Sunday, July 29, 2012

Final Itinerary

The Jane Froman Singers
American Celebration of Music in Ireland
Mr. Nollie Moore, Director
May 13-22, 2013

Day 1 Monday, May 13, 2013
8:00am Depart Columbia via White Knight Bus (board at Practice Hall)
12:50pm Depart via Delta Air Lines flight 1423, connecting in Atlanta to Delta Air Lines flight 176, to Dublin, Ireland

Day 2 Tuesday, May 14, 2013 
7:30am Arrive in Dublin
Meet your MCI Tour Manager, Barbara Hunter, who will assist the group to awaiting chartered motorcoach for a transfer to Galway via the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most spectacular sights. On a clear day, the views are tremendous

Lunch on your own

3:00pm Hotel check-in at Salthill Hotel

6:00pm Evening Welcome Dinner for students at the hotel (Amber Restaurant)  and for guests dinner will be at local restaurant (McSwiggans) followed by overnight at the hotel. 

Galway is picturesquely situated at the northeast end of Galway Bay, at the point where the short tidal River Corrib, coming from Lough Corrib, pours its abundant flow of water into the Atlantic. Galway is the seat of the diocese of Galway county, and has a university (part of the National University of Ireland), in which much of the teaching is in Irish.

Day 3 Wednesday, May 15, 2013 
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
8:30am Half-day sightseeing to Knockmoy Abbey. Picturesquely situated on a small lough, are the ruins of Knockmoy Abbey (National Monument), a Cistercian house founded in 1190.

Lunch on your own

2:00pm Rehearsal at St. Nicholas Collegiate to prepare for the first concert.
3:30pm Return to hotel
5:00pm Dinner at the hotel for students
5:30pm Dinner at The King’s Head restaurant for guests
7:00pm Transfer to St. Nicholas Collegiate to prepare for performance
8:00pm Performance in St. Nicholas Collegiate as part of the American Celebration of Music in Ireland
Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 4 Thursday, May 16, 2013 
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel followed by hotel check-out
9:00am Transfer to Killarney via Limerick for a visit to Bunratty Castle and Folk ParkThe castle was begun by the Vikings, who built a fortified settlement on a former island surrounded by a moat. Then came the Normans, who built the first stone structure in the 1270’s. The present castle is the fourth or fifth to occupy the location beside the River Ratty and was built in the early 1400’s

Lunch on your own

Continue to Killarney for check-in at Scotts Gardens Hotel
6:30pm Dinner at the hotel for students; dinner at local restaurant (The Lord Kenmare) for guests.

Killarney (Cill Airne - The Church of Sloes) became a magnificent town around 1750 when the local magnate, Lord Kenmare, developed the tourist business and four major roads were built to the outside world.

Day 5 Friday, May 17, 2013 
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Full-day excursion along the Ring of Kerry, a 179 km road circuit around the Iveragh Peninsula.

Lunch on your own

3:30pm Return to the hotel.

5:00pm Dinner at the hotel for students; dinner at local restaurant (Foleys Townhouse) for guests.

6:30pm Rehearsal in St. Mary’s Church
8:00pm Performance in St. Mary’s Church as part of the American Celebration of Music in Ireland.
Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 6 Saturday, May 18, 2013 
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel followed by hotel check-out
9:00am Transfer to Cork where we will visit the Blarney Castle and Stone. The castle dates from 1446 and is built on solid limestone in beautiful grounds. The sacred stone is found at the top of the castle and when you catch a glimpse of it, you may well feel compelled to bend over backwards and kiss it!

Lunch on own
Continue to Waterford

2:50pm Enjoy a walking tour of the city given by Jack Burtchaell. Jack Burtchaell has for years now charmed and informed visitors on his historic tours. A walled city of Viking origins, Waterford retains much of its medieval character together with the graceful buildings from its 18th century expansion. Reginald's Tower marks the city's Viking heart and the surrounding area is particularly attractive.

3:50pm Visit the Waterford Glass visitors center to see some of the famous hand cut crystal.

4:00pm Then it is off to Kilkenny to check-in at Fitzwilton Hotel
7:00pm Dinner at the hotel for students; dinner at local restaurant (La Boheme) for guests.

Kilkenny is considered by many to be second only to Dublin in its attraction for visitors. Its narrow winding streets lend it an atmosphere of old world charm; its terraces of handsome
Georgian houses give it elegance; and with all this it is a busy modern town and market center for a fertile agricultural area.

Day 7 Sunday, May 19, 2013 
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am Morning sightseeing in Kilkenny. Enjoy a tour of Kilkenny Castle, begun by William de Marshal in the 13th century. From 1391 to 1931 the castle was the principal seat of the Butler family. Finely situated on the high river bank and surrounded by gardens, the castle is now open to the public. Some of the rooms have been restored; particularly charming is the Victorian Great Hall

Lunch on own

Afternoon at leisure!

5:45pm Rehearsal at St. Iberius Church

7:00pm Performance in St. Iberius Church in Wexford as part of the American Celebration of Music in Ireland.

9:30pm Dinner at the hotel for students; dinner at local restaurant, L’Atmosphere, for guests.

Day 8 Monday, May 20, 2013 
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel followed by hotel check-out
9:00am Transfer to Dublin via Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. The steep wooded slopes of Glendalough the “valley of the two lakes” harbor one of Ireland’s most atmospheric monastic sites — established in the 6th century. Here, we see the Round Tower, Cathedral, St. Kevin’s Cross and Kitchen, and Gatehouse.

Lunch on own

1:30pm Continue to Dublin
3:00pm Performance in the Guinness Storehouse for the Bluegrass Ensemble, all others to attend!

Check into Academy Plaza Hotel
7:00pm Dinner at Merry Ploughboys Pub

Return to the hotel

Dublin is Ireland’s capital and its largest, most cosmopolitan city. Today, with its elegant Georgian streets, gregarious inhabitants and over one thousand years of history, it’s little wonder Dublin is a city of writers.

Day 9 Tuesday, May 21, 2013
8:00am Breakfast at the hotel
9:00am This morning’s touring includes visits to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College. Trinity College is Ireland’s oldest university. It was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592 on grounds confiscated from a monastery. Trinity College’s official name is the University of Dublin, although it is popularly known by the name of its sole college. The highlight of the tour will be a view of the Book of Kells, which dates from AD 800, making it one of the oldest books in the world.

Lunch on own

Afternoon at leisure!

5:00pm Dinner at the hotel for students; dinner at local restaurant (The Brazen Headfor guests.

6:30pm Rehearsal in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church to prepare for performance.

7:30pm Performance in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Glastule Parish as part of the American Celebration of Music in Ireland

Return to the hotel.

Day 10 Wednesday, May 22, 2013 
5:00am Boxed breakfast at the hotel followed by hotel check-out
5:30am Transfer to Dublin’s International Airport for return flight
9:20am Depart Dublin via Delta Air Lines flight 177, connecting in Atlanta with Delta Air Lines flight 1199
3:50pm Arrival in Saint Louis.