Dun Aengus Iron Age Fortress, 1,100 B.C.E., Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, Ireland
August 27, 2016 - September 6, 2016
Hello Everyone,
Have you ever thought about going to Ireland?
Do you have a bit of Irish DNA in your ancestry?
Does the Celtic culture intrigue you?
Are you a history buff and would like to see the historic sites?
Do you enjoy sweeping views of breathtaking scenery?
How about Irish music, dancing, singing, stories, poetry, and Irish brogue?
Do you love to hear stories, laugh, explore, connect, and learn?
You are invited to join me to experience the beauty and enchantment of Ireland. Meet new people, see spectacular sights. Walk the Neolithic stone sites, swap stories and poems with new friends, and discover inspiring new vistas, in nature and within yourself.
We will explore spectacular County Clare and County Galway and in the West of Ireland: Ballyvaughn on Galway Bay, The Burren Irish Heritage Site, Doolin, and Inishmore in the Aran Islands and then to the world renowned Cape Clear Island Storytelling Festival to hear extraordinary tales told by famous and enchanting storytellers.
You are warmly invited to join me in Ireland for this unique adventure.
Space for 22 total.
Ireland
Travel Itinerary
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Fly to Shannon, Ireland.
Poulnebrone Dolmen Megalithic Site, 3,200 B.C.E.
August 28 and 29
We begin our tour by traveling north into County Clare and explore The Burren, an Irish Heritage Site known for it's prehistoric dolmens, ring forts, unique geology, endemic plant species, natural, history, and sweeping vistas.
The West of Ireland is famous for it's beautiful land and seascapes, neighborhood pubs with live traditional Irish music, outdoor markets, handmade woolens and crafts, traditions, Neolithic sites stretching back 12,000 (!) years, and friendly Irish locals who have preserved the ancient Gaelic language.
Ballyvaughn will be our base for 2 days; a quaint seaside village on Galway Bay, known for it's sweeping beauty, castles, 13th-century Cistercian monastery, and colorful sunsets.
2 nights in Ballyvaughn on Galway Bay.
3-star rating or higher.
Playing Traditional Irish Music
You'll hear the tunes of the pipes, fiddles, flutes, and bodhrán, (Irish frame drum,) of traditional Irish music as you walk down the sidewalks of Ballyvaughn. "Good craic," they say, pronounced "crack" and meaning fun, having a laugh, having a good time.
In this picturesque fishing village Irish language abounds. See the charming shops featuring the work of local artisans, visit Monk's pub and An Fear Gorta Tea and Garden Room, and stroll out along scenic Galway Bay.
August 30
We'll continue on to the village of Doolin on the Atlantic coast, enjoying a panoramic tour of the capital of Ireland’s Western region. Doolin is known for it's rich traditional of Irish Music and draws performers and audience from all over Europe to the quaint pubs along the pier.
August 31
After breakfast we'll take the ferry to Inishmore in the Aran Islands, County Galway, and travel out to the western most edge of the limestone cliffs of Dun Aengus, towering 300 feet above the waves of the Atlantic.
Experience this the adventure, history, and culture of the Gaeltacht island of Inishmore, where the Irish language is spoken and preserved and is home to prehistoric sites dating back to 1,100 B.C.E. Visit the woolen mills and shop for hand knit Aran Island sweaters with historic family patterns hundreds of years old.
Ancient Celtic stone crosses on an Aran Island hillside looking out to the sea.
Ferry to Cape Clear Island
September 1st
Travel to Baltimore on the southwestern edge of Ireland and catch the ferry to Cape Clear Island, home of a world famous Storytelling Festival. I'll lead an evening Group Gathering with stories and an orientation to the festival.
Storytelling Performance, Cape Clear Island
September 2nd - 4th
Cape Clear Storytelling Festival, a 3-day internationally known extravaganza. Experience a terrific program each evening of world class storytelling performances, daily story swaps, classes, cultural events, music concerts, historical walks, and talks.
Interested in history and nature? Join the heritage walk with Diarmuid O'Drisceoill. Want to improve your storytelling performance skills? Take part in one of the workshops. Like to tell stories? Stand up and give a story at one at the afternoon Story Swaps. Friday and Saturday night experience the headliners performing their stories.
This event favorite among story lovers from around the world and has organized on Cape Clear Island for the past 24 years since 1992.
September 1 - 4:
Cape Clear Hostel
This historic house by the sea is reserved for our group. Lodging on the picturesque little Gaelic island is extremely limited on this remote island, mostly in local’s homes and B&Bs. Rooms are usually booked a year in advance. The island is inundated with Storytellers from around the world for this event. An estimated 450+ Storytellers were there with us last year.
The Hostel has a large open kitchen, living area with fireplace, and large dining and meeting room, and laundry facilities. We have full use of the house during our stay. Our hostess is the charming innkeeper, Anne O'Reagan, from a local island family, keeps the place sparkling clean with warm bedding and fresh towels, and the kitchen stocked with tea and delicious Irish Soda Bread. Our group stayed with the warm and friendly Irish innkeeper Anne last September. Our group loved the ambiance, the peace and quiet, fresh air, the waves lapping at the shore just outside our windows, community living, proximity to events, and being immersed in the nature of this magical little island.
The rooms are very basic with bunk beds, 2 - 4 per room. Some people will have lower bunks (register early to reserve a lower bunk) and some upper. If the lower bunks are full and you prefer another option, Anne will do her best to arrange one for you in a B&B nearby.
Register early for choice of upper or lower bunk.
Last year the Hostel surprised many of us by being a highlight of the trip.
Heather, Limestone, and the Atlantic Ocean from above the bay on Cape Clear Island
There is kayaking in the bay just outside the door. We even saw hardy souls swimming, too! The water was warmer than might be expected at that latitude with the Atlantic Gulf Stream sweeping up from the Caribbean along the eastern edge of the island.
Monday, September 5th
Depart Cape Clear aboard the ferry back to Baltimore Landing and have lunch at the Pub at the pier. We'll continue by coach to Shannon for dinner together as a group. Overnight in Shannon, 3+ star hotel.
Tuesday, September 6
Return flight from Shannon Airport
Walking Road Showing The Hostel on Cape Clear Island
Walking:
The main mode of transport on Cape Clear Island is by foot and an occasional taxi that can be arranged in advance. There are very few cars on the narrow little paved roads with picturesque stone fences where one can sit, admire the scenery, rest, and chat. There will be Storytellers walking up and down the roads, in the pubs, all over the place! Enjoy easy and interesting conversations with tellers from around the world. You will need to be able to walk about a mile or so at your own pace in order to get around on the island, to the Village and the various classes and performances.
Members of our 2015 Ireland Storytelling Tour
It's about a 15 minute pleasant walk from the Hostel along the water and over the hill to town for the festival, shop, harbor, restaurant, and pubs. About 30 - 45 minutes walk uphill to the evening performances.
Included in This Trip
Included:
1. Round-trip coach airfare from Seattle, WA or Portland, OR to Shannon, Ireland on August 27, 2016, return September 6, 2016, including one 50 lb max. suitcase checked free
1. Airport transfers to and from Shannon Airport
1. 9 nights lodging as listed on itinerary above, August 28 - September 5, based on double occupancy 2 twin beds. 5 nights in 3-Star Hotels on the Mainland, 4 nights on Cape Clear Island at the Hostel in twin bed lower bunks, shared rooms and separate men's and women's shared baths down the hall. For single room, add $400 provided space is available at the hotel.
1. I will personally meet you Shannon airport on August 28, 2016 and accompany you throughout the trip, to Cape Clear Island, the festival, and back to Shannon.
1. I'll be telling Irish Myths, Legends and poetry along the way.
1. Private transportation on the mainland by coach with professional Irish driver/guide between cities
1. Excursions as listed in the itinerary above to The Burren in County Clare, Ballyvaughn, Doolin, Aran Island, County Galway, and Cape Clear Island
1. Free time to shop, hike, relax, take in the scenery, visit the pubs, enjoy the music, talk with the locals, and explore.
1. Pre-Storytelling Festival Evening Group Gathering and Storytelling on Sept 1
1. Post-Storytelling Festival Evening Group Gathering, Wrap-Up, Debrief, and Stories on Sept 4
Excluded, Traveler Pays
Excluded:
Travelers are responsible for:
1. Excess baggage fees: $100 for 2nd suitcase
2. Meals
3. Personal expenses
4. Transportation, sightseeing and admissions other than specified above
5. Tips and gratuities
6. Ferry Ticket to Cape Clear (aprox 32 Euros (aprox $36 US as of this writing)
7. Entrance fee to Cape Clear Storytelling Festival, aprox 85 Euros (aprox $95 U.S. depending upon the exchange rate)
8. Travel insurance, optional and recommended highly.
Travel Insurance:
Travel insurance typically pays the amount of your trip if you are unable to make the trip due to illness, lost luggage, hotels in case the trip is delayed, illness (yours, or a family member's making you unable to travel) plus dental and medical. Please check each policy for the specifics of the coverage.
Policies usually cost usually between $100 - $250 depending upon the amount you insure, the policy you select, and your age. I recommend the deluxe policies at these 2 companies:
Allianz Global Assistance or
Travel Guard.
Purchase these policies online (click the link above) or from a travel agent.
Travel Options
1. Want To Fly Business or First Class? You can upgrade your ticket and pay the difference from $1,200 included in the trip and the higher fare.
1. Use Your Frequent Flyer Miles? Use miles to book your ticket or arrange your own travel and meet us at Shannon Airport at 11 am August 28, 2016 to join the group for the land portion of this trip, deduct $1,200 from $3,995 = $2,795 total.
For booking with frequent flyer miles, please book your airline ticket right away because seats are very limited during the busy summer months.
1. Extra Luggage: Your first suitcase is free, 50 lbs. max. 2nd suitcase charge is $100.
1. Extend Your Trip? If you'd like to create a longer trip and include visits to other destinations you can buy your own ticket and arrange your own details as you wish. Deduct $1,200 airfare from $3,995 cost of the trip, and purchase your own ticket. $2,795 total for the land portion of Ireland trip.
Tellers and Listeners Gathering Before A Performance on Cape Clear
Maximum 22 People.
Cost Including Airfare $3,995
Cost EXcluding Airfare $2,795
Both rates include 9 nights lodging and all ground transportation.
August 27 - September 6, 2015
$1,000 deposit to secure your place.
Including airfare: $3,995
$1,000 deposit and 7 monthly payments of $427.50 between February and August 1, 2016 charged to your VISA, Mastercard, or Discover Card on the first day of each month.
Deposit to Hold Your Place: $1,000
February 1, 2016 . . . $427.85
March 1, 2016 . . . . . $427.85
April 1, 2016 . . . . . . .$427.85
May 1, 2016 . . . . . . . $427.85
June 1, 2016 . . . . . . .$427.85
July 1, 2016 . . . . . . . $427.85
August 1, 2016 . . . . . $427.85
Total . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,995.00
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXcluding airfare: $2,795
$1,000 deposit and 7 monthly payments of $256 between February and August 1, 2016 charged to your VISA, Mastercard, or Discover Card on the first day of each month.
All payments are nonrefundable, thus the importance of travel insurance to protect your investment if something unforeseen arises and you are unable to travel. Be sure to read your policy so you know what situations are is covered and what amount you would be your insurance would pay.
Payable by check, MasterCard, Visa, or Discover Card
An Informal Storytelling Gathering Near the Ferry Landing on Cape Clear Island, Ireland
Refund Policy:
There are no refunds. Please purchase travel insurance to protect you from unforeseen circumstances.
Passport:
Please check your passport's expiration date. It is required to be valid through March 9, 2017, or beyond, six months past the conclusion of our trip. Please renew you passport now if necessary.
If you need a passport, go to the post office, pick up an application, get passport photos as specified, and send in your application. It normally takes 6 - 8 weeks to get your passport once you submit your application.
Doing this sooner than later is a good idea.
No visas are required to enter Ireland from the U.S.A.
Secure Your Place:
Space for 22.
Click here to make your $1,000 nonrefundable deposit with PayPal for Ireland 2016
If you are making payments, once you have registered, Lindagail will contact you for your VISA, Mastercard, or Discover Card for monthly payments.
Payment in full: $3,995 INcluding airfare
Payment in full: $2,795 EXcluding airfare
Please contact me with any questions you may have about this exciting trip. I hope you can join us.
Sláinte! (SLAHN-chə) Irish toast meaning "Good Health."
Lindagail Telling a Story - Photo by Elizabeth Lord
"May you always have these blessings... A soft breeze when the summer comes, A warm fireside in winter, And always the warm, soft, smile of a friend." ~ Traditional Irish Blessing
"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." ~ Saint Augustine, 354–430 C.E.
"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."
~ Martin Buber, Philosopher
