11 Days with Penny Barnes

Sunday, June 3rd - Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

Travel with tour escort, Penny Barnes on this 11-day tour of Ireland visiting Dublin, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Connemarra Marble Factory, Kylemore Abbey and Gardens, Killarney, Bunratty Castle, Adare, Dingle Peninsula, and we will be spending 3-days in the Galway area for the festivities that surround the very first International Quilt Festival of Ireland!

Package Includes: Round-trip airfare from the Desmoines, IA airport, and transfers to and from the airport in Ireland.

Tour includes: First class accommodations, private motor coach & driver, 3-Day pass to the International Quilt Festival of Ireland, special events, sightseeing as listed in the itinerary, and most meals.

View the trip itinerary

Sunday, June 3rd
We begin our exciting tour of IRELAND with an overnight flight from DES MOINES to DUBLIN. During our flight, dinner will be served on the plane. D

Monday, June 4th
This morning before our arrival, we will be served a breakfast snack onboard the airplane. Upon our arrival into the Dublin Airport, we will be met by our driver/guide and brought to our private coach. We will drive through the city and enjoy a PANORAMIC TOUR OF DUBLIN. Although Dublin has blossomed into a modern, bustling city, it still retains the graceful, charmed atmosphere of an earlier time. The Georgian squares, terraces, and the walk along River Liffey are evidence of this. We will drive past many famous places and even stop for a tour at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Following our tour, we will arrive at our hotel where we will check in and relax. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to enjoy at your leisure. Tonight we will enjoy a special “welcome dinner” before retiring for the evening. B, D

Tuesday, June 5th
This morning after breakfast, we will drive south through the beautiful Wicklow Mountainstoward GLENDALOUGHto visit St. Kevin’s Monastic Settlement, as well as a visit to AVOCA, a village best-known for hand weaving. We will return to Dublin in the afternoon where the remainder of your day is at your leisure. B

Wednesday, June 6th
This morning we will check out of our hotel and drive west to the town of GALWAY. Along the way, we will stop in one of the most photographed places in all of Ireland, the spectacular CLIFFS OF MOHER. There will be time to take pictures, visit the museum and have lunch on your own. We will continue our drive through “the Burren,” a very unique area in the West, known for its limestone-covered mountains and tranquil valleys filled with ancient mysteries. In the late afternoon, we will arrive into GALWAY, check into our hotel, and enjoy the rest of the evening on our own. B

Thursday, June 7th
Today is free for you to enjoy Galway on your own. For those who are interested, we are offering an “optional tour” into the Connemara Region, where we will first stop at the CONNEMARA MARBLE FACTORY. Here we will learn how this incredible stone is mined and processed into extraordinary one-of-a-kind-pieces of art and jewellery. From here we will drive north, past the bridge made famous in the John Wayne movie, “The Quiet Man”. Have your cameras ready around every turn as the scenery in this region is filled with lakes, streams, mountains and the occasional roaming sheep. We will arrive at our next stop, the KYLEMORE ABBEY AND GARDENS. Here we will have time to stroll through the gardens, learn more about the Abbey, and have lunch on our own. We will return back to our hotel in the afternoon.

For those who have signed up to participate, the INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND officially begins with a very special Grand Reception. This special event consists of a Champaign reception, a welcome presentation by festival director and Sew Many Places founder, Jim West, a keynote address by quilt legend Jinny Beyer, followed by a delicious formal dinner and a one-hour Riverdance review show by Trad on the Prom! Space is limited for this Grand Reception and cost is 125 Euros per person. Reserving your space early is highly recommended as this will sell out with no uncertainty! B

Friday, June 8th
This morning following breakfast, you will have the entire day to enjoy the INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND. Your admission ticket is included in with your tour package, so you may come and go at your leisure. There will be on-location workshops and hands-on quilt classes to sign up for, exhibits to see, and all kinds of special attractions to make this a full day of quilting enjoyment! For more information on all the activities that are available tonight be sure to check out our website at http://store.iqfoi.com. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your day at this spectacular festival! B

Saturday, June 9th
This morning after a delicious breakfast, you will have another opportunity to enjoy the INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND. (admission cost included). For more information on all the activities that are available tonight be sure to check out our website at http://store.iqfoi.com. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your day at this spectacular festival! B

Sunday, June 10th
Today is your final day to enjoy THE INTERNATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL OF IRELAND (admission is included) and all it has to offer. For those who are interested, there will be many day tours offered throughout the festival, and you may opt to participate in one of these. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your day at the festival! Tonight we will all meet and enjoy dinner together and reminisce about our time at the festival. B, D

Monday, June 11th
This morning after breakfast, we say goodbye to Galway and travel south to KILLARNEY. Along the way we will stop at the famous BUNRATTY CASTLE where we will enjoy a tour of the castle, the grounds, and have lunch on our own. We will continue our drive south and stop in the charming village of ADARE. This village was given the “tidy town” award for being one of the cleanest and most pristine towns in all of Ireland. The shops in the town all have the thatched roofs and the church even has the pattern of a quilt on its ceiling! After a short while, we will continue our journey until we arrive in the town of KILLARNEY. We will check into our hotel and the remainder of the day is at your leisure. B

Tuesday, June 12th
This morning, after a full Irish breakfast, we depart on a tour of the rugged DINGLE PENINSULA. Film goers will be reminded of scenes from the movie, “Ryan’s Daughter,” which was shot in this area, as we drive past little harbors and wide stretches of sandy beach, leading southward to Slea Head. This is the most westerly point in Europe, also known as “the next parish to America.” We will return to Killarney later in the afternoon. Tonight, we will all meet for our special “farewell dinner” and bring our extraordinary tour of the Emerald Isle to a close. B, D

Wednesday, June 13th
This morning, following breakfast, we will drive north to the Shannon Airport for our flight back to DES MOINES. Lunch and a snack will be served onboard the airplane. B, L, Snack

Looking for the complete package with airfare? Contact us for pricing and options.

Ireland Tour Only Rate

$2,837.00* per person based on double occupancy

Rate is based no airfare or transfers to and from the airport. You will meet the group at the hotel to begin your tour.

RECEIVE 3% off the entire cost of your tour if you make a one check payment paid in full at the time of booking.

Make your reservation here or call us toll free at 877-887-1188.

*Please note: The prices we receive from the tour operators in Ireland are quoted to us in Euros and the prices of these tours reflect the Euro exchange at 1 Euro = 1.45 USD. As the Euro fluctuates, the price in USD can change. Upon final payment date the price in USD may be adjusted to reflect the current Euro exchange rate.

Depending on weather conditions and circumstances beyond our control, the itinerary, pricing and escorts are subject to change. We will make every attempt to adhere to the program, but we ask that you be flexible if alternative choices are made to enhance the schedule. Space is limited to 40 people and on a first come-first served basis. Terms and Conditions apply once first deposit is made and can be found here. Optional tour costs, craft workshops, and hands on quilting classes are not included in this price and must be paid with final payment. Gratuities will be accepted as a check only, and collected in March, 2012. Insurance is available and highly recommended. Single rates are available upon request and not as expensive as you may think. We are also very available to helping single travelers find a roommate, so please let us know if we can assist with that request.