DOWD Mayo Irish 4 Day Getaway

We'll take you on a four-day journey to the heart of Ireland connecting you with Ireland's history and contemporary culture.

Itinerary

• Arrive Dublin airport - Meet and greet on arrival and transfer to Dublin City Centre
• Walk back 1000 years to the Viking origins of the city with a visit to Christchurch Cathedral, founded in the early eleventh century
• Continue through the centuries to the Georgian squares and witness life in Ireland's elegant capital in the 1800s
• Complete your urban immersion by tracing the past 100 years of life in Dublin at the award winning Little Museum of Dublin
• Board the 101 Tour Executive Coach and travel to your luxury hotel
• Welcome reception on arrival and dinner in your hotel followed by Fireside Chat "On being Irish"
• Overnight stay at Ashford Castle

• Full Irish Breakfast followed by briefing on the day's visits
• Among the options for today's itinerary is for the tour to take you to some of Ireland's oldest and most unique archaeological sites including the most extensive stone age monument in the world at the Ceide Fields including field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs of 5,000 years ago, the agricultural and rural artifact museum at The Mayo North Family Heritage Centre, the spectacular National Museum of Country Life, the 70ft. high and wonderfully preserved Turlough Round Tower, the historic Cong Abbey, one of the oldest religious sites in Ireland, the Croagh Patrick mountain is home to an 11th Century monastery, one of the most beautiful historic homes in Ireland at Westport House and one of Europe's major Marian shrines, Knock Shrine
• Today's experience spans over 3,000 years of history connecting you right back to the Celts whose contribution to who we are Irish people is crucial
• 8pm Dinner with traditional Irish entertainment
• Overnight stay at Ashford Castle

• Breakfast in hotel
• Today's itinerary focuses on contemporary Ireland, on life in Ireland today
• In the morning we visit two schools of contrasting sizes, both representative of life in Ireland today - a small 3 teacher rural school and a large urban school
• We also visit a number of craft workshops and artisan food producers located in the hinterland around Ashford Castle, representing the new creative energy that is emanating from Ireland today
• Reception and farewell dinner at Ashford Castle
• Overnight stay at Ashford Castle

• Final breakfast together then guests are coached back to Dublin or Shannon Airport