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Friday, January 20, 2012

Serenity by the Lakeside

A perfect 6-Night get-a-way, featuring 3 nights at the beautiful Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe, Co. Clare. Killaloe is made up of charming narrow streets, flanked by old shops along the steep hill looking down over the 13th century cathedral. The town was home to Brian Boru, the High King who united Ireland against the Vikings.This picture perfect town with its Victorian streets and old canal banks was once capital of all Ireland. The Lakeside Hotel makes a perfect base for exploring all that this area has to offer. This perfect get-a-way also includes 3 Nights B&B accommodations, car rental, breakfast daily, 1 dinner, complimentary tour of the Ring of Kerry and more!
Land from $569 PP Sharing before coupon.
Use Coupon Code LOVESERENITY to save $50 PP* Book Now

*Coupon Code cannot be combined with any other discount for same item. Coupon Code expires 4/30/12

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

What to see in Westport

Miles of coastline, old-world shop fronts, tree lined boulevard and plenty of activities (from watersports to equine) make Westport a superb base for discovering the majestic west of Ireland. Whether sailing, horse-back or shopping is your sport - ramble through the old world town of Westport.
Explore the west of Ireland. Nearby attractions include:

Croagh Patrick Information CentreThe Croagh Patrick Information Centre is situated in Murrisk on the Pilgrim's Path at the base of Croagh Patrick and opposite the National Famine Monument. The Centre stems from the interest shown by the thousands of pilgrims and climbers in the archaeological discoveries on the summit.

Foxford Woollen Mills
Foxford Step back in time to see how life was in Foxford in the 1890's. See how the town of Foxford grew and prospered around the Mill. The tour also includes a visit to the working woollen mill where skilled craftspeople can be seen producing the world famous rugs, blankets and tweeds.

National Museum of Ireland Country Life
Visitors to the Museum are invited to experience the story of Irish country life between 1850 and 1950 through the innovative combination of artefacts and displays, archival video footage and interactive screens

Ceide FieldsThe Céide Fields in North Mayo will certainly give you a unique experience. For this is not just another archaeological monument or visitor centre. Here you can indulge yourself in a vast prehistoric landscape, a natural wild ecology of blanket bog, dramatic cliffs and coastline, and a much acclaimed building, which has received Ireland's most prestigious architectural award.

Knock Museum
Knock Museum tells the story of the Knock Apparition of 1879 and places it in the context of life in Ireland at that time.

Visit Westport on your next self-drive vacation to Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

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Westport Rambler

6-night Westport Rambler - Self-Drive Vacation Package

Ramble through the old world town of Westport, on the shores of Clew Bay in Co Mayo on our Westport Rambler. This exciting new self-drive vacation package to Ireland includes three nights accommodations in the old-world town of Westport and three nights accommodations in Ireland's cosmopolitan capital city of Dublin.
Miles of coastline, old-world shop fronts, tree lined boulevard and plenty of activities (from watersports to equine) make Westport a superb base for discovering the majestic west of Ireland. Whether sailing, horse-back or shopping is your sport - ramble through the old world town of Westport.

Dublin, Ireland's capital city, is a historical and contemporary cultural center. Dublin city is home to many theaters and galleries and is known for its literary contributions from WB Yeats to Bernard Shaw to Oscar Wilde. It is a modern center of education, arts, entertainment and history.

Take advantage of Super Sale pricing and enjoy:

3-nights accommodations in beautiful Westport

3-nights accommodations in cosmopolitan Dublin

Breakfast daily (except morning of arrival)

Automatic Car Rental (Economy) - including CDW - Upgrade to larger cars available (Note: Three people traveling together must avail of upgrade to larger car to accommodate)

FREE 5-minute Phone Card

Hotel and car taxes included

Portfolio of travel documents

Take advantage of our Super Sale Pricing on this new self drive package - Land from $599 PP Sharing. Give us a call at 1-800-833-4373 or visit our website to book this amazing self-drive vacation to Ireland.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Commemorate, Remember and Embark on the history of the Titanic

2012 is the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden (and only) voyage. Everyone has heard of the fateful Titanic, but many do not know that Ireland played a huge part in the history of the Titanic. In fact, the Titanic was built in Belfast and Cobh, then Queenstown, was the Titanic’s last port of call. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic, Cobh in County Cork, Ireland will play host to a memorable series of events designed to remember and pay tribute to the Titanic and all who have been involved with her. Whether you are a history buff, had relatives on the Titanic or are just looking for a good excuse to trek over to the Emerald Isle, Cobh is the place to be in 2012. Plan your Ireland Vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations.

For the last century, the world has been intrigued by the story of the largest passenger liner at the time that many thought was unsinkable. Built in Belfast between 1909 and 1912, the Titanic was the 2nd of 3 huge ocean lines operated by the White Star Line and was the largest ship in the world. The interior of the Titanic held the highest standard of opulence. Extending over 6 floors, the Grand Staircase with its domed ceiling and carved balustrades is probably the most recognizable interior feature of the ship. The Titanic passenger list ranged from the richest people in the world to the poorest; it is perhaps the range of people on board with a wide range of reasons for travel that makes the ship’s story so fascinating. The Titanic’s final port of call was Queenstown, modern day Cobh, Ireland. On the night of April 14th, she struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic and was so badly damaged that she survived for less than 3 hours before she sank. Over 1500 people, two-thirds of the Titanic’s passengers and crew, drowned because there were not enough lifeboats to rescue everyone on board.

The picturesque seaport town of Cobh boasts one of the largest natural harbors in the world, and has a long and interesting maritime history because of it. Being a major transatlantic port, Cobh was the departure point for many Irish emigrants to North America, and was the finalport of call for the RMS Titanic.

Visitors to Cobh will find the Cobh Heritage Center a great place to start in learning about the unique history of Ireland through the 18th and 19th century including mass emigration, the Great Famine and on how criminals were transported to Australia for petty crimes. The Cobh Heritage Center also hosts an interesting and informative exhibit on the Titanic.

The Titanic Experience, due to open on February 1, 2012 in Cobh, is a new permanent visitor attraction situated in the original offices of The White Star Line. The location marks the departure point for the last 123 passengers who boarded the Titanic. The Titanic Experience brings the characters of the Titanic to life through innovative audio visual technology such as cinematic shows, scene sets, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.

Cobh is surely rich in Titanic and maritime history, and 2012 is an exquisite time to visit Ireland to commemorate the history and stories of the people aboard the Titanic. Events are scheduled throughout the year of 2012, with the week of April 9 – 15 set aside for flagship commemoration events.

There is truly something for everyone this year in Cobh. Travel to Ireland just to experience the history of the Titanic, or include a stop to Cobh on your next tour of Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations to embark on the history of the Titanic. Cobh is included on many of our Escorted Tours to Ireland and can also make a great stop on your next self-drive tour of Ireland. Check out our website for all of our Ireland vacations!

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From Notre Dame v Navy to the Galway Summer Races – Top 10 Events You Can’t Miss in Ireland, 2012

From Notre Dame v Navy to the Galway Summer Races
Top 10 Events You Can’t Miss in Ireland, 2012

2012 is a big year for events in Ireland! With Notre Dame and Navy set to face off in September in Dublin, the yearly St. Patrick’s Week and the Tall Ships Race returning to Ireland; 2012 is action-packed with events offering something for everyone.

1. Notre Dame vs Navy
Dublin, September 1, 2012
In 1996, Notre Dame and Navy faced off in Dublin, and thousands of Notre Dame and Navy fans traveled to be a part of it. The Notre Dame-Navy series has been played annually since 1927, making it one of the longest uninterrupted intersectional series in college football and creating a long tradition of rivalry between the two teams. Celtic Tours fans who travel to Ireland to attend the Notre Dame-Navy game will also be guided to the beauty and fascination of Ireland. The game is scheduled for Sept. 1, 2012.

2. St. Patrick’s Week
Throughout Ireland, March
The whole world is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! And Dublin is the stage for the biggest and best St. Patrick’s celebrations in the world, the St. Patrick’s Festival. Thousands of Irish people and visitors alike will paint the town green for six fantastic, fun-filled days.

3. Galway Summer Races
Galway, July
Adrenalin-pumping action, heart-stopping finishes and breath-taking fashion; you are at the Galway Races. Situated on the outskirts of Galway city, in the West of Ireland, the Galway Racecourse is the place to be.

4. Tall Ship Race
Dublin, August
Leave the present day behind and experience the thrill of the open water as you take part in the Tall Ships Festival this summer in Dublin, Ireland. There’s beauty in a mass of sails and rigging, the sight of 100 ships sailing into the Irish port will stir your maritime soul. One of the most thrilling and colorful events in the world, Dublin is expecting to host 50 majestic Tall ships, 1500 sailing trainees and an anticipated 500,000 maritime, music and festival fans on the quays of Ireland’s Fair City.

5. 50th International Eucharistic Congress
Dublin, June
The 50th International Eucharistic Congress is a week long programme of events, linking faith and culture, with a particular focus on the gathering of people of every nation, language and way of life around the table of the Lord.

6. Puck Fair
Killorglin, August 10 -12
Killorglin, in the geographical heart of Kerry, is the venue for one of Ireland's most unusual street festivals - Puck Fair. The fair is one of Ireland's oldest and longest celebrated and is held without fail on 10th, 11th and 12th August every year with 12 hours of free family street entertainment.

7. Cahirmee Horse Fair
Cahirmee, July 12
Cahirmee Horse Fair is one of the oldest fairs in Ireland, and is reputed to date back to the time of Brian Boru. The Duke of Wellington bought his horse, Copenhagen, which he rode at the Battle of Waterloo, at the fair. Napoleon also bought a horse at Cahirmee. The Fair came to Buttevant from Cahirmee Fair Field in 1921 and has been held in Buttevant since. Visitors to the fair can see the buying and selling of horses on the streets, while a horse show will also be held with a number of prizes available, including the best horse of the fair.

8. Galway Christmas Market
Galway, Dec 14 – 24
Galway's famous bustling market has been trading in Church Lane by St Nicholas's Church in the City centre for centuries, and it really comes to life during the Christmas event when it will be open from the 14th to 24th December. There will be hundreds of stalls selling a great variety of food and crafts. There will be food such as madras curry, sushi, crepes and mount-watering hand-made chocolates, among many other delights. Or, you can buy great quality ingredients for your Yuletide festivities.

9. Volvo Ocean Yacht Race
Galway, July 3-8
One of the most exciting, high-adrenalin yacht races in the world will wind its way into Galway City on 3rd of July 2012 after eight months at sea.

10. Rugby Six Nations Championship – Ireland v Wales
Dublin, Feb and March
Following Ireland’s defeat to a strong Welsh side, putting an end to their world cup dreams, Ireland will be looking to make amends at what promises to be a great match as both teams kick off their RBS 6 Nations campaign.

Looking for something a little different? Check out this Festival and Event Calendar provided by Discover Ireland

Plan your next event vacation to Ireland with Celtic Tours World Vacations. Events are also great ways to get a group trip together, visit our website or give us a call at 1-800-833-4373 to start planning your vacation to Ireland today!

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