Columbus East HS Band

of Columbus, IN SOUTHERN

Cork St. Patrick's Day Parade , Mizen Head, and Bunratty Medieval Banquet March 15 - 22, 2019

Friday, March 15 Departure ROCK OF CASHEL TRANSFER TO CHICAGO Possibly the most photographed site in Ireland, the Rock of Board coaches for the transfer to Chicago O'Hare International Cashel towers over the town of Cashel from its perch on a Airport. 200-foot high outcrop of limestone. Once the seat of the Kings of Munster. St . Patrick visited the rock in 450 AD, while Brian FLIGHT DEPARTURE Boru was crowned the first high King of Ireland here in the Board the plane on an International flight to Dublin, Ireland. tenth century. Granted to the church in the twelfth century, by the O'Brien clan, today the impressive stone walls enclose a Saturday, March 16 Arrival/ round tower, a cathedral, a twelfth century Romanesque FLIGHT ARRIVAL chapel and high crosses. The Vicars Choral has been recently Upon deplaning, proceed to Irish Customs & Passport Control. restored and its basement houses a small museum of artefacts Once you have cleared customs, proceed to baggage claim to found on the site. One of the leading visitor attractions in retrieve your bag. Meet as a group inside baggage claim. Ireland, in 2011 it was visited by Queen Elizabeth II on her Notify your Chaperone if there is any damage to your bag. historic first visit to the . Once all bags and personnel are accounted for, depart as a CASTLE group for the Coach Park. Attracting visitors from all over the world, is WELCOME TO IRELAND! situated in Blarney village, 8 km from Cork city. An ancient Welcome to Eire - known in the English language as Ireland! stronghold of the McCarthy's, Lords of , it is one of Ireland is the second largest island in Europe. It lies to the Ireland's oldest and most historic castles, and one of the northwest of Continental Europe with the island of Great strongest fortresses in Munster. Built in 1446 , Blarney Castle Britain lying to the east. Politically it is divided into the is famous for its , the Stone of Eloquence, which Republic of Ireland, a sovereign state occupying five-sixths of is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of the island, and Northern Ireland, a part of the United eloquence on all those who kiss it. Many legends tell the story Kingdom, occupying the northeastern sixth of the island. The of the Stone, but why not kiss it and find out the truth behind name 'Ireland' derives from the name É riu (in modern Irish, the legend. The Castle gardens covering 60 acres of land are Éire) with the addition of the Germanic word 'land'. The under constant change and over the past few years, a water population of the island is slightly under 6 million (2006), with garden, fern garden and poison garden have been developed just over 4.2 million in the Republic of Ireland. The island's and are all open to visitors. lush vegetation, a product of its mild climate and frequent but LUNCH soft rainfall, earns it the nickname " Emerald Isle". The island's Meal money will be provided for lunch in the area. (15 Euros) area is 32,591 square miles. Irish is the national language of the Republic of Ireland and its first official language, although TRANSFER TO CORK it is spoken fluently by less than a tenth of its people. English, Cork City is Ireland's third largest city after Dublin and Belfast which is spoken by nearly everyone, is described as the and has always been an important seaport. It began on an second official language. The Capital of the Republic of Ireland island in the swampy estuary of the River Lee ( the name is Dublin and the country consists of 26 counties. The official Corcaigh means a marsh), and gradually climbed up the steep currency is the Euro. Céad Míle Fáilte - a Hundred Thousand banks on either side. Welcomes! DINNER AT THE HOTEL A full Irish dinner will be provided at the hotel.

OVERNIGHT IN CORK

Sunday, March 17 Cork Parade Performance

Music Travel Consultants Trip Number: 1903-2-54 7/31/2018 BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL TRANSFER TO KILLARNEY A full Irish Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Board the coaches for the transfer to Killarney.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE DINNER IN THE AREA Today the Columbus East High School Olympian Spirit Euros will be provided for dinner at your leisure. (25 Euros) Marching Band will perform in the Cork St. Patrick's Day Parade. OVERNIGHT IN KILLARNEY

BOXED LUNCH A boxed lunch will be provided after the parade. Tuesday, March 19 Killarney VILLAGE OF KINSALE BREAKFAST Originally a medieval fishing port, historic Kinsale is one of the A full Irish Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. most picturesque, popular and historic towns on the south west coast of Ireland. Two 17th-century fortresses overlook The Ring of Kerry (166km) is the most famous and panoramic the River Bandon: the vast, star-shaped Charles Fort to the route in Ireland. The astonishing beauty of this large southeast, and the smaller James Fort on the river's opposite peninsula, Iveragh, comes from the great diversity of its bank. Enjoy Kinsale's beautiful setting; its long waterfront, scenery, which offers incessant contrasts. En route around the yacht-filled harbour, narrow winding streets and brightly Ring, take in spectacular scenery - mountains, peat bogs, painted galleries, shops and houses. lakes and magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean as one DINNER IN THE AREA travels along the coast road. Leaving Killarney pass through Euros will be provided for dinner at your leisure. (25 Euros) Killorglin, famous for its Puck Fair, then to Glenbeigh where the cliff road affords panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula OVERNIGHT IN CORK and Dingle Bay. Continuing to Cahirciveen, you'll pass the birthplace of our National hero, Daniel O'Connell. Next, continue on through peat bogs to the town of Waterville. Monday, March 18 Killarney Continue to Sneem Village, famous for its brightly coloured BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL houses. The road then continues through the mountains to A full Irish Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Molls Gap and Ladies View with superb views of the famous .Molls' Gap is a spectacular photographic MIZEN HEAD SIGNAL STATION viewing point on the famous Ring of Kerry Tour. The visitor is Mizen Head Irish Lights Signal Station is located at Ireland’s presented with a magnificent view of Black Valley. Close by is most southwesterly point, at the end of the Mizen Peninsula, the famous Ladies View viewing point with gives a different where the currents meet from the west and south coasts and perspective of this magnificent countryside, with the 3 Lakes where waves from the mid-Atlantic crash into the land. Mizen of Killarney all surrounded by the Kerry Mountains. Ladies Head Fog Signal Station was sanctioned in 1906 by the Irish View received its name from Queen Victoria, who was so Lights Board to combat the high loss of life and shipping on impressed with the view that she insisted that her the rocks. Until 1993 the station was manned by three ladies-in-waiting should also visit here. keepers; in April 1993 the station was automated. In 1992 Mizen Tourism Co-operative Society Ltd., a community rural KISSANE SHEEP FARM development initiative, was formed to create a visitor Set in the spectacular scenery of Molls Gap on the Ring of attraction, ‘Mizen Vision’, in the former Keepers’ Quarters . In Kerry, Kissane Sheep Farm is a traditional, working sheep farm the period 2002 to 2007, a new section to the Visitor Centre with approximately 1.000 mountain sheep and hundreds of was built and the Signal Station was refurbished. In October lambs. The farm is run by John and Anne Kissane, as it has 2009 Mizen Bridge was closed for demolition and been run by generations of the family for the last 150 years. reconstruction for 18 months and it reopened in March 2011. In May 2005, the farm was opened for visitors to enjoy and to Mizen is a signature Key Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic learn about sheep farming in Ireland. Groups and individuals Way. Visitors can dare to cross the iconic Bridge high above can visit the farm and enjoy its activities such as Sheepdog the gorge; watch for seals and their pups in the swell below; demonstrations, bottle feeding the orphan (pet ) lambs in experience the solitude of the keepers’ lives and the elemental season, Marked Mountain Walks and a Puzzle Walk and power of the restless Atlantic where the ocean currents swirl; Treasure Trail. It has a small tea/coffee area and toilet laugh with exhilaration into the fresh salt-laden sea air; be facilities and coach and car parking. inspired by the majesty (pull ) of the endless seascape and the breath-taking views, and scan the ocean for whales and dolphins. Mizen Head Visitor Centre is three experiences: a dynamic Visitor Centre,the Mizen Head Signal Station and On The Way, where paths lead from the Visitor Centre above to the Signal Station below, a ten minute walk. There are four new paths along the way: Sea Arch, Bridge View, Dunlough View and Derrick Path. There is a café, gift shop and playground.

LUNCH Meal money will be provided for lunch in the area. (15 Euros)

Music Travel Consultants Trip Number: 1903-2-54 7/31/2018 MUCKROSS ABBEY SHANNON FERRIES The Franciscan friary of Irrelagh, now known as Muckross Sail on the Shannon Car Ferry from Tarbert to Killimer en Abbey was founded for the Observatine Franciscans about route to your hotel. 1448 by Daniel McCarthy Mor. The friars remained in BUNRATTY MEDIEVAL BANQUET occupation at Muckross at least intermittently and despite the , was built in the 15th century by the Earl of dissolution of the monasteries until Cromwellian times. The Thomond and stands on the banks of the Rathy River. For present well-preserved ruins include a church with a wide, over 40 years the ladies of the Castle, aided and abetted by square tower and fine windows, and a vaulted cloister with an the Earl's Butler, have welcomed guests from all over the arcade of arches around a square courtyard. In the middle of world to join them at The Earl's Banquet. The evening begins the courtyard grows an ancient yew tree, said traditionally to with a mead reception in the Great Hall of the castle, then be as old as the Abbey. Muckross Abbey was the burial place downstairs to enjoy a four course meal with red & white wine. of local chieftains, and in the 17 th and 18th centuries, the This is followed by entertainment by the world renowned three Gaelic poets, Geoffrey O’Donoghue, Aodhagan Bunratty Castle Entertainers accompanied by harp and violin. O’Rathaille and Eoghan Rua O’Suilleabhain. The graveyard in the grounds surrounding the Abbey is still in use with a OVERNIGHT IN SHANNON number of burials there each year.

LUNCH Thursday, March 21 Dublin Meal money will be provided for lunch in the area. (15 Euros) BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL DINNER IN KILLARNEY A full Irish Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. Euros will be provided for dinner at your leisure. (25 Euros) DUBLIN CITY CENTRE OVERNIGHT IN KILLARNEY Enjoy free time and shopping on Grafton and Nassau Streets this afternoon in Dublin City Centre.

Wednesday, March 20 Shannon Dublin is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. It is BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL located near the midpoint of Ireland's east coast, at the mouth A full Irish Breakfast will be provided at the hotel. of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. Founded as a Viking settlement over a thousand years ago, JAUNTING CAR TOUR Dublin has been Ireland's primary city for most of the island's became Ireland's first National Park in history since medieval times. Today, it is an economic, 1932 when the Muckross Estate was presented to the Nation administrative and cultural centre for the island of Ireland and by Senator Arthur Vincent the owner of . has one of the fastest growing populations of any European Situated in South-west Ireland, close to the most westerly capital city! point in Europe, the National Park covers over 10,000 hectares LUNCH of mountain, moorland, woodland, waterways, parks and Meal money will be provided for lunch in the area. (15 Euros) gardens. A major geological boundary occurs within the Park, and this, in combination with the climatic influence of the Gulf GUIDED WALKING TOUR (OPTIONAL) Stream and the wide range of altitudes in the Park, gives rise An optional guided walking tour is available of Dublin's City to an unusual and varied ecology. Step aboard a jaunting car Centre to include the Molly Malone Statue, Ha'Penny Bridge, and discover areas of the National Park that you might not the and more. Or, travelers may enjoy additional otherwise visit. Relax aboard a jaunting car as your Jarvey free time in the area. (driver) takes you through the magnificent scenery of Killarney ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL National Park. Built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition Ross Castle may be considered a typical example of the has it Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages. The The parish church of Saint Patrick on this site was granted date of its foundation is uncertain but it was probably built in collegiate status in 1191 , and raised to cathedral status in the late 15 th century by one of the ODonoghue Ross 1224. The present building dates from 1220 . The Cathedral is chieftains. It is surrounded by a fortified bawn, its curtain today the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (a walls defended by circular flanking towers, two of which church of the Anglican communion). St Patrick’s is Gothic in remain. Much of the bawn was removed by the time the style and its splendid interior is adorned with funeral Barrack building was added on the south side of the castle monuments, such as The Boyle Family Memorial and the grave sometime in the middle of the 18 th century. The castle of Dean Jonathan Swift ( author of Gulliver’s Travels). Swift contains 16th and 17th century oak furniture. was dean here until his death in 1745 . The Chancel has ornate stained-glass windows, and spectacular choir stalls, once used Today's visit will be and exterior visit only and no group by the knights of St Patrick, adjoin the Altar. The massive west admission is included due to logistics. towers, houses a large peal of bells whose ringing tones are so LUNCH much part of the character of Dublin. Meal money will be provided for lunch in the area. (15 Euros)

TRANSFER TO SHANNON Board the coaches for the transfer to Shannon.

Music Travel Consultants Trip Number: 1903-2-54 7/31/2018 DINNER AT ABBEY TAVERN - HOWTH The Abbey Tavern hosts the original " Traditional Irish Night" which features traditional Irish music from world famous Abbey Tavern singers and musicians with a lively performance of music, song and the very best of Irish dancing. The evening has been running in Howth since the early 1960 's and the venue has welcomed thousands of guests from around the globe to its authentic Irish dinner and entertainment night.

OVERNIGHT IN DUBLIN

Friday, March 22 Departure BREAKFAST AT THE HOTEL A full Irish Breakfast will be provided at the hotel.

ARRIVE TO DUBLIN AIRPORT

FLIGHT DEPARTURE Board the plane on an International flight to Chicago.

FLIGHT ARRIVAL Flight arrival in Chicago. Welcome Home to the USA!

TRANSFER TO COLUMBUS After gather your luggage and instruments, board the coaches for the ride back to Columbus.

ARRIVE BACK HOME Arrive back at school after an awesome to trip to the Republic of Ireland.

Music Travel Consultants Trip Number: 1903-2-54 7/31/2018