GlobetrottersGASTON A Publication of Gaston College Study Tours Spring 2017 Castles & Gardens of Ireland & Scotland Cliffs of Moher Just the name “Ireland” conjures up images of a land shrouded in myth and legend, steeped in tradition, and awash with Inside… beautiful scenery. The Ireland in the mind’s eye of many visitors Upcoming Tour: Ireland is in its green countryside where - yes – you really will find & Scotland 1 charming villages with pubs playing classic Irish music and dreamy castles high on a hill. As connected as the island is to its Itinerary Overview 2 past, it has contributed so much to the modern world through literature, art, and music. And all of it is characterized by an Tour Package 6 & 7 indomitable pride linked to a history of Irish struggle and a spirit Photos from most recent tour - that continues to this day. Cruise to Cuba 7 Modern Ireland manages to retain that timeworn spirit while Reservations 8 also moving quickly to the future. After decades of violence Edited by Bob Blanton and rebellion, Ireland is more peaceful today than any time in Design & Layout by Debbie Bowen (continued on page 2) www.gaston.edu Itinerary Castles & Gardens Overview of Ireland & Scotland June 4 - 14, 2017 recent memory. Though it was hit hard by the financial crisis in 2009, it has Day 1 rebounded from austerity and bailout with a reputation for open trade June 4, 2017 and low taxation. In fact, Ireland’s economy was the fastest growing in Fly to Ireland the EU in 2015. Dublin is unquestionably a global city, attracting new and sophisticated industries, and both the city and the country stand to gain Day 2 quite a bit from the UK leaving the EU. The luck of the Irish, it seems, is June 5, 2017 in full effect. Arrive in Shannon - sightseeing tour to Limerick - Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Day 3 June 6, 2017 King John’s Castle and Cliffs of Moher Day 4 June 7, 2017 St. John’s Castle Muckross Gardens & Killarney - DAY 1 Park: The most complete and Blarney Castle - Travel to Cork Sunday, June 4, 2017 authentic medieval castle in • Depart from Charlotte Ireland. Built in 1425 it was Day 5 • Meals included on flight restored in 1954 to its former June 8, 2017 medieval splendor and now St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral & DAY 2 contains mainly 15th and 16th Blackrock Castle Monday, June 5, 2017 century furnishings, tapestries, • Breakfast included on flight and works of art which capture Day 6 • Welcome to Shannon: This the mood of those times. Enjoy June 9, 2017 satellite town of Limerick is a the sights, sounds, tastes, Kilkenny Castle & Gardens - gateway to some of the most scents, of this enchanting place Travel to Dublin - St. Patrick’s spectacular landscapes in the as you stroll from house to Cathedral world. The Cliffs of Moher, the house or around the charming Burren (one of Ireland’s most village street complete with Day 7 unusual locations), and the lush school, post office, doctors June 10, 2017 greenery of the Ring of Kerry house, hardware shop, printers Dublin - Trinity College - are just a short distance away. and of course McNamara’s pub! Guinness Storehouse - Stephen • Tour Bunratty Castle & Folk • Enjoy lunch on own in the Park. Green • Check into the Savoy Hotel Limerick • Group Welcome Dinner DAY 3 Tuesday, June 6, 2017 • Breakfast at hotel • Board private touring coach for Trinity College day of sightseeing • King John’s Castle: Have fun (continued on page 3) Bunratty Castle (continued on page 3) 2 Gaston College Study Tours Castles & Gardens of Ireland & Scotland (continued from Page 2) Itinerary exploring King John’s Castle, • Board private touring coach Overview (con’t) enjoy magnificent views and to Muckross Gardens & imagine a Norman soldier’s life Killarney: The gardens, as in this medieval fortress. Reach we see them today, have gone out and touch the past through a from creation (by Richard White, wide range of new technologies 2nd Earl of Bantry), through and specialist multimedia neglect (from 1930’s-1970’s) techniques. Join in the living to restoration (which began in interpretation and re-enactment 1997). Richard White (1800- with costumed guides who 1865) fully appreciated his reveal the secrets and scandals good fortune to inherit a of castle life. title and a fine house in an • Lunch on own en route to Cliffs extraordinary location. He of Moher created a garden with seven • Transfer to the famous Cliffs terraces to complement the bay of Moher: On the west coast overlooked by his house, which of Ireland The Cliffs of Moher he enlarged to accommodate the are one of the most outstanding art collection he formed on his coastal features of Ireland. The travels. The fountain within the cliffs are located in county Clare parterre surrounded by Wisteria Robert the Bruce at Stirling Circle and lie just south from the Village sineis and Wisteria floribunda of Doolin and the Burren. Rising dominates the southern aspect Day 8 slowly from Doolin they ascend of the house as do the hundred June 11, 2017 to over 700 feet (213 meters) steps leading up to the woodland. Belfast - Larne. Ferry to stretching south for nearly five The north terraces, with their Calrnyan, Scotland - Coach to miles to Hags Head. 14 round beds, are flanked by Edinburch • Return to Savoy Hotel Limerick statues and pots Richard brought • Dinner on own from his travels. Facing East, the Day 9 statue of Diana the Huntress June 12, 2017 DAY 4 greets the visitor. Blair Castle & Hercules Wednesday, June 7, 2017 • Transfer to Blarney Castle with Gardens - Lock Lomond - • Breakfast at hotel Scottish Highlands • Meet guide and check out of (continued on page 4) hotel Day 10 June 13, 2017 Stirling Castle - Edinburgh Castle - Scotch Whiskey Experience Day 11 June 14, 2017 Return to Charlotte Muckross House & Gardens (continued on page 4) www.gaston.edu 3 Castles & Gardens of Ireland & Scotland (continued from Page 3) an en-route stop for lunch on DAY 5 own. Thursday, June 8, 2017 • Breakfast at hotel. • Board a private coach to St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral: Welcome to Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork’s Anglican Cathedral situated in the centre of Cork City, Ireland. Designed by Kilkenny Castle William Burges and consecrated Dublin Blarney Castle in 1870, the Cathedral lies on a • Visit Kilkenny Castle & • Arrive at Blarney Castle: Built site where Christian worship has Gardens: Built in 1195 to control nearly six hundred years ago been offered since the seventh and monitor a major junction of by one of Ireland’s greatest century. the Nore River, Kilkenny Castle chieftans, Cormac MacCarthy, • After visiting the Cathedral, enjoy is a symbol of a time when the and has been attracting attention lunch on own. Normans occupied the region. ever since. Over the last few Surviving many generations of hundred years, millions have different families, in the mid- flocked to Blarney making it 1900’s the castle underwent a world landmark and one of a major restoration and was Ireland’s greatest treasures. Now opened to the public. With that might have something to its surrounding gardens and do with the Blarney Stone, the expansive art gallery, it’s a legendary Stone of Eloquence, beautiful depiction of historical found at the top of our tower. Blackrock Observatory preservation. Kiss it and you’ll never again be • Continue on to Blackrock • Enjoy lunch on own. lost for words. Castle: Blackrock Castle was • Continue travel to Dublin • Check in to Rochestown Park initially built as a fort to repel • Welcome to Dublin! The Hotel and enjoy dinner and the and keep watch for privates Irish capital seduces its visitors evening on your own. coming to invade Cork. Over the with charms that are both centuries, the castle served many sophisticated and gritty. All at purposes for the town of Cork once, it’s a world financial center, and has seen many restorations. the home to an unrivaled literary Most recently, the Blackrock legacy, and, yes, the cobbled- Castle serves as an astronomy stone, pub-laden stereotype hub for the Cork Institute of you’ve heard it can be. Drink in Technology and is referred to as the city (pun intended), in all of the Blackrock Observatory. its forms. • After tour, return to the hotel. • On to St. Patrick’s Cathedral: • In the evening, enjoy dinner, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in which is included. Dublin, Ireland, founded in 1191, is the National Cathedral DAY 6 of the Church of Ireland. With Friday, June 9, 2017 its 43-meter spire, St. Patrick’s is • Breakfast at hotel the tallest church in Ireland, and • Meet guide and check out of the largest. Rochestown Park Hotel • Check into The Spencer Hotel • Board private coach for full • Enjoy dinner and the evening on Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral day of sightseeing en route to own (continued on page 5) 4 Gaston College Study Tours Castles & Gardens of Ireland & Scotland (continued from Page 4) DAY 7 Saturday, June 10, 2017 • Breakfast at hotel • Free day to explore Dublin on our own. Suggested places to visit: • Visit the famous Trinity College and then continue to the Panorama of Edinburgh, Scotland Guinness Storehouse. • Enjoy lunch on your own and your own during a scheduled into the fascinating past of the some shopping in Grafton break (entrances not included). Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Unique Street. • After tour, continue transfer to amongst Scottish castles, the the pier in Larne. Unload bags story told here will take you from & board the passenger ferry to a visit by Mary Queen of Scots Scotland on foot.