In these rare cases he will advise either where the coach will be parked or at what time he will return to collect you. You should make your way to the reception area and identify yourself and the group and present the voucher. Where there is a charge for admission and/or tour this would have been pre-paid. Wherever possible, the driver/guide will accompany you and your group at the attraction.

General

Money – The currency in Ireland is the Euro. Foreign currency such as US Dollars, are readily exchanged in banks, although some difficulty may be experienced with $100 bills. Euro 100 bills may also be difficult to use so we suggest that if you are bringing Euros, they should be in 50’s bills.

The currency in is Sterling although most shops, restaurants and bars will accept Euro. However they usually apply a poor rate of exchange.

Credit Cards – Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most major and some smaller shops, at ATM’s (Hole in the Wall Cash Dispensers) and hotels and restaurants. Pubs will not normally take credit

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cards for payment. Visa debit cards can also be used at ATM’s but you should check with the card issuer to confirm this.

Tips – This is a very personal area and difficult to give a definitive answer. Tips are normally given based on the service received and vary from person to person. As a rough guide, in restaurants if you feel you have had good service, a tip in the region of 10-15% of the bill would be well received by your waiter or waitress. Your driver/guide will I am sure have made your vacation memorable and as a rough guide, a tip between 5 – 10 Euros per person per day should be considered. Please note that these figures are only a guide and do depend on how you and your group evaluate the service received.

Electricity

It is important to note that the power supply in Ireland and the UK (which includes Northern Ireland) is quite different from that in the USA and that the plugs and sockets used are different from those in both the USA and the rest of Europe.

Voltage Frequency Plug/Socket

Ireland & UK 230v 50hz 3 square pins

Most of Europe 230v 50Hz 2 round pins

USA 120v 60hz 2 prongs

Plug adaptors do not change the electricity supplied to equipment, they simply allow it to be plugged in to a different type of wall socket or outlet.

You will require an adaptor if the equipment you are using supports dual voltage and dual frequency. If it does then a plate on the equipment will state something like “120/240v, 50/60Hz”. Most laptop computer and battery chargers are dual voltage, so all you will need to use them with a different supply is a plug adaptor. Most hotels will have adaptors available, but to be sure you should bring your own.

For further information see http://www.dochara.com/info/electricity/electricity-in-ireland/

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Contact List

Irish Tourism Group River House Killarney Road Newcastle West Co. Tel: + 353 (0)69 77686 Email: [email protected] Web: www.irishtourism.com 24/7 Help Line – 087 468 5547 (when dialed from Ireland)

Accommodation Lake Hotel Lake Shore, Muckross Road, Killarney, Tel: +353 (0)64 663 1035 Email: [email protected]

Galway Bay Hotel The Promenade, Salthill, Tel: +353 (0)91 520 520 Email: [email protected]

Coach Company Kennedy Coaches Main Street, Annascaul, County Kerry Tel: +353 (0)66 915 7106 Email: [email protected] Driver: TBA

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Day 1: Saturday 20th August 2016

12:00pm Meet with your experienced Irish coach driver and depart Clontarf Castle.

2:15pm Stop in Cashel and visit the Rock of Cashel, a spectacular group of medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale.

3:45pm Depart and travel the short journey south to the town of Cahir.

4:15pm Arrive at Cahir Castle, an imposing 13th – 15th century structure, built by Conor O’Brien. The castle retains its impressive keep, tower and much of its original defensive structure.

5:15pm Depart and venture towards Killarney, a town that is set in the midst of sublime scenery.

7:30pm Arrive at your picturesque lakeside hotel for check-in.

8:00pm Dinner at hotel.

Overnight at the Lake Hotel, Killarney, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

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Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel, also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, County Tipperary. The Rock of Cashel served as the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion, though few remnants if any of the early structures survive. The majority of buildings on the current site date from the 12th and 13th centuries. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century A.D. The buildings which crown the Rock of Cashel present a mass and outline of great complexity, rivalling other sites in Western Europe. The complex has a character of its own, unique and native, and is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe. According to local lore, the Rock of Cashel originated from Devil's Bit when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock to land in Cashel.

The Cathedral, built between 1235 and 1270, is an aisle-less building of cruciform plan, having a central tower and terminating westwards in a massive residential castle. The Hall of the Vicars Choral was built in the fifteenth century. The vicars choral were laymen (sometimes minor canons) appointed to assist in chanting the cathedral services. At Cashel there were originally eight vicars choral with their own seal. This was later reduced to five honorary vicars choral who appointed singing-men as their deputies, a practice which continued until 1836. The restoration of the Hall was undertaken by the Office of Public Works as a project in connection with the European Architectural Heritage Year, 1975. It is now the building through which visitors enter the site.

In 1647, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Cashel was sacked by English Parliamentarian troops under Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin. The Irish Confederate troops there were massacred, as were the Roman Catholic clergy, including Theobald Stapleton. Inchiquin's troops also looted or destroyed many important religious artifacts.

In 1749 the main cathedral roof was removed by Archbishop Arthur Price.

The grounds around the buildings are home to an extensive graveyard, which includes a number of high crosses, such as those pictured. The entire plateau atop the rock, on which the buildings and graveyard lie, is walled. Scully's Cross, one of the largest and most famous high crosses on Cashel, originally constructed in 1867, was destroyed in 1976 when lightning struck a metal rod that ran the

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length of the cross. The remains of the top of the cross now lie at the base of the cross adjacent to the rock wall.

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Cahir Castle

Cahir underwent a series of stages of development over the centuries. The Rock on which Cahir castle stands was originally an earthen dun or fort, reputedly the residence of Badamair and the local Gaelic chief Finn MacRadamaid. Conor Na Cathrach O'Brien, King of (Limerick), is said to have built a stone fort (a cathair, from which the town name derives) to replace the earlier earthen one in the 12th century. By the late 12th century, much of Tipperary was conquered from the Irish and extensive tracts of land were granted to Theobald Walter, ancestor of the Butler family.

In 1375, the castle was granted to James, 3rd Earl of Ormond, head of the great Anglo- Norman family of the Butlers and direct descendant of Theobald Walter.

In 1543, King Henry (the 8th) made Thomas Butler Lord Baron of Cahir, as a reward for his loyalty to the Crown. Because his son died shortly after Thomas and there were no further male heirs, a nephew, Theobald Butler was given the title. It was Theobald's son, Thomas, who joined the forces of Hugh O' Brien against the English Crown.

There was actually little space for attackers on the island itself so it was difficult to storm the castle with large forces in the early days. The castle was built to be impregnable, with layers of defenses and this was very effective until the arrival of heavy cannons on the battlefields.

In 1599 the forces of Queen Elizabeth attacked when the castle garrison refused to surrender to the Earl of Essex. The artillery of the Earl of Essex did considerable damage to the castle walls in three days of siege. One of the cannon balls from this battle is preserved in the wall of the northeast tower. With the earlier siege still within living memory, in 1647 the occupants surrendered to Lord Inchiquin and three years later they abandoned the castle to without firing a shot. The Butlers, however, maintained possession following the signing of articles in the castle in 1652. The Butler family undertook major restoration work in the years between 1840 and 1846 and it was during this

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period that Cahir Cottage was built at the far end of the outer ward - a more comfortable residence than the castle.

In 1964 Cahir Castle was acquired by the Irish State following the death of the last heir. More restoration work was undertaken by the State and it is now one of the largest and best preserved castles in the country. It is most famous for its use in the film "Excalibur".

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Day 2: Sunday 21st August 2016

8:00am Enjoy breakfast at your hotel between 8:00am and 9:15am.

9:30am You will be collected by a jaunting car (horse and carriage) and taken on a magical trip through Killarney National Park.

10:15am Depart and venture out along the famous Ring of Kerry. The road winds between the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland's highest mountains, and the varied Atlantic coast. You will be amazed at the breathtaking views and you will stop for photos at the most dramatic scenes. Continue through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville – one of Charlie Chaplin’s favourite spots - pass through the colourful village of Sneem and pause at Moll's Gap and Ladies View to view the Three Lakes of Killarney.

1:00pm Next, visit the Skellig Experience (066 947 6306) which tells the story of the Monks that inhabited the islands during the early Christian period. You can also get lunch here (at own expense).

5:00pm Return to hotel.

Overnight at the Lake Hotel, Killarney, Bed & Breakfast

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Killarney National park

With its three famous lakes and majestic mountain ranges, Killarney has been the inspiration of poets and painters over many centuries. The Killarney National Park is internationally renowned both for its scenic beauty and scientific interest. There are many walks and trails around Killarney ranging from a 2-hour tourist trail around the town itself to the 135 miles (215km) long distance walking route of the Kerry Way, which follows the Ring of Kerry.

Killarney National Park Educational Centre was established to fulfill an educational role within the National Park and as such it caters for a wide variety of groups and individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Its ethos is not to put forward a message of conservation as such but rather to allow people to experience some of the natural aspects of the park and conduct scientific studies where appropriate. By presenting information and providing experiences in such a way it is hoped that individuals will be made more aware of their natural environment and will be encouraged to make up their own minds about environmental and conservation issues.

The Killarney National Park Visitor Centre at Muckross House is the main Information Office and is open on a year round basis. It includes an audiovisual introduction to the Park and exhibition area. A Park Information Office is open during the Summer Months (July -September) at Torc Waterfall. Publications on sale at these offices include booklets for the self-guiding nature trails, an illustrated guide book and large scale Ordnance Survey map of the Park.

The mountainous old red sandstone uplands support large areas of blanket bog, and the remoteness and relative inaccessibility of some of these areas aids the continued survival of Ireland's only remaining wild herd of native Red Deer. In addition to this, the largest area of old-growth Oakwoods left in the country can be found on some of the lower mountain slopes, a remnant of the woodland that once covered much of Ireland.

The lowland limestone areas of the National Park also boast some rare habitats, notably a large stand of pure Yew woodland at Reenadinna on the Muckross Peninsula, which is thought to be one of only three pure Yew woods in Europe. Other significant woodlands include several large areas of swamp woodland (carr) on the shores of Lough Leane, which provide an important refuge for wildlife.

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Central to Killarney National Park however are its three lakes all inter-linked but quite different in their respective characters. The lakes support a large population of Brown Trout, as well as an annual run of Salmon, and sport angling has been a popular pastime for generations in Killarney. Noteworthy fish species include the Arctic Char and Killarney Shad.

In addition to all the mammal and fish life one would expect in an area such as this, the Park boasts a wealth of bird life, including migrant Greenland White-fronted Geese, which spend the winter months on some of the bogs in the area. Several unusual invertebrate species are also to be found in the Killarney valley, such as the Northern Emerald Dragonfly, which is found nowhere else in the country. Noteworthy plant species include include the Strawberry Tree and the insectivorous Greater Butterwort.

Visitors can enjoy various day trips around the area that can be booked through IrishTourism.com. Amongst these tours is the Gap of Dunloe Tour. Travel in a modern coach to Kate Kearney’s Cottage. If you are feeling energetic, you can walk the 7 miles (11km) to the shore of the Upper Lake at Gearhameen. Alternatively you can take a leisurely ride in a pony-and-trap and relax while you enjoy the magnificent view en route.

Enjoy your picnic lunch (your hotel or guesthouse may prepare this for you) amidst the finest scenery in the world. Snacks are also available at Lord Brandon’s Cottage. Afterwards the Gap boats wait to steer you through the Long Range to the famous Meeting of the Waters. Here you shoot the Rapids and go through Lough Leane to , where your transport awaits to take you back to Killarney.

Apart from an organized tour, you can of course explore the area around Killarney, and the town itself, at your own pace; there are mapped out nature trails through the National Park ranging from just 1/2 mile (1km) to 2.5 miles (4km). Ross Castle, which has recently been restored and offers an interesting insight into the life of a local Chieftain and his family in the 14th century, is accessible on foot as is the impressive Puigin designed St. Mary’s Cathedral. Jaunting car rides from the town centre offer a relaxing way of covering the same ground and they will wait while you take the Ross Castle tour.

Ross Castle may be considered a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. The date of its foundation is uncertain but it was probably built in the late 15th century by one of the O’Donoghue Ross chieftains. It is surrounded by a fortified bawn, its curtain walls defended by circular flanking towers, two of which remain. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle sometime in the middle of the 18th

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century. The castle contains 16th and 17th century furniture. Access for people with disabilities to the ground floor only by prior arrangement.

You could take a short cruise to Innisfallen, an island of 21 acres (8.5 hectares) approximately 1 mile (1.5km) from the shore off Ross Castle. Near the landing stage are the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, which was founded about 600AD by Saint Faithlean (Fallen).

Take a drive or a jaunting car ride to visit Muckross Abbey and Muckross House & Gardens located 3 miles from the town centre on the Kenmare Road. 19th century Muckross House is now a museum of Kerry folk life and has an excellent craft centre in its basement.

Muckross House & Gardens

Muckross House is a magnificent Victorian mansion completed in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert. It is the last in a series of large houses constructed by the Herbert family on their lands at Muckross. The location of the House is spectacular, close to the eastern shore of Muckross Lake and set beneath the impressive backdrop of Torc and Mangerton Mountains.

The Herberts sold the estate in 1899, and after a short ownership by Lord Ardilaun (of the Guinness brewing family) it was purchased by the wealthy American William Bowers Bourn in 1910 as a wedding present for his daughter Maud and son-in-law Arthur Vincent. After the premature death of Maud, the house and estate were donated to the Nation by Arthur Vincent and his parents-in-law in 1932.

In the mid 1960's the house, which has since been magnificently restored, was opened to the public, and today is one of the best known visitor attractions in the country, attracting upwards of 250,000 visitors each year. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed gentry while downstairs in the basement the visitor can experience the working conditions of the servants

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employed in the house. The House is also now home to a number of skilled craftworkers who can be viewed using the traditional skills of weaving, bookbinding and pottery. In addition to the House itself, Muckross Gardens are famed for their beauty and can be visited at any time.

Close to the House are the Muckross Traditional Farms, a working farm project that has recreated the Irish rural life of the 1930's, prior to electrification. Here visitors can see and experience the homes and lifestyles of both wealthy and poor farmers, and watch farming being carried out the traditional way, using horses in the fields for tilling, harvesting and so on. Traditional cooking also takes place in some of the houses here, and visitors can chat to the people of the house as well as to the farmers as they go about their daily work. You will visit three separate working farms (small, medium and large), each complete with animals, poultry and horse drawn farm machinery.

You will also visit a labourer's cottage, a carpenter's workshop, a harness maker and a blacksmith's forge. The interiors of the dwelling houses are furnished in the traditional manner, and include such items as the dresser, settlebed and mealbin.

Approximately 1 mile (2km) further along the Kenmare Road you will find the Torc Waterfall, one of the finest waterfalls in Ireland. The short walk up to the waterfall along a winding footpath affords splendid views of the Lake area.

As you will gather, there is no shortage of things to do and sites to visit in and around Killarney. For this reason it does become busy in the high season months of July and August. However, the town really comes to life at this time and offers great entertainment in the evenings, particularly in the form of traditional music sessions in the local pubs.

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Ring of Kerry

Admire breathtaking vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches on Ireland’s most popular drive, the 100- mile Ring of Kerry.

The tour around the Ring of Kerry starts in Killarney. The road winds through dense forests along the lakes of Killarney National Park up to Molly’s Gap. On the way, it’s worth to stop at Ladies View and overview the Killarney lakescape. The Rink of Kerry route passes through several fascinating towns and villages. One of them is Kenmare, a market town, located in the sheltered Kenmare Bay, exactly at the peak between the Iveragh and the Beara peninsula. As you drive along the amazing narrow harpin route, you cross the Blackwater Bridge, under which the wildly roaring Blackwater River falls into the valley. The next stop is Sneem village, popular between anglers and sailors. Village is famous for the Breakfast Black Pudding, said to be the best in entire Ireland. As you continue the route, you pass rugged coastal sections with small sandy beaches and uprising mountains. The next stop is the Staigue Fort, one of Ireland’s biggest and best preserved ringforts. Following along the one of Ireland’s scenically most beautiful coastal sections, you arrive to Waterville, favourite holiday spot of Charlie Chaplin that now has a statue of him to commemorate his love of the place. At this point, you could turn up to ‘Kerry Highlands’ or drive along the Skellig Ring. Passing through the popular holiday resort Ballinskellings the Skellig Ring leads to the gorgeous St Finan’s Bay and onwards along the steeply increasing Coomanaspig Pass down to Portmagee. You should visit the Skellig Island by taking a boat from the little fishing village Portmagee. Furthermore, cross the bridge at Portmagee, and explore the breathtaking Valentia Islands, famous for the Geokaun Mountain and Fogher Cliffs, Skellig Experience Centre, Glanleam House and Gardens, and the Lighthouse. On the journey back to Killarney, you will pass the towns of Cahersiveen and Killorglin. Cahersiveen has two well-preserved ring forts and ruins of Ballycarbery Castle. Killorglin is known for a three-day fair, named’ Puck Fair’, that annually takes place in August and attracts a vast numbers of visitors. The highlight of the event is the coronation of a goat as a king- ‘King Puck’, that has to rest three long days at the market place, until he’s released again. The origin of the festival goes back to the pre-Christian times and is linked with the Celtic feast Lughnasa, the harvest festival. The tour ends in Killarney that brings to the guests the warmest of welcomes.

The complete list of major attractions along the Ring of Kerry includes: Gap of Dunloe, Bog Village, Rossbeigh Beach, Cahirciveen Heritage Centre, Derrynane House, Skellig Experience, Staigue Fort,

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Kenmare Lace, Molls Gap, Ladies View, Torc Waterfall, Muckross House, The Blue Pool, Ross Castle, Ogham Stones, St Mary’s Cathedral, Muckross Abbey, Franciscan Friary, Kellegy Church, O’Connell Memorial Church, Sneem Church and Cemetery, Skellig Michael, Beehive Cells and the Stone Pillars marking an important grave.

There is also an established walking path named The Kerry Way, which takes its own route, and a signposted Ring of Kerry cycling path which uses older quieter roads where possible. The Kerry Way roughly follows the scenic driving route of the Ring of Kerry.

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Day 3: Monday 22nd August 2016

7:15am Enjoy breakfast at hotel before ensuring that you luggage is packed and loaded for departure.

8:00am Depart hotel for today’s tour.

9:30am Disembark the coach and stroll around the village of Adare, which is a designated Heritage Town due to its origin as a village on the Dunraven Estate. The streets are lined with original thatched cottages which were built in the 1820’s by Lord Dunraven and the building of the Gothic style Adare manor began in 1831.

10:30am Continue your journey.

11:15am Visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, one of Ireland’s most complete and authentic medieval fortress; it contains furnishings, tapestries and works of art from the 15th century. Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishing, tapestries and works.

1:15pm Enjoy a succulent lunch (at own expense) in the nearby J.P. Clarkes Country Pub.

2:45pm Depart and journey north.

4:00pm Visit the Cliffs of Moher which are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south- western edge of the Burren. The cliffs rise 120 meters (394ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head, and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just North of O’Brien’s Tower. O’Brien Tower was built in 1835 by Cornelius O’ Brien, a descendant of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland.

5:00pm Depart and continue to the arty and bohemian city of Galway.

7:00pm Arrive at your hotel for check-in.

Overnight at the Galway Bay Hotel, Galway, Bed & Breakfast Basis

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Adare

Situated in the south west of Ireland, Adare is regarded as being Ireland's prettiest and most picturesque village, and is a haven for those wishing to escape and unwind taking in its medieval surroundings. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the , Adare is steeped in history dating back to 1200ad. Adare has been the subject of many rebellions, wars and conquests, leaving behind a legacy of historical monuments. In the early 19th century, the Earl of Desmond, laid the plan for the existing streets and townhouses of Adare. These lands and dwellings were rented to tenants, under various agreements, some of which still exist today.

Today, Adare village is an architectural wealth of scenic beauty. The mix of centuries is blended into everyday life as some of the thatched cottages are home to arts and crafts shops. The main street of Adare is punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins and the picturesque village park.

Adare's streets are lined with original thatched cottages survived for hundreds of years. Some of the cottages are kept by local restaurants and Arts & Crafts shops, but many are still privately owned. Take a stroll through Adare's streets and become transported to a time in Ireland's history.

The Augustinian Priory Just a short walk from the village towards Limerick City on the banks of the river Maigue, the priory was founded by the Earls of Kildare in the early 14th century. It became and remained the home of the Augustinian Order until they were driven out, in the mid 15th century. The Priory was suppressed and badly damaged during the reign of King Henry VIII. Repaired and renovated during the early part of the 19th century, the building is regarded as a fine example of what a mediaeval Irish churches looked like. The building has been used as the local Protestant Church () since the early 19th century.

The Franciscan Friary Crossing the bridge over the river Maigue to the Adare Manor Golf Club, the friary is a characteristic example of the monasteries erected in Ireland during the 14th and 15th centuries. It was founded in

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1464 by Thomas, the 7th Earl of Kildare, for the "Franciscan Friars of the Strict Observance". Although now in ruins, the remaining walls show a remarkable outline of its former elegance.

The Trinitarian Priory Situated next to the Adare Heritage Center , this is the only recorded Trinitarian monastery in Ireland. It was originally built by the Fitzgerald Clan for the Trinitarian order of monks in the early 13th century. This order of friars was founded in , following the Holy-Land Crusades, with the main purpose of raising ransom money in order to rescue Christian captives taken by the Moors, during the crusade wars. It is believed that the Trinitarian monks who came to Adare may have come from Scotland. The monastery was suppressed and badly damaged during the reign of King Henry VIII. Repaired and enlarged in the mid 19th century, the building is, today, called the "Holy Trinity Abbey" and is used as the local Roman Catholic Church. A visit to this historical and beautiful building is highly recommended.

The Desmond Castle This castle was erected with an ancient ring-fort, around the early part of the 13th century. It became a strategic fortress during the following turbulent years. It was the property of the Earls of Kildare for nearly 300 years until the rebellion in 1536, when it was forfeited and granted to the Earls of Desmond who gave the castle its present name.

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Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Bunratty Castle is a large tower house in County Clare, Ireland. The name Bunratty, Bun Ráite (or possibly, Bun na Ráite) in Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. This river, alongside the castle, flows into the nearby Shannon estuary.

Bunratty Castle is now a very popular tourist attraction. The interior has been furnished by Lord Gort with tapestries and artefacts from various eras in the castle's history. Some of the sights include the 'great hall', dungeons and four towers with spiral stairwells. Medieval-style banquets are held twice every evening in the great hall. The castle is also a popular attraction for wedding parties from the closest main city of Limerick hoping to make their special day even better with the beautiful surroundings.

Alongside the castle is an extensive folk park, particularly popular with families, tourists and schools. This features reconstructions of historical cottages and buildings, recreating the general feel of the 19th century with a period style village main street. Old tools, furniture and artefacts are displayed, with the village kept alive by some inhabited shops, an old home bakery and peat fires in cottages.

Key events in Bunratty's history include:

The first dwellings to occupy the site, in 970 were part of a Viking trading camp. In 1270, Robert De Muscegros built the first defensive fortress, known as a motte and bailey castle. These lands were later granted to Thomas de Clare, who built the first stone structure on the site. At this time Bunratty town had grown to a population of 1,000.

In 1318, Thomas's son Richard de Clare, Steward of Forest of Essex (new holder of the castle) was killed in the Battle of Dysert O'Dea during the Irish Bruce Wars 1315-1318.

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The castle and town were completely destroyed by the victorious O’Brien’s. In 1332, soon after being restored for the King of , the castle was once again razed by the Irish Chieftains of Thomond under the O' Brien’s and the McNamara’s. In 1353, after lying in ruins for 21 years, it was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Rokeby, but was almost immediately attacked again by the Irish and was held by Irish hands thereafter. The present structure was completed by the McNamara family around 1425 but 50 years later was in the hands of the O’Brien’s, the most powerful clan in Munster.

In 1646, during the Irish Confederate Wars, Barnaby O'Brien, the Earl of Thomond, allowed a large English Parliamentary garrison to land in Bunratty. The castle was besieged and taken by the forces of Confederate Ireland under Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry.

When Barnaby, or Barnabas O'Brien, 6th Earl of Thomond, left Bunratty for England in 1646 for his own safety during the Confederate wars, he was the last member of the O'Brien Clan ever to reside in Bunratty Castle. He was actually christened Brian O'Brien, after his famous ancestor Brian Boru, but being a political gymnast, he preferred a more English appellation to appease the King, and to be socially acceptable in the climate of the time.

Bunratty Castle and its lands were granted to the Studdert family. They left the castle in 1804 (allowing it to fall into disrepair), to reside in the more comfortable and modern adjacent Bunratty House built by the family. The reasons for the move are bound up in family arguments over the eldest son marrying his first cousin. In 1954 the castle was purchased and restored by the 7th Lord Gort. He re-roofed the castle, which had no longer been lived in and saved it from ruin.

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Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher (Irish: Aillte an Mhothair, lit. cliffs of the ruin, also known as the Cliffs of Coher from the Irish: Mhothair) are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south-western edge of The Burren area near Doolin, which is located in County Clare.

The cliffs rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, eight kilometers away. The cliffs boast one of Ireland's most spectacular views. On a clear day the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the valleys and hills of Connemara.

O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in 1835, as an observation tower for the hundreds of tourists that frequented the cliffs even at that date. From atop that watchtower, one can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk Mountains and the Twelve Pins to the north in Connemara, and Loop Head to the south.

Moher tower, located at Hag's Head, is a square stone ruin. It appears to be the remains of a watchtower placed during Napoleon's reign in Europe.

The cliffs consist mainly of beds of Namurian shale and sandstone, with the oldest rocks being found at the bottom of the cliffs. One can see 300 million year old river channels cutting through the base of the cliffs.

There are many animals living on the cliffs, most of them birds - 30,000 birds of 29 species. The most interesting are the famous Atlantic Puffins, which live in large colonies at isolated parts of the cliffs and on the small Goat Island. Also present are hawks, gulls, guillemots, shags, ravens and choughs.

The Cliffs of Moher are amongst the most impressive places to see in Ireland, and are widely considered to be one of Ireland's top tourist attractions.

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The "Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience" is built into a hillside approaching the Cliffs, blending naturally with the surrounding countryside. The centre is also environmentally sensitive in its use of renewable energy systems including geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, and grey water recycling. Officially opened in February 2007 having been meticulously planned and built over a 17 year period, the €32m facility features an informative array of interactive media, exploring topics such as the origin of the Cliffs in local and global geological contexts, the bird and fish life in the area, and much more.

An IMAX-type multimedia show allows visitors to experience a bird's eye view from the cliffs, as well as seeing the inside of underwater caves at the foot of the cliffs.

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Day 4: Tuesday 23rd August 2016

7:30am Breakfast at hotel between 7:30am and 8:30am.

8:45am Depart and travel west out along the awe-inspiring rugged countryside of Connemara.

10:30am Arrive at the Connemara History & Heritage Centre which is based around the restored pre-famine cottage of Dan O’Hara. Discover what life was like in Ireland during the famine period.

11:30am Depart and journey out around the Connemara Loop which offers breath-taking landscape and views.

12:15pm Visit Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle. The Benedictine nuns invite visitors to experience the Victorian atmosphere of the Abbey's restored rooms, miniature gothic church and head gardener’s house. Before taking a guided tour, enjoy lunch (at own expense) in Mitchell’s café and tea house that offers home-cooked food.

3:00pm Continue your journey.

4:15pm Visit Connemara Marble and marvel at the master craftsmen’s skills as they cut this unique stone.

5:00pm Depart and travel back towards Galway.

5:30pm Arrive at hotel.

7:00pm Transfer to McSwiggans Restaurant (at own expense) in Galway city centre where you will be dining at 7:30pm sharp.

Overnight at the Galway Bay Hotel, Galway, Bed & Breakfast Basis

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Dan O’Hara’s Visitor Centre

This award winning heritage centre is situated approximately 5 miles from Clifden - Connemara’s capital. It offers a unique insight into the history and heritage of this most beautiful part of the West. Overlooked by the majestic Twelve Ben Mountains this agri tourism enterprise incorporates a Heritage Centre and Farmhouse B&B. A multi-lingual audio-visual introduces the history of the area and tells the story of Dan O’Hara.

Dan O'Hara's homestead is built on the original site of the home of Dan from Connemara, renowned in the popular ballad all over the world. Dan O Hara lived with his wife and seven children in a cottage shadowed by the Twelve Bens. The family were self-sufficient on 8 acres of land and lived a simple but happy lifestyle. The main part of the farm was given over to the potato crop and they kept a variety of animals on the farm. Most of Dan O'Hara's land was given over to the potato crop. Its advantage was that it grew in the poorest conditions and an acre and a half would sustain five or six people for six months. Some of the crop was used to feed a pig. Potatoes along with buttermilk ensured that the population of Connemara at the time was robust and healthy although poor.

Like most people in Connemara at the time Dan O'Hara did not own the house he lived in or the land. He paid rent to the local landlord. His simple but happy lifestyle came abruptly to an end when he was evicted for non-payment of his rent. He had decided to increase the size of the windows in his house and this led to increased rent payments. He was evicted from his home and forced to emigrate. He arrived in New York, a broken man. His wife and three of his children died on the harsh sea journey and penniless and destitute he had to put the remaining children into care. He ended his days selling matches on the street far from his beloved Connemara.

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Guided tours include thatching, sheep herding, turf cutting, sheep shearing, horse shoe throwing, demonstrations on Irish Coffee Making, Bread Making and accordion player in the cottage. The tours are entertaining and educational and offer a lively commentary on the history and traditions of Connemara.

The guided tour in the tractor drawn carriage takes visitors to the hilltop view which overlooks the Roundstone Bog Complex. It is one of the largest tracts of blanket bog in Ireland. The bog began to form in Ireland approximately 7000 years ago. Prior to the formation of the bog the land was covered in forest. Today remains of the trees are found underneath the bog by turf cutters. Most of them are preserved due to the fact that there is no oxygen in the bog. Turf has been used as a fuel throughout Ireland for hundreds of years. Today the Roundstone Bog is protected by the European Union and is a Natural Heritage Area.

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Kylemore Abbey

The story of Kylemore – both Castle and Abbey – is a truly remarkable one. The twists of fate which have marked its history at crucial moments from its beginning to the present day combine to create a colourful and moving history. Kylemore is located in Connemara, in the west of Ireland and its greatest attraction is its location.

Nestled at the base of Druchruach Mountain (1,736ft) on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul, the heart of the Connemara Mountains, it is regarded as one of Ireland’s most romantic buildings. Originally built in 1867 as a romantic gift, Kylemore Abbey and the surrounding mountains and lakes are steeped in history including engineering initiatives, model farms, tragedy, royal visits, gambling debts, a hideaway during Ireland’s troubled history as well as excellence in education.

Today Kylemore Abbey and the estate are open to visitors all year and the main areas to be visited are; the Abbey, the Gothic Church, the Victorian Walled Gardens, the Craft Shop, Pottery studio, Restaurant and Tea Rooms as well as the Lake and Woodland walks.

The Castle was built by Mitchell and Margaret Henry from 1867 – to 1871. Before the arrival of the Henry’s, Connemara was a popular destination for hunting and fishing and Mitchell Henry became one of the growing number of Irish and English gentlemen who visited Connemara during the fishing season. Tradition has it that the couple visited Connemara while on their honeymoon and was enchanted by the beauty of the landscape. It was the couple’s wish someday to own a home there and

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it is said that during those visits, the Henry’s rented Kylemore Lodge, the original building on the site where they later built Kylemore Castle.

On the death of his father, a Manchester cotton merchant, and on receipt of a sizeable inheritance, Mitchell chose to abandon his career in medicine and turned to business and politics. He used the money to buy Kylemore Lodge and construct the magnificent Castle, complete with gardens, walks and woodlands which eventually covered 13,000 acres of land at a cost of little over £18,000.

The Kylemore Estate, like the rest of Connemara, was made up of mountain, lakes and bog. In keeping with his policy of improvement and advancement, Henry began reclaiming bog land almost immediately and encouraged his tenants to do likewise.

Forty years under the guiding hand of Mitchell Henry turned thousands of acres of waste land into the productive Kylemore Estate. He developed the Kylemore estate as a commercial and political experiment and the result brought material and social benefits to the entire region and left a lasting impression on the landscape and on the memory of the local people.

Mitchell Henry introduced many improvements for the locals who were recovering from the Great Irish Famine, providing work, shelter and later a school for his workers children. He represented Galway in the House of Commons for 14 years and whilst tragedy struck with the sudden death of his wife in 1874 and later his daughter, Mitchell Henry gave the tenants at Kylemore a landlord hard to be equaled not just in Connemara but throughout Ireland.

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In 1903, Mitchell sold Kylemore Castle to the Duke and Duchess of Manchester. They lived a lavish lifestyle financed by the Duchess’ wealthy father, the American businessman, Eugene Zimmerman.

The Duke and Duchess of Manchester spent only a few years at the castle. The property was heavily mortgaged and on the death of Eugene Zimmerman in 1914, the Castle was taken over by Ernest Fawke, a London banker, who installed a caretaker and land agent until a buyer was found 7 years later.

In 1920, The Irish Benedictine Nuns purchased Kylemore Castle along with 10,000 acres for a little over £45,000. Some of the lands were later purchased by the Land Commission and divided out among the tenants, and the Castle was converted into an Abbey.

The Community had originally been based in Ypres but had to leave after their Abbey was destroyed in the early days of World War I. They first took refuge in England and later in Co , before eventually settling in Kylemore in December 1920.

At Kylemore, the nuns opened an international boarding school and established a day school for local girls. They also ran a farm and guesthouse; the guesthouse was closed after a devastating fire in 1959.

Although the guest house was never reopened, the romantic setting of Kylemore Abbey has continued to attract visitors to its door. Over the years, the Nuns graciously opened the estate to the education and enjoyment of all who visit, developing excellent facilities as well as restoring and conserving the many historical features.

The Benedictine Community has released a new book ‘A Light to the World – Reflections from Kylemore Abbey’s Prayers from the heart of the beautiful Connemara Countryside…..

In the course of 100 years, the castle became a Benedictine monastery, an abbey, its life imbued with the ancient Christian traditions of prayer, meditation, hospitality and generous service, especially of the women of the region.

This book reflects the prayer of the nuns throughout the year, as they follow the unfolding liturgical cycle, parallel to the seasons. Evocative photographs from the grounds of the Abbey lead in to meditation and prayer. A selection of psalms from the daily office of the nuns gives words with which

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the reader can reach out to the Creator, responding to the stirrings in the soul inspired by personal experience of natural beauty, life and human endeavor.

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Day 5: Wednesday 24th August 2016

7:30am Breakfast at hotel between 7:30am and 8:15am before ensuring that your luggage is packed and loaded for departure.

8:30am Depart and travel east towards the heart of the country.

10:00am Visit the early Christian monastic site Clonmacnoise, founded by St. Ciaran in 545 AD, when Christianity flourished throughout Ireland. See round towers, church ruins and Celtic crosses with elaborate carvings, all in a picturesque setting on the banks of the River Shannon.

12:00pm Depart and travel further east.

1:00pm Visit the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre which relates the story of Tullamore Dew Whiskey and Irish Mist Liqueur. This is followed by a complimentary tasting of the whiskey or liqueur. There will be time to enjoy lunch (at own expense).

3:30pm Continue your journey to Dublin, where your tour ends.

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Clonmacnoise

The monastery of Clonmacnoise is situated in County Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon south of .

Clonmacnoise was founded sometime between 545 and 548 by Ciarán Mac a tSaor, a young man from Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon. Until the 9th century it had close associations with the kings of Connacht. The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century and together with Clonard it was the most famous in Ireland, visited by scholars from all over Europe. From the ninth until the eleventh century it was allied with the kings of Meath. Many of the high kings of Tara and Connacht were buried here.

Shortly after his arrival with seven companions - at the point where the major east-west land route through the bogs of central Ireland along the Eiscir Riada, an esker left by the receding glaciers of the last ice age crossed the River Shannon - Saint Ciarán met Diarmait Uí Cerbaill who helped him build the first church at the site. This was a small wooden structure and the first of many small churches to be clustered on the site. Diarmuid was to be the first man to be crowned High King of Ireland while a practising Christian. Ciarán died less than one year later of the yellow fever (Justinian Plague) and was reportedly buried under the original wooden church, now the site of the 9th century stone oratory, Temple Ciarán. Annals record that he died at the age of 33, one of the many coincidences recorded between Ciarán's life and that of Jesus Christ.

Clonmacnoise Castle

Clonmacnoise's period of greatest growth came between the 8th and 12th centuries. It was attacked frequently during these four centuries, mostly by the Irish (at least 27 times), the Vikings (at least 7 times) and Anglo-Normans (at least 6 times). The early wooden buildings began to be replaced by more durable stone structures in the 9th century, and the original population of fewer than ten men grew to perhaps 1,500 to 2,000 by the 11th century. Artisans associated with the site created some of the most beautiful and enduring artworks in metal and stone ever seen in Ireland, with the Clonmacnoise Crozier (on display in the National Museum of Ireland) and the Cross of the Scriptures representing the apex of their efforts.

In the 12th century Clonmacnoise began to decline. The reasons were varied, but without doubt the most debilitating factor was the growth of the town of Athlone to the north of the site from the late- 12th century. Athlone became the main trading town for the midlands of Ireland, the most popular route for crossing the Shannon, as well as the best-defended settlement in the region. People migrated north from Clonmacnoise to Athlone, and with the fall in population went much of the support that the site needed to survive, and former allies began to recognise the decline in the site's influence. The influx of continental religious orders such as the Franciscans, Augustinians, Benedictines, Cluniacs, etc. around the same time fed into this decline as numerous additional competitor sites began to crop

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up. Ireland's move from a monastic framework to diocesan in the twelfth century similarly disimproved the site's religious standing, as it was designated the seat of a small and impoverished diocese.

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Tullamore Dew

The origins of Tullamore Dew’s legendary Irish whiskey can be traced back to 1829 when the Tullamore Distillery was founded in Tullamore, County Offaly by Michael Molloy.

Daniel E Williams was the major influence on the development of the distillery. His initials, D-E-W, inspired the whiskey to be named ‘Tullamore Dew’ with the original slogan "Give every man his Dew" still in use today. In 1887, following the death of Mr Molloy, the distillery passed into the hands of the Daly family with Captain Bernard Daly in charge of the business. A keen sportsman, Captain Daly left the routine running of the distillery to one of his colleagues, Daniel E Williams, who eventually became general manager of the Tullamore distillery. Daniel E Williams was the major influence on the expansion and development of the distillery and his family became joint shareholders in the distillery with Captain Daly.

Enterprising Individual

Daniel E. Williams was very enterprising – he brought electricity to Tullamore in 1893. He had the distillery install the town’s first telephones and introduced motorised transport. He ran a commercial empire throughout the midlands – drinks businesses, importing tea, selling seed and grain, and a network of 26 general stores.

But there were tough times for Irish whiskey - Prohibition in America and an Economic war with Britain in the1930s didn’t help the industry. After World War II, Desmond Williams, grandson of Daniel E. Williams used modern marketing techniques and re-established Irish whiskey as a world leader.

Desmond proved as enterprising as his grandfather. In 1947, Tullamore also developed a great Irish whiskey liqueur - Irish Mist, based on an early recipe known to Ireland’s ancient chieftains. A blend of Irish whiskey, herbs and honey, the recipe disappeared in the late 17th century, only to be rediscovered in a manuscript 250 years later.

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Desmond also capitalised on the Irish coffee craze, and perhaps most importantly recognised the potential of blended whiskies. The smooth, mature and distinctive taste of Tullamore Dew can be attributed to his foresight.

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Thank you for choosing Irish Tourism Group - We hope that you have a safe and pleasant journey home.

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Is mise le meas

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