Day 1 – Saturday June 29 flight day! D
2:30pm - 28 passenger coach from Aboutown to arrive at the Elgin Mall (behind restaurant in parking lot) for loading of luggage and passengers
3:00pm - depart
for Toronto
4:55pm - arrive for check in at the Air Transat flight desk (groups are advised to check in at least 3 hours prior to scheduled departure for international flights)
7:55pm - depart on Air Transat flight # 406 from Toronto to Dublin (flying time: 6hrs 30min)
- evening meal served
Day 2 – Sunday June 30 Dublin to Galway City B/D
- breakfast will be served inflight
7:25am - scheduled arrival into Dublin
**reminder to set watches to local time
8:30am - meet your Driver/Guide in the arrivals hall at Dublin Airport
8:45am - depart for Galway City via Athlone, the centre of Ireland & Ballinasloe
11:00am - visit Clonmacnoise the monastery founded by St. Ciaran in 6th Century – you will see three high crosses, a cathedral, seven churches and two round towers, and pass through the visitor centre which displays a number of cross-slabs and the 9th-century Cross of the Scriptures
- after your visit, board coach and continue to Galway
5:30pm - check in for a 2 night stay at the Snoozles Hostel Galway located in the center of Galway
6:15pm - meet in the lobby and walk as a group to your dinner location (450 meters, 6min walk)
6:30pm - group dinner at the Imperial Hotel Galway (Eyre Square)
- after dinner, return to the hostel and retire early after 2 long travel days
Day 3 – Monday July 1 (Canada Day) Connemara & Clifden B
8:00am - continental breakfast on site
9:00am - today you will begin the day with a driver/guided tour of Connemara
11:00am - visit Kylemore Abbey - Kylemore Abbey's greatest attraction is its location - nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul, in the heart of the Connemara Mountains, it is regarded as one of Ireland's most romantic buildings; home to the Benedictine Order of Nuns
Day 3 continued….
- after visit, purchase lunch before your concert
12:45pm - prepare for your concert in the Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey
1:00pm - St. Thomas Youth Choir to perform during the Lunch Time Concert
1:40pm - after the concert, reload the coach and travel on via Connemara National Park to Clifden
- Connemara is one of the most scenic regions and is one of Ireland’s most popular and memorable touring areas. Its craggy mountain peaks, expansive sandy beaches and laced network of lakes exemplify the peaceful solitude and rugged beauty of The West of Ireland. Dominated by the majestic Twelve Bens mountain range.
- free time this afternoon in Clifden, the largest town in Connemara (departure time set by group and driver)
- group will return to Galway with time to purchase dinner in town at one of the local restaurants or stop by a local grocery store to purchase items to prepare at the hostel onsite kitchen
- evening at leisure
Day 4 – Tuesday July 2 to Cork B
8:00am - continental breakfast on site
8:30am - check out and loading of the coach
9:00am - board coach and depart for Cork via the Atlantic west coast of Clare
- you will travel down the Atlantic seaboard via Galway Bay & Ballyvaughan to for an outside view Dunguaire Castle at Kinvarra
10:00am - see The Burren (Gaelic for rocky land), located in the picturesque village of Kilfenora,
- time permitting you can visit the Burren Centre which would give you an introduction to the visual delights and ancient mysteries which await to be discovered in this unspoiled corner of Ireland. This walk through time will take you back through the eons to a time when this area lay beneath a warm tropical sea. See how, thousands of years ago, man left his mark on the landscape in the form of Dolmens and burial chambers. They still stand today, stone sentinels at the gates of our civilization’s history (admission not included)
10:45am - continue your journey
12:00noon - visit the dramatic 650ft Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland's top visitor attractions and designated UNESCO Geo Park. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8km over the Atlantic Ocean. O'Brien's Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South
- board coach and continue on to Cork with a stop enroute to purchase lunch
5:30pm - arrive at Kinlay House Cork to check in for a 2 night stay – located within a 5 minute walk from the city center
- purchase dinner in town at one of the local restaurants or stop by a local grocery store to purchase items to prepare at the hostel onsite kitchen
- evening at leisure
Day 5 – Wednesday July 3 Cork B/D
8:00am - continental breakfast on site
- morning free in the city of Cork - we would recommend a visit to the Old English Market in the heart of Cork city. It is a covered market for fish, fruit, meat and vegetable. The origins of the market can be traced back to James 1st in 1610, but the present building dates from 1786.
10:30am - board coach and depart for Blarney Castle
11:00am - scheduled visit at Blarney Castle, a medieval fortress which draws several visitors each year who wish to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. According to Irish folklore, anyone who kisses the stone receives the ability to speak with eloquence, or “The Gift of the Gab.”
- The current Blarney Castle is the third castle constructed on this site. Blarney Castle has long been famous because of the Blarney Stone but the less known Rock Close and castle grounds which are also worth a visit
12:30pm - depart the castle with time to purchase lunch and for shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills
2:00pm - board coach and depart for the Maryborough Nursing Home
2:15pm - arrive with time to prepare for your performance for staff and residence
Day 5 continued…..
3:00pm - St. Thomas Youth Choir to perform an afternoon
concert
3:40pm - conclude the concert with time to visit with your guests
4:30pm - return to the hostel to freshen up for the evening
6:10pm - gather as a group in the lobby and walk to your dinner location (1.0km 12min walk)
6:30pm - group dinner at the Imperial Hotel Cork (South Mall)
- after dinner, remainder of evening is a leisure
Day 6 – Thursday July 4 to Dublin via Tipperary & Kilkenny B
8:00am - continental breakfast on site
8:30am - check out and loading of the coach
9:00am - board your coach and depart for Dublin via Tipperary & Kilkenny
11:00am - scheduled visit at The Rock of Cashel - this was the seat of kings and medieval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and he became High King of Ireland in 1002
- a stop will be made to purchase lunch
3:00pm - scheduled visit at Kilkenny Castle - Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Strongbow constructed the first building a wooden tower in the 12th century. William the Earl Marshall built the first stone castle on the site in 1260
5:00pm - board the coach and continue on to Dublin
6:30pm - arrive at the Red Cow Moran Hotel to check in for a 2 night stay – located on the outskirts of Dublin
- purchase dinner on site or in the area with the remainder of the evening at leisure
Day 7 – Friday July 5 Dublin B/D
8:00am - full Irish breakfast on site
9:00am - morning guided tour of Dublin
including Trinity College (where stalwarts like Jonathan Swift,
Oscar Wilde and Samuel Becket attended school).
Included in your tour will be a visit to see The Book of Kells, a 9th century gospel manuscript
famous throughout the world, located at Trinity
12:00noon - arrive at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
12:15pm - rehearsal time
1:00pm - St. Thomas Youth Choir Lunch Time Concert
1:45pm - after the concert you will have time to purchase lunch and enjoy free time in Dublin
5:30pm - return to accommodation to change for the evening
6:45pm - transfer by coach to your dinner location the Merry Ploughboys Pub
7:00pm - arrive for seating
7:30pm - farewell dinner begins
8:30pm - Irish entertainment begins
10:15pm - evening concludes and return to your hotel
- return to your accommodation to pack for your departure
Day 8 – Saturday July 6 flight home!! B
7:30am - full Irish breakfast at the hotel
8:30am - hotel check out and local coach arrival for loading
9:00am - board
coach and depart for Dublin
9:45am - arrive at the terminal and check in at the Air Transat flight desk to receive boarding passes
12:45pm - scheduled departure on Air Transat flight # 333 from Dublin to Toronto (flying time: 7hrs 35min)
3:20pm - scheduled arrival into Toronto
**reminder to set watches to local time
4:30pm - meet coach for loading
5:00pm - board hired coach from Aboutown and depart for St. Thomas, with a stop enroute to purchase dinner
7:30pm - arrive into St. Thomas, meet your families WELCOME HOME!!