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Go West Tour Itinerary

Monday: Arrival in Dublin, Ireland Welcome to Ireland! You arrive in Dublin and check in to your hotel in the heart of the city center.

If you have time, check out some of the excellent tours of the city and sample some of Dublin’s unique bars and restaurants. Then off to bed with you for a good night’s sleep, for tomorrow begins what we hope will be one of your best experiences yielding a lifetime of happy memories!

Tuesday: Day 1 – Dublin to Inishmore () Highlights: City, Chartered flight to Inishmore with scenic flight of all three Aran Islands, Tour of Inishmore, Iron Age fort of Dun Aengus

Meet your guide and your trip participants and begin your Irish adventure. First up you’ll literally “go west” out of Dublin’s fair city to the beautiful old town center of Galway. One of the most culturally rich places in Ireland, Galway is known for its vibrant festival atmosphere. You’ll have free time to explore Galway’s myriad of back streets and delight in the many colorful cafes, stores, and pubs.

After lunch in Galway, you’ll head west along the coastline to the small community of where you’ll hop aboard a chartered plane for a short flight to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inishmore. En route, your flight is extended for a scenic fly-over over all three of the Aran Islands. With panoramic views of the islands, you can’t help but be captivated.

Your flight lands on Inishmore, a renowned refuge of old Irish culture and heralded for its stunning natural beauty. With native Irish speakers and miles of stone walled fields, it’s also incredibly rich in archeological history.

A local guide will take you to the island’s best sights with time to explore the dramatic Iron Age fort, Dun Aengus. This ancient fort, one of the best examples of its kind in Europe, is perched atop a huge sheer cliff. Afterwards, relax at your lovely guesthouse in the center of town and the night is yours to explore more or check out the local pubs for music, food and fun!

Wednesday: Day 2 – Inishmore (Aran Islands) to Roundstone Highlights: Aughnanure Castle, Cong, Connemara Mountains, Roundstone

After a hearty Irish breakfast, you’ll take the return chartered flight to the mainland and journey further into to discover Aughnanure Castle, the strongest bastion of the O'Flaherty clan and one of the west’s best-kept secrets. The boisterous and rebellious O'Flaherty's controlled most of the surrounding area from the six stories of this 15th Century Tower House Castle.

Next you circumnavigate the famous fishing lake, Lough Corrib, to the wonderful town of Cong. Once the setting for the movie “The Quite Man,” this colorful town has abundant charms, including the ruins of an Augustinian Abbey and a Celtic Cross. And just a short walk beyond the town, you find wonderful views of the fairy-talesque Ashford Castle.

Leaving Cong, you’ll take the most scenic route through Connemara's wild and beautiful mountain landscape by lakes and bogland to your overnight town of Roundstone. This small fishing town is a great place to truly get in touch with rural Ireland. 1 2918 Stevens Street Madison, WI 53705 USA Web: www.InroadsIreland.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-888-220-7711 (USA & Canada) Phone: 1-608-554-2221 (World)

Thursday: Day 3 – Roundstone to Westport Highlights: Alcock & Brown Landing Site, , Wild Ponies, Connemara, Killary Harbor, Westport

Leaving Roundstone, you set out to discover Connemara - an area of extraordinary natural beauty. Stopping frequently during the day, you'll get out and explore the many incredible sights and towns along the way.

You begin by navigating the headland and visiting the landing site of the first transatlantic flight by Alcock and Brown in 1919. This area is also where Marconi sent the very first wireless radio transmission across the Atlantic!

Enjoy a tasty lunch in the colorful town of Clifden and then continue through the beautiful Connemara landscape flanked by the stark beauty of the (mountain peaks). With luck, you'll see wild Connemara ponies, known for their hardiness and kind nature; they are Ireland's only native horse.

Your trip takes you on a wonderful loop through the Renvyle Peninsula and onto the majestic fjord of Killary Harbor. This 16 km sea-filled gorge has rich waters for salmon and mussels and the towering Mweerea, the highest mountain in the region, further enhances its incredible scenery. You'll pass into and through the stunning area of Delphi and Doo Lough.

Further on you’ll pass , Ireland's Holy Mountain, said to be where the bold cast the snakes from Ireland’s shores. Then finally to your last stop for the day and your home for the next two nights, Westport. This laid back town is a fantastic place to unwind and wander its many shops, bars, and restaurants. Irish traditional music sessions (or as the locals say ‘trad sessions’) are plentiful. Stop by Matt Molloy’s Bar – started by (and named for) The Chieftain’s flutist. When Matt isn’t on tour, he’s been known to stop by and join a session.

Friday: Day 4 – Free Day in Westport Your free day! Sleep in or take a trip to hike Croagh Patrick and avail of some of the most incredible views in the world. Explore by bike or foot along the “Great Western Greenway,” a beautiful trail starting in Westport through bucolic Irish countryside. Shopping, great restaurants and pubs, golfing, fishing, and even a cruise of Clew Bay are all available. Enjoy another great night in this fun town!

Saturday: Day 5 – Westport to Ballina Highlights: Tour an 18th Century Manor House, Céide Fields, Stunning Stained Glass Windows, Boutique Hotel on Ireland’s Premiere Salmon River

Begin your day exploring the splendor of one of Ireland's grand period homes, Westport House. This 18th Century manor home is still owned by the decedents of Ireland's infamous pirate queen, Grace O’Malley.

You'll then continue through bucolic countryside to a small town church. This unassuming building contains some of Ireland’s most magnificent stained glass windows. Created by one of Ireland’s greatest artists, Harry Clarke, these beautiful windows were his last and perhaps finest works.

After lunch, you'll work your way north to the ancient site of the Céide Fields, the most extensive Stone Age site in the world. Containing the oldest known field systems, it lay buried beneath a blanket of bog for over 5,500 years. You'll then continue your journey along the rugged north Mayo coastline to an old Irish Round Tower. Rapunzel-esque towers like this one are one of Ireland’s most iconic structures and have stood tall over the changing landscape for over a thousand years!

2 2918 Stevens Street Madison, WI 53705 USA Web: www.InroadsIreland.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 1-888-220-7711 (USA & Canada) Phone: 1-608-554-2221 (World)

Your final stop for the night is the salmon capital of Ireland, the lovely town of Ba llina. Set on the banks of the River Moy, the town is famous for fly-fishing. Tonight your room overlooks the river in a beautifully restored 19th Century “ice store” - now a beautiful boutique hotel and spa. Relax in an outdoor hot tub or enjoy their critically acclaimed restaurant.

Sunday: Day 6 – Ballina to Carrick-on-Shannon Highlights: Ox Mountain Drive, Ancient Ring Fort, 12th Century Cistercian Abbey, Carrick-on-Shannon

With accommodations this lovely, let the morning linger on with a late start to the day. Lie in and enjoy a delicious breakfast or a soak in the hot tub by the river’s edge.

Saying farewell to Ballina, you carve a path through the Ox Mountains and discover a serene lake known for its brown trout and even arctic char! Further on discover a forgotten Ring Fort with hidden underground passageways (souterrains) laid out in Ireland’s Iron Age.

Passing along lakes with curious islands, the road leads to a 12th Century Cistercian Abbey. This handsome ruin still contains fascinating carvings and beautiful arches having survived turbulent times. Your journey then takes you to the mighty River Shannon, Ireland’s longest river and a fantastic overnight stop in the lovely town of Carrick-on-Shannon. Enjoy strolling along the river by riverboats and house-barges and sample the many local pubs for fine food and perhaps great music session!

Monday: Day 7 – Carrick-on-Shannon to Dublin Highlights: Neolithic Passage Tombs, Celtic Crosses & Round Tower in Kells, Dublin

Travel through Ireland's north Midlands, passing along a prehistoric drumlin trail left over from the last Ice Age. In some of these little known hills, you'll hike a trail to discover one of Ireland’s best-kept secrets, an amazing cluster of ancient, megalithic passage tombs. As some of the oldest man-made structures on earth, they are much older than the Egyptian pyramids or Stonehenge in England. Enter the tombs and connect with Ireland’s mysterious Neolithic people who incorporated solar alignments in to the tomb’s structure.

After the tombs, you'll head back to Carrick-on-Shannon to enjoy the daytime delights of its cafes, shops, and charming streets.

The day continues east to the forgotten fifth province of Mide and the Boyne valley. Coming to the town of Kells, you’ll find fantastic Celtic Crosses and a fine Round Tower where a monastery was founded by disciples of St. Columkille. As one of the most important centers for medieval scribes, it may have been here that the famous Book of Kells was first penned.

Alas you head back to Dublin and your last night in the Emerald Isle. Enjoy a meal in one of the many fine restaurants, walk the busy streets, savor your final hours of your Go West Tour, and enjoy a lifetime of amazing memories!

Slan Beo! Irish for “Goodbye, live life!”

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described above, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion, it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. The information in the itinerary has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However, it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and Inroads Ireland. © 2015 Inroads Ireland, LLC

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