2024 Ireland: Emerald Isle Group Tour
Date: May 8 - May 19, 2024
Escorted by:
It may come as a surprise that the beloved Irish tune “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” was written by a trio of American songwriters. That’s the moving influence of this enchanting and captivating land. So, when are Irish eyes smiling? At every moment on this undiscovered tour of Ireland – as you stroll down the lively streets of Dublin, sip Guinness in a boisterous pub on the Dingle Peninsula, take a horse-drawn jaunting-car ride through the Killarney countryside, and even bake scones on a quaint Irish sheep farm near Galway. By way of the most dramatic coastal and pastoral scenery, this tour of Ireland leads you to the lesser-known gems of the Emerald Isle as well as the cliffs, castles, and famous crystal you’ve long heard of. As you hum along the winding Ring of Kerry and the rocky Aran Islands, this tour of Ireland “will steal your heart away.”
Dates & Prices
Depart: May 8, 2024. Flight from Green Bay, WI to Dublin, Ireland
Pre-Night in Dublin: May 9, 2024
Group Tour: Friday, May 10, 2024 - Sunday, May 19, 2024
Return: May 19, 2024. Flight home from Dublin to Green Bay
Price for Double Occupancy:
- Price is $5479 per person.
- Deposit of $750 per person is due at booking.
- Final payments will be due February 14, 2024.
- There is an additional $60 processing fee per person if a credit card is used for payment. No fee if payment is made with a personal or cashier's check. Cash is not accepted.
Single Supplement is an additional $650, and space is very limited.
**Price includes: Roundtrip airfare between Green Bay and Dublin, one pre-night in Dublin before your tour, land tour and lodging, roundtrip airport transfers in Dublin, and travel protection. Also includes 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 4 dinners per person.
**Not included in the tour price: Optional excursions on tour, airline baggage fees, passport fees, meals not included in the itinerary, all items of a personal nature such as laundry, cleaning, telephone, internet, or fax expenses, and beverages.
Airfare Information
Tour Map
Click map to enlarge
Tour Sights
Meals
Includes 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 4 dinners per person.
Itinerary
Pre-night - THURSDAY, MAY 9 - ARRIVE IN DUBLIN, IRELAND
Airport transfer from Dublin Airport to your hotel. Explore Dublin this evening at your leisure.
Lodging provided at The Gibson
DAY 1 - FRIDAY, MAY 10 - DUBLIN, IRELAND
Free time this morning. At 3pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for an afternoon orientation drive, including O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Trinity College.
- Tour Highlights: “In Dublin’s fair city where girls are so pretty,” you’ll also find great personality and charm. The charisma of Dubliners and the bounty of pubs here is matched only by the gorgeous Georgian Squares, 12th-century St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and the legendary library of Trinity College.
Lodging provided at The Gibson
DinnerDAY 2 - SATURDAY, MAY 11 - DUBLIN–KILDARE–STROKESTOWN–CASTLEBAR
TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDIES
- KILDARE Visit the Irish National Stud.
- STROKESTOWN Guided tour of the 1740s mansion and gardens at Strokestown House and the Famine Museum.
- Tour Highlights: Relive history at Strokestown Park House, a stunning Georgian Palladian Mansion, with its original furnishings, and stroll the walled gardens in this historic site. Get a glimpse into the lives of generations of people who lived and worked here over the centuries, each adding their own chapter to the story and leaving their mark. Witness the history of the Great Irish Famine with a visit to the National Famine Museum to learn about the most devastating and tragic event in Irish history.
Lodging provided at The Ellison
Breakfast DinnerDAY 3 - SUNDAY, MAY 12 -CASTLEBAR–ACHILL ISLAND–KYLEMORE–GALWAY
WILD ATLANTIC WAY AND IRISH ROSES
- ACHILL ISLAND Enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way with time in the remote village of Keel.
- KYLEMORE Visit the Benedictine Abbey.
- Tour Highlights: Nestled between the woodlands and lakeshore near Galway City, Kylemore Abbey is home to the Benedictine Sisters who have been in residence since 1920 in a life of prayer, work, and community. The history of this stunning abbey reaches back to the 1800s as the estate of Irish patriot Mitchell Henry. Visit the abbey where handmade chocolates, wild Irish honey and traditional fuchsia pottery are sold. Stroll the lovely grounds of Ireland’s largest walled garden in the heart of the Connemara countryside.
Lodging provided at The Galmont Hotel & Spa BreakfastDAY 4 - MONDAY, MAY 13 - GALWAY. EXCURSION TO THE ARAN ISLANDS
ISLANDS OF SAINTS & SCHOLARS
- GALWAY Ferry crossing to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands.
- INISHMORE Stop in for a light lunch at Globus Local Favorite Joe Watty’s pub and hear from a local who shares stories about life on Inishmore Island. A minibus tour of the island with a local guide-driver includes a visit to the prehistoric clifftop fort of Dun Aengus.
- Tour Highlights: Joe Watty’s Bar & Seafood Restaurant on Inishmore Island is the place for good food, Gaelic music, and craic (good company). Unwind beside the fire or enjoy a Guinness in the beer garden to watch the world go by and learn a cúpla focal (few words of Irish) from some of the locals.
Lodging provided at The Galmont Hotel & Spa Breakfast 
LunchDAY 5 - TUESDAY, MAY 14 - GALWAY–CLIFFS OF MOHER–LIMERICK
SHEEP, SCONES & ANCIENT STONES
- RATHBAUN Visit Rathbaun Farm and try your hand at scone baking, learn about sheep herding and enjoy coffee and scones.
- CLARE COAST See the rocky landscapes of The Burren and stop to take photos of the prehistoric megalith at Poulnabrone Dolmen.
- CLIFFS OF MOHER Visit the 668-foot-high cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean.
- LIMERICK Free time this evening.
- Tour Highlights: Someone’s in the kitchen in Rathbaun Farm, just outside of Galway. You can don an apron and whip up your own delicious home-made scones, served with fresh preserves and whipped cream. Learn about the longtime tradition of sheep farming in this beautiful Irish landscape.
Lodging provided at Limerick Strand Hotel BreakfastDAY 6 - WEDNESDAY, MAY 15 - LIMERICK–FOYNES–DINGLE PENINSULA–KILLARNEY
DARING YOUNG MEN & FLYING MACHINES
- FOYNES Take a guided tour of the Flying Boat & Maritime Museum, followed by Irish coffee demonstration and tasting.
- DINGLE PENINSULA Enjoy a scenic drive on Slea Head promontory.
- Tour Highlights: Experience the era of transatlantic passenger flights, and the maritime legends of the River Shannon with a visit to the fantastic Flying Boat & Maritime Museum in Foynes, home to the world's only full-size replica of a B314 flying boat, commemorating this Irish town’s role in early passenger flights across the Atlantic and the legendary flying boats that carried celebrities, royals, and refugees alike. Learn about the daring history and folklore of Ireland’s longest river.
Lodging provided at Killarney Towers Hotel Breakfast DinnerDAY 7 - THURSDAY, MAY 16 -KILLARNEY. EXCURSION TO RING OF KERRY
A JAUNTING GOOD TIME
- RING OF KERRY Panoramic drive around part of Ireland’s southwestern peninsula.
- KILLARNEY Take a horse-drawn jaunting-car ride through the national park.
- Tour Highlights: County Kerry is home to the exquisite natural beauty of a rugged and mountainous expanse in Killarney National Park. A horse-drawn jaunting car ride is a great way to experience this natural wonderland, including the 1,000-foot McGillycuddy’s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland. Nestled at the foot of these mountains, the Lakes of Killarney’s shores and woodlands share this magical place with waterfalls and dramatic skies above Ross Castle.
Lodging provided at Killarney Towers Hotel BreakfastDAY 8 - FRIDAY, MAY 17 - KILLARNEY–BLARNEY–WATERFORD
FINE CRYSTAL & THE GIFT OF GAB
- KILLARNEY Cross the Kerry Mountains into County Cork.
- BLARNEY Visit the village known for its magical Kissing Stone.
- WATERFORD Take a guided tour of the House of Waterford Crystal.
- Tour Highlights: Cut the blarney and hear the history of how telling tales is forever linked to the 15th-century castle and the village below in Blarney. One of the last estate villages that remain standing in Ireland, the village was built by an 18th-century landlord to house the castle workers there. It’s true!
Lodging provided at Granville Hotel Breakfast DinnerDAY 9 - SATURDAY, MAY 18 - WATERFORD–GLENDALOUGH–DUBLIN
MOUNTAIN LOUGHS & MEDIEVAL MONKS
- GLENDALOUGH Stop at the early Christian monastic site founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century.
- DUBLIN Free time this afternoon.
- Tour Highlights: In Wicklow Mountains National Park, wander around the medieval monastic settlement of Glendalough and see its 6th century houses, churches, stone cross and the impressive Round Tower in the beautiful ‘valley of the two lakes.
Lodging provided at Hilton Garden Inn Dublin City Centre BreakfastDAY 10 - SUNDAY, MAY 19 - DUBLIN
- Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
- Transfer to the Dublin Airport for your flight home.
Breakfast
Sunset Family Travel Group Tour Leader
Sunset Family Travel is so excited to announce we have a new Group Tour Leader, Kristine Schuetze! She will be accompanying you on your tour of Ireland from the beginning of your flight until your return home but will be getting you excited for your trip long before you depart! Read more about Kristine and her love of travel!
Kristine Schuetze
"I fell in love with travel at a young age, making the journey from Door Country to Arizona every winter to visit relatives. In high school, I enrolled in French class knowing it was the year the class would take a trip to France, and I fell in love with Paris immediately! Once I was in charge of my own travel itinerary, planning every piece of a trip to a new destination became a passion. Upon meeting my husband, I added the words, "…and I promise to take a minimum of two vacations a year" to our wedding vows!
I have visited most of the U.S. and a few favorite destinations of mine are Alaska & Northern California. My most memorable destinations I have traveled to are Iceland, Switzerland, and Mallorca, Spain. I am off on an African Safari in June 2023! While my "bucket list" keeps growing, it is currently topped by Amsterdam, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and the Galapagos Islands.
I have spent the past 25+ years working at non-profit organizations and am currently the Development Manager for the NEW Zoological Society in Green Bay. I am excited to join Sunset Family Travel and escort group tours all over the world!"
GLOBUS Tour Director
CARMEL NICHOLSON
Escorting tours for more than 20 years
Céad Míle Fáilte-a hundred thousand welcomes! Ireland is a wonderful country with a long and rich history, unique culture, beautiful green countryside, and, above all, fantastic people. It's my great privilege to be a part of that special journey our guests take when they come to explore the magical Emerald Isle.
With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.
Accomodations
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Hotel as shown or similar
Point Square, North Dock
Dublin, D01 X2P2, Ireland
The Gibson
SUPERIOR FIRST-CLASS
Free Wifi
The Gibson does sleeping, dining, imbibing, and relaxing really well. The chic restaurant and bar offers pan-Asian cuisine; or choose the sleek outdoor terrace lined with bamboo to enjoy wicked cocktails and a great choice of beers and wines. The gym and a relaxation area with outdoor baths invite you to relax after a day out in town.
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Hotel as shown or similar
Custom House Quay, North Dock
Dublin 1, D01 V9X5, Ireland
Hilton Garden Inn Dublin City Centre
FIRST-CLASS
Free Wifi
The hotel is walking distance from the Temple Bar neighborhood, Irish Whiskey Museum, Trinity College, O'Connell Street, and EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. Guests can enjoy all-day restaurant and fitness center. All bedrooms have complimentary WIFI, 40-inch TV, mini-fridge, work desk with ergonomic chair and the Suite Dreams® by Serta bed.
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Hotel as shown or similar
Lannagh Rd, Garryduff, Castlebar, Co. Mayo,
F23 V279, Ireland
The Ellison Hotel
Superior First-Class
Free Wifi
The hotel is located in the heart of Castlebar, County Mayo. The bedrooms are fully equipped with the following: free WIFI, workstation with power connectivity, luxury toiletries, in-house room safe, flat screen multi-channel TV, tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryer. Guests can dine in Siar Restaurant & Bar and enjoy local produce.
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Hotel as shown or similar
Lough Atalia Rd
Galway, H91 CYN3, Ireland
Galmont Hotel And Spa
Superior First-Class
Free Wifi
You are guaranteed the best of all worlds when you stay at the luxury 4 star Galmont & Spa Galway. One of the finest Galway Hotels with scenic Galway Bay views, luxury city center hotel accommodation, excellent food and world class spirit one spa & leisure facilities.
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Hotel as shown or similar
Ennis Rd, Limerick, V94 03F2, Ireland
Limerick Strand Hotel
Superior First-Class
Free Wifi
A unique and individual hotel with an exceptional location on the Shannon. The award-winning River Restaurant and welcoming Terrace Bar & Café serve the finest quality of Irish and international cuisine, created with locally sourced produce. The Energize Health Centre features a 20-meter swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, state-of-the-art exercise and high-performance cardo & weights machines as well as a plunge pool and hydrotherapy facilities. Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available throughout the hotel.
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Hotel as shown or similar
College St, Killarney, Co.
Kerry, Ireland
Killarney Towers Hotel
First-Class
Free Wifi
Killarney Towers Hotel offers spacious and bright rooms, designed, furnished and decorated with comfort and convenience in mind. The hotel boasts restaurants, bars, a concierge service and on-site fitness facilities.
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Hotel as shown or similar
Meagher's Quay,
Waterford, Ireland
Waterford Granville Hotel
Superior First-Class
Free Wifi
The Granville, a boutique hotel in the center of Waterford's historic and shopping district, overlooking the marina. Dating back to the early 1700's, The Granville is one of Ireland's most historic hotels. Stained glass, tapestries, and wood panelling lend to the charm of it. There are standard modern amenities in all bedrooms such as flat screen TVs, 24 hour room service, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities. There is an AA Rosette awarded Bianconi Restaurant to sample delicious local food.