Travel to Ireland with Ken O’Malley
Dublin born Ken O’Malley is “widely regarded as the finest Irish folk singer/songwriter in the United States today”. Return with him to his native Ireland where he has hand picked some very special tour stops and will be personally participating as your guide to bring the history, culture and music of Ireland to life as only he can. Participants can also look forward to live musical performances and other special experiences that will add up to a unique and memorable trip.
Ken O’Malley’s Ireland tour dates are April 14 to 23, 2017. The tour includes Kerry, Skibereen, Westport, Connemara and, of course, Dublin as well as so much more! Full itinerary on reverse side.
For further information contact [email protected] (310) 569-1062 KEN O’MALLEY IRELAND TOUR APRIL 14—23, 2017
April 14th Departure from US to Dublin, Ireland: Group departure from LAX; “ Land Only” group will meet us in the AM.
April 15th Arrival in Dublin: From Dublin Airport we board our luxury coach and proceed to the 18th century Shelburne Lodge in the picturesque town of Kenmare, a small town in the south of County Kerry. Kenmare is the anglicized form of Ceann Mara meaning "head of the sea", referring to the head of Kenmare Bay. Kenmare is famous for it’s seafood restaurants and music pubs and we will spend three nights at the Shelburne Lodge, a charming guesthouse, renowned for it’s character and wonderful Irish breakfasts. Constructed in the mid-1700s, it was the original house in the Kenmare area of the Petty-Fitzmaurice family. Wil- liam Petty-Fitzmaurice (1737-1805), also known as Lord Shelburne, commissioned the design of the town of Kenmare which was completed in 1775. We will go into town for dinner that evening.
April 16th, Kinsale, Mizen Head, Skibbereen and Bantry Bay: We will tour the beautiful countryside of West Cork and travel to Kinsale, one of Ireland’s famous culinary centers and historically remembered for the Battle of Kinsale, one of the most important battles in Irish history which was fought on Christmas Eve morning 1601 and ended the old Gaelic rule of Ireland. We will visit the Famine graveyard in Skibbereen en route to the Mizen Head lighthouse station at Ireland’s most southwesterly point where it stretches out dramatically into the swirling Atlantic Ocean, amidst sea cliffs and crashing waves where it has stood strong against the forces of nature for over 100 years. Today, there is an award-winning maritime museum near the signal station to extol its epic past as a seafarerʼs lifesaver. We will return to Kenmare, driving through the town of Bantry, a lively market town at the head of Bantry Bay.
April 17th, The Ring of Kerry: The Ring of Kerry is a scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula in West Kerry. It’s 110 mile -long, circular route that takes in rugged and verdant coastal landscapes starting and finishing in Killarney, and also passes through fine towns such as Glenbeigh, Caherciveen, Waterville, Sneem and Kenmare. Skellig Michael, a rocky island with an abandoned 7th-century Christian monastery, is a major destination point, and has been recently included in the latest and upcoming “Star Wars” films. Weather permitting we may have a good view of the island from our coach.
April 18th, North to Westport, Co. Mayo: From Kenmare we drive northwest to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, seven hundred feet at the highest point and stretching for five miles along the Atlantic coast of County Clare. On a clear day one can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, as well as the Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk mountains in Connemara, Loop Head to the south and the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands in Kerry. OʼBrienʼs Tower stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors for hundreds of years. We travel north to our second destination, the beautiful architecturally designed town of Westport. The town was built in 1780 to house the population of workers and their families on the local estate of Lord Sligo. We will have a group dinner in our hotel when we arrive.
April 19th, Connemara, Maum Turk Mountains, Kylemore Abbey: On to Croagh Patrick, the famous mountain where Saint Patrick fasted for forty days and throughout history has had pilgrimages to the summit. Though we will not climb the mountain, we will visit the Famine memorial just across the road next to Murrisk Abbey, where my ancestor the great Pirate Queen of the West of Ireland, Grace OʼMalley was baptized around 1530. Next we visit the wild countryside of Connemara, by the lakes of Delphi, Ashleigh Falls, Killery Harbor and out to Kylemore Abbey, once a private girlsʼ school run by the nuns of the Benedictine Order and recently taken over by the University of Notre Dame. The Abbey was originally built as a home by a wealthy English merchant in 1867 and took 100 men four years to build. We return to Westport in time for some shopping and enjoy the many wonderful restaurants and pubs in town.
April 20th, Achill Island, the Atlantic Drive: Achill Island is the largest island off the coast of Ireland, though connected by a bridge. We will visit the old Famine village and travel along the awesome Atlantic Drive. Though the island is sparsely populated, it still has a vibrant community. Some may wish to take a break on this day and relax in the hotel, enjoy the Spa, or perhaps stroll around the town’s lovely shops, and points of interest.
April 21st, Dublin City: We leave Westport and drive directly across country to Dublin, where we will enjoy our final two days in Ireland. We arrive at our city center hotel in the afternoon in time for a stroll in the neighborhood; there are numerous restaurants in the vicinity for dinner.
April 22nd, Dublin City: Our final full day in Ireland, we will have a chance to tour the city or walk the lovely tree lined streets adjacent to our hotel. The National Art Gallery, the National History Museum, Government buildings, Saint Stephenʼs Green, Merrion Square and the very popular Grafton Street, a pedestrian corridor with Irelandʼs famous shops and boutiques, restaurants and street performers are all within a short walk. Just a little further “into town” is the area known as Temple Bar, which is somewhat similar to Bourbon Street in New Orleans. We will have a dinner together in the evening to celebrate our new friends and experiences and, of course, there will be music. . .
April 23, back to the USA: We have a final Irish breakfast in our hotel and then return to Dublin airport for our trip home.
COST FOR LAND ONLY: $2000 (per person, double occupancy) or $2400 for solo traveler. ADD AIRFARE: Round trip air from Los Angeles add $900. INCLUDES: Full Irish Breakfast daily at each hotel; Dinner April 18 and 22.