Our Itinerary

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 Pearson International Airport – Terminal # 3

   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 Airport – Terminal # 1, clear customs, claim luggage and meet your coach

**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 College’s 18th century Old Library Building

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 Airport – Terminal # 1

   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 Pearson International Airport – Terminal # 3, clear customs and claim luggage then call up coach

**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!!