| Celtic Traveler Trip Schedule for 2005 In 2005 The Celtic Traveler will be running two trips. The first, from July 16 to July 25, is with the American music group Coyote Run (www.coyoterun.com) and some of their fans. I have taken these folks to Ireland and can attest that they are great people, not to mention first-class musicians. They will be playing as we travel around the Highlands of Scotland. A run-down on that trip can be found here. There are only a couple of seats left on this trip. The fee is $2045 without air. Included is all Scottish ground transportation, double occupancy accommodations with breakfast, seven dinners, ferries and admissions (including group performances), with two guide/hosts accompanying the trip. The second trip is in Ireland, from 26 July to 4 August. This one is $2400 without air. Included is all Irish ground transportation, double occupancy accommodations with breakfast, seven dinners, ferries, and the accompaniment of yours truly as your host, guide, and driver. There are only one or two seats left on this trip. Here are some details. Day 1— We meet at Shannon and drive to the Dingle Peninsula, about a 2 hour drive. The DP is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and I'm not the only one that thinks so by far! The mountains runs right down to the sea and in addition to the beautiful landscape, the peninsula is a microcosm of Irish history. We would only scratch the surface if we were to stay for a month, but I'll do the best I can in the few days we will have here. This is "my" country and I know it well. Right after lunch we will go to our accommodations (a comfortable family-run B&B with a beautiful view of the ocean and the offshore islands) in Dœn Chaoin, Ireland's westernmost village, where I recommend that you get a nap. We'll have an early dinner and then turn in for a good night's sleep. Day 2— Our mornings always start with a sumptuous Irish country breakfast: oatmeal or dry cereal, brown bread, butter (don't look for margarine in Ireland!), marmalade, eggs, bacon, toast, coffee or tea. Some folks don't feel the need for lunch after such a breakfast. Today we will visit some very early Christian sites (there are MANY on the peninsula), a ring fort, and several other historical and archeological sites. At some point you will want to spend some time in the lovely little fishing-harbor town of Dingle. We'll work that in at some point. Throughout our stay on Dingle we will be meeting my friends there. Mícheál Ó Dubhshláine, author and folklorist may take us on a ramble around Dún Chaoin parish and talk to us about some of the fascinating residents in the old medieval cemetery there. Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh may regale us with a talk on the history of traditional Irish music. And more. Day 3— We will continue our exploration of the Peninsula with a visit to Brandon Creek, from which point St. Brendan began his voyage to the new world some 900 years before what's-his-name, the Italian chap, was even born! Lots to see on the way and on the way back, too. Day 4— Today we may venture off the Peninsula and make a run down into County Cork. We'll stop at the ancient monastery at Ballyvourney, the home of St. Gobhnait, the patron saint of Dún Chaoin. (We'll see her holy well in Dœn Chaoin as well as some of the foundations of her monastery there.) We'll go the site of the ambush that killed Michael Collins in 1922 during the Irish Civil War. Then it's off to Blarney to kiss the stone (optional!) and maybe look at shoppables at the Blarney Woolen Mills right by the castle. Then it's home to Dœn Chaoin, with a stop somewhere for dinner. Day 5— Today we cross the legendary Conner Pass and head to the north side of the Peninsula. We'll stop at a mountain lake and then press on to one of the most beautiful stone alignments in Ireland, antedating the Celts. Then a lovely lunch at a country pub near the harbor in Brandon Village. On the way back we may venture out on a remote road to see an abandoned village and hear the fascinating story of how it came to be so. Then it's time to head for home and dinner. Day 6— We leave Dún Chaoin and head "up country." We'll cross the Shannon on a ferry and then visit the famous Cliffs of Moher. We'll stop for the night in Kilfenora, which is the site of the cultural center for The Burren, the amazing limestone plateau with its unique flora and unusual geography. Day 7— We leave Kilfenora and head to Galway. On the way we see some remarkable Bronze Age tombs, such as the famous Poul na Brón dolmen. We take the ferry to Inis Méain, the middle and smallest (and least visited) of the Aran IslandsÑ also the one with the purest Irish culture and language remaining. We'll arrive in time for dinner and perhaps a visit to the pub. Day 8— After another lovely Irish breakfast we meet at the little island church for a talk from M‡ir’n ne Mheini about the island and its people. Afterwards we will visit the cottage in which John Millington Synge stayed on his many visits to the island. Here he is supposed to have written "Playboy of the Western World" and "Riders to the Sea." After lunch you will be free to wander the island at will and to visit one or both of the great Iron Age forts on the island. Day 9— We're off early for the ferry, which will take us back to the mainland. After a short shopping sojourn in Galway City, we will motor on to our accommodations for our last night together in Ireland. No promises, but I am trying to get us into the lovely banquet and performance in the great room of Dunguaire Castle. Day 10— Off to Shannon for our farewells and our return to the US!
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