Boston College V Georgia Tech – Ireland Tour Options including Match Tickets Contact: Kathleen | +353-91591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 1 | P a g e Table of Contents Dublin Game Weekend 3 or 4 nights ...................................................................................................... 3 Dublin & Cork City Tour 7 Days/6 Nights ................................................................................................ 6 Dublin & Galway City Tour 7 Days/6 Nights .......................................................................................... 10 Dublin & Kerry Tour 7 Days/6 Nights .................................................................................................... 15 Dublin & Belfast Tour 7 Days/6 Nights ................................................................................................. 19 Dublin & Kerry & Galway 9 Days/8 Nights ............................................................................................ 24 Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 2 | P a g e Dublin Game Weekend 3 or 4 nights Day 1 – Thursday, September 1, 2016 Welcome to Dublin! Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure in Dublin. Day 2 – Friday, September 2, 2016 This morning, enjoy a tour of Dublin, visit Trinity College where the Book of Kells is housed, and explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Our day in Dublin starts with a city tour including a visit to Trinity College to see the magnificent Old Library and the 1200 year old Book of Kells, the beautifully illuminated version of the Gospels, designed by monks in the 9th century. We continue with a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and after our visit we will enjoy evensong in this magnificent Cathedral. In the evening, attend the Boston College & Georgia Tech event at the world-famous Guinness Storehouse. The Guinness Storehouse shows us how the famous Irish beer is made! Enjoy an unforgettable welcome and a magical journey deep into the heart of the world famous GUINNESS® brand and company. This historical building is central to Dublin's and Ireland's heritage, and has been continually updated to create a blend of fascinating industrial tradition with a contemporary edge. The seven floors bring to life the rich heritage of GUINNESS®, telling the story from its origins here at St. James's Gate in Dublin to its growth as a global brand, known all around the world. Overnight at your Dublin Hotel Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 3 | P a g e Day 3 – Saturday, September 3, 2016 Gameday is here! Coach transfer for group to and from the Aviva Stadium. Overnight at your Dublin Hotel Day 4 – Sunday, September 4, 2016 After breakfast, depart Dublin OR Enjoy North Dublin City Tour including Croke Park Stadium & Malahide Castle. Depart hotel and visit the home of Gaelic Games – Croke Park. Croke Park is an iconic stadium, steeped in history, and has been at the heart of Irish sporting and cultural life for over 100 years. Take a trip here and enjoy an unrivalled state- of-the-art interactive visitor experience and find out more about Ireland’s unique national games and the fastest field game in the world – hurling and Gaelic football. The tour offer an access-all-areas trip through the home of Irish sport. Walk in the footsteps of legends as you visit the team dressing rooms before going pitchside and taking a seat in the VIP area. Enjoy panoramic views from the top tier of the stand – 30 meters above the famous pitch. Enjoy the Skyline Tour! Accompanied by an experienced tour guide, visitors will ascent to a walkway 44 metres above the ground to take in panoramic views of the Irish capital and find out more about Dublin’s key landmarks. Skyline includes stops at five viewing platforms along Croke Park’s 0.6km rooftop walkway. Each stop gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the highlighted buildings and sites in their line of vision through multi-lingual audio guides. Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 4 | P a g e Continue from Croke Park along the north Dublin Coast to Malahide Castle. Highlights of the tour are the beautiful reception rooms, The Oak Room, The Small & Large Drawing Rooms and the Great Hall, home to the original Battle of the Boyne painting- on loan from the National Gallery of Ireland. The castle is adorned with beautiful period furniture and an extensive collection of paintings from the National Gallery of Ireland. The Castle also boasts beautiful parklands and a walled garden which can be visited. Return along the north coast visiting the coastal towns of Portmarnock and Howth. The seaside town of Howth offers excellent restaurant serving up the famous Dublin Bay Prawns and Guinness. Return to your Dublin hotel for overnight. Day 5 – Monday, September 5, 2016 Depart Dublin & return Home Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 5 | P a g e Dublin & Cork City Tour 7 Days/6 Nights Day 1 – Monday, August 29, 2016 Welcome to Ireland, Arrive into Shannon or Dublin Airport and travel to Cork! Check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure in Cork. Day 2 – Tuesday, August 30, 2016 This morning, depart for a visit to Blarney Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest and most historic castles. Also, stop at Blarney Woollen Mills for shopping. This morning we depart Killarney and travel to Blarney Castle. For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and legends of the silver screen have joined the millions of people climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence. Its powers are unquestioned but its story still creates debate. The Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. The prize is a real one as once kissed the stone bestows the gift of eloquence. Visit the iconic Blarney Woolen Mills. Blarney Woollen Mills is a store festooned with Irish made products. Built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was originally known as Mahony's Mills and provided valuable employment to the people of Blarney and surrounding areas. A water powered mill, it produced tweeds and woollens for the home and export markets. After Blarney travel to Midleton – the home of Irish whiskey. Set on 15 acres and beautifully restored, this is where the true heart of Irish whiskey beats. Our old distillery is a unique experience with some of the buildings dating back to 1795. Take a journey through history and see the old kilns, mills and malting, water wheel and old warehouses. Return to your Cork hotel for Overnight. Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 6 | P a g e Day 3 – Wednesday, August 31, 2016 Today, enjoy a tour of Cork City and the University College Cork. Visit the historical University College Cork. UCC was established in 1845 as one of three Queen’s Colleges at Cork, Galway and Belfast. The site chosen for the college is particularly appropriate given its connection with the patron saint of Cork, St Finbarr. It is believed his monastery and school stood on the bank of the river Lee, which runs through the lower grounds of the university. The University’s motto is ‘Where Finbarr Taught, let Munster Learn.’ UCC is one of the top ranked universities on the island of Ireland and is ranked among the top third-level institutions in the world. Enjoy a visit to the Cork Butter Museum. The Cork Butter Museum is a unique institution, celebrating one of the great success stories of Ireland, the butter trade. Located in the historic Shandon area of Cork city, the story begins with the central role of dairy culture in the Island of Saints and Scholars. The Museum goes on to describe the internationally important Butter Exchange in nineteenth century Cork, the traditional craft of home butter making and the modern success of the Kerrygold brand. In the course of this story, the commercial, social, and domestic life of Ireland is recalled. Enjoy free time to roam Cork City and be sure to visit the famous English Market in the city centre! Situated in the heart of Cork City, the English Market is a roofed food market and has been trading since 1788. Developed and still owned by Cork City Council, the Market is one of the oldest municipal markets of it’s kind in the world. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 4 – Thursday, September 1, 2016 Depart Cork and travel to Dublin. En route to Dublin, visit the Rock of Cashel, one of the most photographed sites in Ireland. The Rock of Cashel is a giant circular mound which rises 200 feet above the surrounding plain. Legend has it that the devil, flying over Ireland in a hurry, took a bite out of the Slieve Bloom Mountains to clear his path and spat it out here in the Golden Vale at Cashel. We will enjoy a guided tour of the Rock of Cashel. Continue to Dublin in the afternoon and enjoy your evening at leisure in Dublin. Dinner and overnight in your Dublin hotel Go West Conference, Event & Destination Management Ireland | +353-91-591222 | [email protected] | www.gowest.ie 7 | P a g e Day 5 – Friday, September 2, 2016 This morning, enjoy a tour of Dublin, visit Trinity College where the Book of Kells is housed, and explore St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Our day in Dublin starts with a city tour including a visit to Trinity College to see the magnificent Old Library and the 1200 year old Book of Kells, the beautifully illuminated version of the Gospels, designed by monks in the 9th century.