VBOA International Tour, Ireland, May 23rd - 29th 2010

Itinerary

Day One

Arrival at Carlton Abbey Hotel, Athy, Co. Kildare from 1500hrs. (www.carltonabbeyhotel.com Athy Kildare )

Day Two

Depart Hotel from 0900hrs.

Trip 1

Entrants can visit The National Stud and The Japanese Gardens in Kildare Town (www.irish-national-stud.ie) Followed by a visit to the world renowned Newbridge Silver visitors centre in Newbridge Co Kildare (www.newbridgesilver.com)

A pleasant drive through the .stud country. of Kildare to Blessington, Co. Wicklow will bring you to Russborough House and its charming period tea rooms, gardens and art collection. (www.russborough.ie)Then return to Athy for dinner is through Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow and Castledermot. (www.visitwicklow.ie) 70miles/110kms approx.

Trip 2

Depart Athy and visit Russborough House, Blessington Co. Wicklow.(www.russborough.ie) Followed by a drive by Blessington Lake onto the famous drive, The Sally Gap. (www.visitwicklow.ie) and the Military Road which drops down into the historic monastic settlement of Glendalough with its two lakes and pleasant walks. (www.glendalough.ie)

 

The tour then will take you through the scenic mountain terrain to visit Laragh, Rathdrum, Avoca (of TV's Ballykissangle fame), Tinahely, Baltinglass, Castledermot and Athy for dinner. 106 miles/160kms

Day Three

Depart Athy for Oranmore Lodge Hotel, Oranmore Co Galway (www.oranmorelodgehotel.ie)

stopping in Tullamore Heritage Centre. Tullamore, Co. Offaly. (www.tullamore-dew.com)

Followed by a drive through Clara, Ferbane and on to the Monastic City of Clonmacnoise on the banks of the River Shannon. (www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlandseastcoast/clonmacnoise/)

Later travelling through Ballinasloe and Athenry (yes of the fields' fame!) to the hotel in Oranmore for the next three nights. 108 miles/170kms

Day Four

 

Trip 1

A day trip to the historic City of the Tribes, Galway with its myriad of shopping streets and great pubs with the freshest seafood from the City's quays. Boat trips to the Arran Islands are also available from the City's quays where the recent 2009 Volvo Ocean Yacht Race stopped to avail of Galway's legendary hospitality. 10 miles/ 18 kms (www.galway1.ie)

Trip 2

Take the scenic drive around Lough Corrib (www.corribcruises.com) and drive via Cong, Maam Cross of the "Quiet Man" movie fame and Kylemore Abbey. (www.kylemoreabbey.com) Returning to Oranmore via Oughterard and Galway City. 110 miles/176 km

Day Five

A visit, via Ballyvaughan, to Aillwee caves (www.aillweecave.ie)in the World Famous limestone formation known as the Burren is followed by a trip via Doolin, Co. Clare to the Cliff's of Moher. (www.cliffsofmoher.ie) Europe's highest sea cliffs.

Following this we will be returning to Oranmore via Corrofin, Co. Clare through the Burren National Park.(www.burrennationalpark.ie)

and on through Gort, Co. Galway and back to Oranmore Hotel . 85 miles/135kms (approx)

Day Six

Following departure from Oranmore we will cross the River Shannon at Portumna, Co. Galway

and stop at Birr Castle and Gardens for a visit. (www.birrcastle.com) We will then cross the Slieve Bloom Mountains through .The Cut. and drop down into Mountrath, Co Laois and pass through the small country towns of Abbeyleix and Stradbally heading to our final destination of Athy for our farewell gala dinner and presentations. 105 miles/170kms

Day Seven

Individual departures for home destinations after breakfast