American Celebration of Music in Ireland An exclusive concert series for performance ensembles An Exclusive Concert Series he Republic of Ireland consists of over 80% of the “Em- publicity, generally very successful concert arrangements, and the erald Isle”. This lush green island is full of thatched cot- ability to touch local cultures in a way that may not be done through Ttages, pubs, music, wit and poetry. The relaxed good hu- other affiliations. This equates to more meaningful musical and mor of the people make Ireland a most welcoming place to visit emotional experiences for participating performance ensembles. and perform. Whether you are listening to Gaelic love songs that date back to Ireland has seen more than its share of wars and disasters, culmi- medieval times or 17th – and 18th-century folk songs with their nating in the Great Famine of 1845-8. Since then, emigration has English and Scottish influences, the music is unmistakably Irish. been part of the Irish way of life. In fact, more people of Irish And dance is an equally important aspect of Irish culture. descent live in the United States than in Ireland itself! This is cer- tainly one reason that so many American groups are interested in Come to the land of St. Patrick to see Neolithic sites, kiss the visiting this country. Blarney Stone, listen for banshees, look for leprechauns, hear Gaelic spoken, and most of all, perform in historic settings to This is the homeland of literary giants such as James Joyce, warm, appreciative audiences. George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Jonathan Swift and Oscar Wilde. Music-wise, who has not heard the unmistakable lilt of an Irish tenor? Ireland is the only country in the world to have a musical instru- ment – the harp – as its national emblem. In this land, famous for its love of music, modern forms such as country & western and rock flourish, but it is the traditional music that captures the essence of the country. The American Celebration of Music is a special annual perfor- mance-tour program, co-sponsored by local governments, music associations, community organizations, and tourist boards around the globe. In many countries this has developed into a prestigious, recognized, year-long concert-series festival. Recognition of this festival facilitates greater access to performance venues, official Suggested Itinerary DUBLIN / COUNTY KILKENNY / BLARNEY Performance in Dublin/Bray as part of the American Celebration COUNTY KERRY / KILLARNEY of Music in Ireland* Evening dinner at a local pub or restaurant and return to the Dublin GLENDALOUGH hotel for overnight DAY ONE: ARRIVE Depart via scheduled air service to Dublin, Ireland DAY SEVEN: DEPART FOR HOME Transfer to the Dublin Airport for return flight home DAY TWO: DUBLIN / COUNTY KILKENNY *Subject to confirmation Arrive in Dublin Meet your MCI Tour Manager, who will assist the group to the awaiting chartered motorcoach Enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin Option 1: Visit to Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, which dates from AD 800, making it one of the oldest books in the world. Option 2: Visit to EPIC Ireland, the Irish Emigration Museum – A state of the art interactive museum experience located in the beauti- ful vaults of the 1820 Custom House building in Dublin’s Docklands. Transfer to Waterford/Kilkenny for late afternoon hotel check-in Welcome Dinner at the hotel restaurant and overnight DAY THREE: BLARNEY / COUNTY KERRY Morning visit to Waterford (visit the Medieval Museum or the Waterford Crystal Museum) Afternoon transfer to County Kerry via Blarney Visit Blarney Castle. The sacred stone is found at the top of the castle and when you catch a glimpse of it, you may feel compelled to bend over backwards and kiss it! Continue to County Kerry for hotel check-in Evening dinner at the hotel restaurant and overnight DAY FOUR: RING OF KERRY / KILLARNEY Enjoy a tour of the Ring of Kerry Highlights including Moll’s Gap and Ladies View. Meet our horse-drawn jaunting cars at Ross Castle for a scenic ride through Killarney National Park ending in Killarney city center Afternoon at leisure with dinner, on own Performance in Killarney as part of the American Celebration of Music in Ireland* Continue to hotel for overnight DAY FIVE: COUNTY LIMERICK / DUBLIN Option 1: Visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum, and learn how Foynes played an important role in commercializing flights across the Atlantic. Option 2: Visit to Glenstal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in County Limerick. The monastery also runs a secondary school on its farm. Option 3: Visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Transfer to Dublin for hotel check-in Enjoy dinner and traditional Irish entertainment at The Merry Plough- boy or Taylor’s Three Rock and return to hotel for overnight DAY SIX: GLENDALOUGH / DUBLIN Excursion to Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. The steep wooded slopes of Glendalough harbor one of Ireland’s most atmo- spheric monastic sites — established in the 6th century. Here, visitors see the Round Tower, Cathedral, St. Kevin’s Cross and Kitchen, and Gatehouse Suggested Performance Tours in Ireland Tour 1 5 Nights / 7 Days Potential Performance Venues 1 night in Kilkenny/Waterford, 2 nights in Kerry, DUBLIN 2 nights in Dublin St. Patrick’s Cathedral Tour 2 5 Nights / 7 Days Christchurch Cathedral 3 nights in Belfast, 2 nights in Dublin St. Andrew’s Church Guinness Center Tour 3 6 Nights / 8 Days County Wicklow Shared Performances 2 nights in Kilkenny/Waterford, 2 nights in Kerry, GALWAY 2 nights in Dublin St. Nicholas Collegiate Church Tour 4 7 Nights / 9 Days St. Augustine Church 2 nights in Kilkenny/Waterford, 2 nights in Kerry, Galway Cathedral 3 nights in Dublin City Hall Tour 5 8 Nights / 10 Days KILLARNEY 2 nights in Kilkenny/Waterford, 2 nights in Kerry, 2 nights in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Galway, 2 nights in Dublin St. Patrick’s Church, Kenmare Tour 6 8 Nights / 10 Days KILKENNY / WATERFORD 2 nights in Dublin, 1 night in Kilkenny/Waterford, 2 nights in St. Canice’s Cathedral Cardiff, 3 nights in London Castalia Hall Black Abbey Tour 7 8 Nights / 10 Days Christchurch Cathedral 2 nights in Belfast, 2 nights in Derry, 2 nights in Galway, St. Mary’s Cathedral 2 nights in Dublin These and all other Suggested Tours may be viewed on our website at www.musiccelebrations.com. Fully-customized tours may also be created to meet your specific needs and interests. Music Celebrations International 1440 S. Priest Drive, Ste. 102 Tempe, AZ 85281-6952 Toll-free: 800.395.2036 | Fax 480.894.5137 www.musiccelebrations.com | [email protected] .