Kevin McKrell's Tour of Ireland
October 8th through the October 15th, 2024.
Celtic International Tours 518-862-0042
2 nights in Leenane, County Galway.
2 nights in Athlone, County Westmeath.
2 nights Galway City, County Galway.
$3444.00 land and air per person sharing.
Tour includes
- 6 nights first class hotel
- Full Irish Breakfast daily except day of arrival.
- 3 Hotel dinners
- Cliffs of Moher Ferry
- Kylemore Abbey
- Killary Sheep Farm
- Killary Fjord Cruise
- Athlone Castle
- Viking Cruise on the Shannon.
- Clonmacnoise
October 8th:
Depart Boston’s Logan Airport on our overnight flight on Aer Lingus to Shannon Airport . Many of you will be traveling from the Capital District on a Yankee Trail bus from the Yankee Trails Depot in Rensselaer NY . Contact Celtic Tours for information on the bus to Logan Airport. Parking for the duration of the tour at Yankee Trails included.
October 9th: Welcome to Ireland
Morning arrival at Shannon Airport where we meet the best driver/guide in the business Sean McSweeny. Sean and I have done more tours to Ireland together than I can count, his vast knowledge of the people and places, the ways and traditions of his native land are all relayed to us with a light hearted sense of humour that is distinctly Irish. After our luggage is loaded aboard our tour bus we begin our Ireland adventure. We first make our way into the heart of the beautiful Connemara region of County Galway. It is Connemara, described by Oscar Wilde as a savage beauty, that some say is the authentic Ireland, the Ireland of song and story, of artists, musicians, and poets.
Paul Henry 1876-1958 ‘A Connemarra Village’ The National Gallery of Ireland.
This region of County Galway is also the largest Gaeltacht in Ireland, ask Sean to teach you a few words of Irish and you will ordering your pints like a native in no time. Leaving Shannon Airport we travel through the towns of Moycullen, Maams Cross and Clifden before reaching the first stop of our Ireland adventure an absolute jewel of the Connamara region the beautiful Kylemore Abbey .
Leaving Kylemore Abbey we make the short drive through the stunning Connamarra countryside to the village of Leenane, with it's quaint charm and stunning natural surroundings, Leenane captures the essence of Connemara's beauty and tranquility and is our home for the next two nights the Leenane Hotel, we check into our rooms with free time to explore before we enjoy the first of 3 hotel dinners.
October 10th:
After our first Full Irish breakfast we will visit the Killary Sheep Farm for a demonstration of working sheep dogs.
We then board our tour bus and travel past the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick in the Irish, Cruach Phádraig, meaning Patrick's stack.
It is from the heights of The Reek ( local nickname derived from Hibernia-English words Rick or Stack ) that Saint Patrick banished all the snakes into the waters to never be seen in Ireland again. We make our way along the Wild Atlantic Way to Achill Island home of the Pirate Queen Grace O’ Malley. The stunning landscape of Achill has long inspired artists such as Paul Henry, Robert Henri and Camille Souter and is a much desired location for filming movies, most recently 'The Banshees of Inisherin'. Leaving Achill we make our way to the lovely town of Westport on the Carrowbeg River with free time to enjoy the pubs and shops of the market town of Westport.
We then head back to Leenane, dinner tonight is on your own. After dinner a session with Kevin McKrell. Overnight in Leenane.
October 11th:
After our Full Irish Breakfast we depart Leenane for our next stop, the medieval town of Athlone. On our way out of Leenane it's just a short drive to Killary Harbour Boat Tours where we board the ‘Connamarra Lady’ for a cruise of the Killary Fjord.
On the road to Athlone we stop in the village of Cong in the County Mayo, perhaps take in the 12th century Cong Abbey or have a pint at the famous pub from the movie 'The Quiet Man' Pat Cohen’s Pub. We continue on to Athlone where we will stop at Ireland’s oldest pub Sean’s Bar. Tonight dinner at our hotel the Sheraton Athlone. After dinner a session with Kevin McKrell.
October 12th:
This morning after yet another Full Irish we board our bus for a short drive to Clonmacnoise, an early Christian Center on the banks of the River Shannon. St. Ciarán founded this monastery around 544, the monastery flourished and became a great seat of learning, a university of its time with students from all over Europe. The ruins include a Cathedral, two round Towers, three high crosses, nine Churches and over 700 Early Christian graveslabs.
We then board a Viking boat and cruise down Lough Ree to our tour of Athlone Castle. The evening will be yours to explore the town of Athlone and have dinner on your own. After dinner a session with Kevin McKrell. Overnight in Athlone.
October 13th:
After our Full Irish we depart Athlone and head into the west to the County Clare. On the way to our destination this morning we travel through The Burren. The Burren is internationally famous for its rocky landscape, unusual combination of flora, thousands of archaeological sites and unique farming traditions, is also designated a UNESCO Global Geopark. It is here we will see the Poulnabrone dolmen one of Ireland’s most iconic archaeological monuments and is the second most visited location in the Burren after the Cliffs of Moher. It is the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland.
Our next stop is the village of Doolin and Gus O'Connors Pub . This iconic little village is known as the home of traditional Irish music and it is at Gus O’Connors that many of the top traditional Irish musicians such as Micho Russell, Wille Clancy, Tommy Peoples, Sharon Shannon have played. I recommend the seafood chowder brown bread and a pint (not included in tour price) before we board the Doolin Ferry Cruise of the Cliffs of Moher.
We then make our way to Galway City and the beautiful Park House Hotel situated in the heart of Galway City on Eyre Square . Galway City lives and breathes music, from the street buskers to the endless trad sessions, it boasts incredible cafés, bistros and fine-dining restaurants and has become an international Foodie stop, perhaps take a culinary walking tour with Galway Food Tour, or The Galway Cathedral called The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and Saint Nicholas, the Claddagh, The Latin Quarter, The Hall of the Red Earl, a captivating medieval archaeological site nestled in the heart of Galway The Office of Public Works (OPW) archaeologists unearthed the hall’s remains in 1997 during plans to extend nearby offices, revealing a treasure trove of over 11,000 artifacts. Tonight dinner is on your own .Overnight in Galway.
October 14th:
Today after being fortified by your Full Irish is a free day to explore the shops and pubs of Galway City. I have listed just a few to get you started.
Tonight dinner on your own. Overnight in Galway.
October 15th:
This morning after a short drive to Shannon Airport and we say goodbye to Ireland .
Slainté
