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IRELAND PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1 - August 20th. United States - Ireland.

Depart the United States on your transatlantic flight to Ireland. Dinner, drinks and in-flight entertainment will be served on board.

DAY 2 - August 21st. Arrive Shannon Airport - Galway.

Arrive in Shannon Airport early in the morning where you will be met by your driver and escorted to your luxury touring motorcoach.

Drive North via Gort to Galway City, which will be your base for the next 2 nights. Galway City is the focal point of County Galway and the West of Ireland. It nestles at the neck of Galway Bay and is reputed to have been Columbus' final point of departure on his voyage of discovery.

Check into Brennan's Yard Hotel, located in the heart of Galway's Left Bank area. Brennan's Yard is an old stone building of immense character. Immediately adjacent to the historic Spanish Arch, Brennan's Yard has the benefit of some of Galway's most prestigious surroundings. Nearby you will find art galleries, theatres, museums, shopping, ect. This centrally located hotel will be our staging ground in experiencing and photographing Western Ireland's most vibrant city. Each room is individually decorated with antique pine furniture, original works of art, and all the amenities of home. A great place to get acclimated after the flight.

DAY 3 - August 22nd. Galway and Connemara.

After a leisurely breakfast in the morning you can tour and photograph the beautiful Connemara countryside, made famous by a number of well known movies such as John Wayne's "The Quiet Man" and the more recent "The Field". Connemara is a wild and beautiful region of mountains, lakes, tumbling streams, undulating bog, unspoiled beaches, and panoramic views. It is a Gaelic speaking region. The center of Connemara is composed of mountian peaks called the Twelve Bens or Pins which culminate in Benbaun. On your tour of Connemara you should not miss the opportunity to visit Kylemore Abbey, the only home to Benedictine nuns in all of Ireland. These nuns fled to Ireland after the first World War and acquired the abbey in 1920. Set in the heart of Connemara its unique architecture against a lush backdrop will make for some incredible photographic opportunites. It sits on Loch Na Coille Moire (the lake of the big wood). The crowing jewel of the Abbey is a fully restored Gothic Church.

After a day out in the countryside, return home to Galway City. The night is free with choices for dinner, Irish music, strolls through the city, night photography, or wherever your heart takes you.

DAY 4 - August 23rd. Galway - Dingle.

Depart Galway and travel south to Dingle via the unique limestone landscape of the Burren and the famous Cliffs of Moher. This is the area of Ireland that I am from and holds a special place in my heart. We will stop to take in the breath taking views fro the Cliffs, which are 700 feet above the sea and stretch for over 8 kilometers. Truly a photographer's dream. Some of the best views are from O'Brien Tower, which was constructed in the early 19th century for Victorian tourists. From its exceptional vantage point you can view the Clare coastline, the Aran Islands, and mountains as far away as Kerry and Connemara.

We will then cross over a Shannon River estuary by ferry at Killimer into Tarbert, County Kerry. This is Ireland's Southwest area and a region untouched by time. From hazy mountain panoramas shimmering in the pearly morning light to rattling streams of sparkling clear water tumbling down wooden slopes, landscape photographers rejoice. Time permitting we will take a visit to the "Geraldine Experience" in Tralee. This is an interpretative center detailing the history of Kerry. This information will help you appreciate the historic sites, natural wonders, and archeological sites we will visit on the Dingle Peninsula.

Overnight in the Brenner's Hotel, situated along the main street in the quaint town of Dingle. This hotel assures guests with an intimate, cozy atmosphere while offering all the modern conveniences of home. This central location offers some magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and sea. An elegant restaurant and inviting open fire in the main bar make it a great place to unwind at the end of the day.

Dingle town offers a variety of craft shops and is a mecca for people interested in hearing Irish music in the local pubs. Great opportunities abound for people interested in photographing a quaint town in Western Ireland and fabulous portraits of the locals, some which still speak the Gaelic language

DAY 5 - August 24th. Dingle Peninsula.

Spend the day photographing in a place that can boast one of the most natural and unspoiled environments in all of Europe. It truly is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to on Earth. This is a land of blue gold hills, and sandy beaches. Glorious white waterfalls and land painted with wildflowers. Hidden bays, wondrous rock formations, caves, arches, busy harbors and wayside pubs. Smiling faces will greet you at every turn as you experience a unique side of the country. Definitely an Irish photographic treasure.

The Dingle Peninsula also preserves an unequalled series of Early Christian monuments. Visit Gallarus Oratory, one of the most perfect relics of early Irish Christianity, dated back to roughly 800 A.D. Stop at Kilmalkedar where there is an interesting 12th century church consisting of a unique doorway and ornamented arch. In the churchyard there is an Ogham stone and an ancient sundial.

For those who wish, bicycles can be hired today to take a tour around this beautiful peninsula. This is a traditional way to experience its beauty. At the end of the day return home to the hotel to share all the day's stories. The evening will be free time to explore the wide choices in restaurants and shops. Don't worry we will also enjoy a lively night with musicians and storytellers who will enchant us with music and verse. Bring your Flash!

DAY 6 - August 25th. Dingle - Killarney.

Depart Dingle and travel to Killarney, one of Ireland's most vibrant towns. Renowned for its beauty, famed for the splendor of its scenery, Killarney is one of the world's best loved tourist spots. Situated in the Southwestern corner of Ireland, with its three famous lakes, Killarney has long been the inspiration of poets, painters, and now photographers. The three main lakes of Killarney occupy a broad valley stretching South between the mountains that surround them all within a National Park.

We will travel out onto the circular drive known as the Ring of Kerry. This route takes you through spectacular costal and mountainous scenery along the base of the highest mountain range in Ireland. The MacGillycuddy Reeks, the highest peak being Carrantuohill rises 3,414 feet. The journey today will be be an opportunity to photograph small villages and towns that depict typical rural life in Ireland.

The most striking historical site and perhaps one of the finest examples of early Christian monastic architecture, is the remarkably preserved 6th century monastery on Skellig Michael. The monastery was built by monks 714 feet above sea level on a rocky island 8 miles off the coast of Kerry. Here, weather permitting, we will take a boat to the amazing Skellig Island and the monastery. You can explore 1,400 year old settlements with its stone built cells, oratories, terraces, and stairways. This is truly one of the most amazing experiences we will have on our trip.

Back on our journey we will see an area rich in ancient monuments, some of the most striking being Stone Ring Forts. As we descend into Killarney we will pass the Lady's View, named after the visit of Queen Victoria to the area. She is reputed to have said the view was fit for a lady, hence the name. We will stay overnight at the Killarney Court Hotel. This three star hotel is a five minute walk to the Killarney Town Center. Visit the area restaurants, shops and pubs for wonderful "ceol, ol agus craic" or music, drink and fun.

DAY 7 - August 26th. Killarney - Kinsale

Today we will have a day of exploring and photographing costal villages and towns west of Cork City. We will travel via Kenmare and Bantry to the lovely colorful town of Skibbereen and Clonakilty to Kinsale. This area will provide unique photographic opportunities due to the attractive landscapes and the peaceful way of life enjoyed by the people who live there.

Continuing around the coast is the town of Kinsale with its long waterfront, narrow winding streets, and Compass Hill that rises sharply behind the town. The old fortifications of Charles Fort and James Fort guard the narrow entrance to Kinsale from the sea. Not surprisingly the town is renowned for its fresh seafood, local cooking and numerous cozy pubs. The town has poignant memories of the sinking of the liner "Lusitania" in 1915 fo the Old Head of Kinsale, and it was in the local courthouse where inquest into the incident took place. The picturesque village owes its unique character to the fact it was a gregarious place and significant port. The influence of Dutch traders is still evident in the rows of colorful houses along the quays. Overnight we will stay in the Kierans Folkhouse Inn. This charming 250 year old Inn offers music on a nightly basis.

DAY 8 - August 27th. Kinsale - Waterford - Dublin.

We will start the day with a visit to Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the Blarney Stone. This famous tradition will bestow the "gift of gab" on all who kiss it. We can also stop by the famous Blarney Woolen Mills nearby for their high quality garments at reasonable prices. We will then travel the coastal route stopping to photograph and enjoy the long sandy beaches on route to Waterford City.

Waterford is one of Ireland's oldest and most historic cities, and is a great example of a walled city. The walls held withstood numerous sieges but finally fell to the Normans in 1170 A.D. It prospered under Norman rule and emerges as the second city of Ireland, after Dublin. The city was the chief port of Ireland throughout the Middle Ages. Today it is also known for it fine crystal whose facility we can visit at Waterford Crystal. Here some of the world's finest crystal is produced which you find at all high end stores in the U.S.

In the afternoon we will continue our travels to the Capital of Ireland, Dublin City. Here we will stay at the Mont Clare Hotel for the next two evenings. The Hotel overlooks Merrion Square on Clare Street with just a few minutes walk to many major attractions.

DAY 9 - August 28th. Dublin.

Start the morning with a local Dublin City Tour with a guide picking us up at the hotel. On the tour we will experience all the wonderful sites of this ancient city. The tour includes some of Dublin's most famous sites such as Saint Patrick's Cathedral, the Christchurch Cathedral, and Trinity College where the Book of Kells is on display.

Saint Patrick's is the National Cathedral of Ireland and is the largest in the whole country. Traditionally the place where the cathedral rests today was the place where St. Patrick baptized the pagans to Christianity during the 5th Century. It was badly damaged during the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland but was eventually completely restored by the Guiness Family in the 19th Century. Jonathan Swift, author of Gullivers' Travels was Dean of the Cathedral for 32 years and remains buried there today.

Continuing on the city tour we will visit Geogian Squares, O'Connell Street, the Greens, and Phoenix Park, the largest urban park in all of Europe. The President of Ireland resides there. Continuing on to Trinity College which may consider the heart of the city. While there we will visit the Colonnades, which houses one of Ireland's greatest treasures, The Book of Kells. This book is a magnificently illustrated version of the Gospels, illustrated in Celtic design. The book was designed by unknown monks in the Monastery of Kells in Meath Ireland in roughly 800 A.D. It was presented to Trinity College in the mid-17th Century in order to save it from Cromwell's army.

After the tour the rest of the afternoon and evening is free to photograph the city, shop for last minute gifts and souvenirs, or just explore more aspects that Dublin has to offer.

DAY 10 - August 29th. Ireland - United States.

A driver will pick us up at the hotel for the sad journey home, but with a lifetime worth of memories.
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For more info:
Regan Photography
www.reganimages.com
brendanmr @mindspring.com
info@costaricadive.com

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