Tour of Northern & Western Ireland, Connemara

Day 1.	Dublin/ Drogheda/ Newry / Belfast Welcome & Assistance at the Airport.   Depart for Northern Ireland and travel via Drogheda, Dundalk and into the Belfast Region for overnight and Dinner
Day 2.	Belfast/Armagh / Belfast Morning panoramic tour of Belfast city taking the highlights of the city.       Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland it is located at the mouth of the River Lagan and the head of Belfast Lough. Travel to ARMAGH to visit the two Cathedrals. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland ) St. Patrick founded his chief church here on the Hill of Armagh in 445AD and there has been a Christian Church on the site ever since.   Also visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Roman Catholic). This imposing Cathedral on an elevate site was started in 1840. However the magnificent interior decoration was not completed until early in the 20th century. Free time and panoramic tour of the city. Return to Belfast region for Dinner/Bed/Breakfast.
Day 3.	Belfast/Giants Causeway/Bushmills/Derry Depart in the morning for the North Antrim Coast and visit Giants Causeway, The only World Heritage Site in Ireland, Giants Causeway renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt, resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, the Causeway is designated and area of outstanding natural beauty.     Visit the Old Bushmill’s Distillery which is the Worlds oldest distillery. Experience the craft and skills of making an Irish Single Malt Whiskey and enjoy a tasting.     Continue on to Derry City the second city of Northern Ireland, a historic port, naval base and garrison town.   Panoramic tour and overnight Dinner/Bed/Breakfast
Day 4.	Derry/Strabane/Omagh/Enniskillen/Sligo/Ballina Continue on to Strabane, Omagh and Enniskillen the county town of Fermanagh partly situated on an island site in the River Erne, between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. Visit Belleek Pottery Factory for a guided visit. Continue to Ballyshannon, and to Drumcliff and stop to visit where W.B. Yeats (1865-1939) is buried in 1948, having died in Roquebrune in the South of France, his grave is just north of the porch.    Continue to Sligo a busy market town and important depot for Galway homespun and Donegal Tweeds.   The area has strong literary associations with W.B. Yeats, who as a boy spent many holidays here and was buried at Drumcliff Cemetery 8Km. North of Sligo.    Dinner/Bed/Breakfast in Ballina Region.
Day 5.	Crossmolina/Mulraney/Achill Island / Westport Morning travel up to Ballycastle and visit the Ceide Fields which lies beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo, the most extensive Stone-Age monument in the world, field systems, swelling areas and megalithic tombs of 5000 years ago.  Next travel to Crossmolina, Mulranney, drive out to view the lovely Achill Island. Continue to Newport and on to Westport for Dinner/Bed/Breakfast
Day 6.	Westport/Cliften/Kylemore/Galway Tour of Connemara with its countryside which has inspired both artists and writers for its beauty.    Travel Kylmore via Leenane, set in the heart of Connemara stop to visit the Kylemore Abbey home of the Benedictine nuns since 1920 its one of the great neo-gothic castles of this period remaining in Ireland.         Next continue to Clifden the capital of Connemara and a Salmon and lobster fishing port. Lunch en route.   Continue through Connemara for GALWAY with panoramic tour of Galway City.                                           Dinner & overnight stay in Galway.
Day 7.	Galway/Dublin Following breakfast depart for Dublin and crossing the midlands arrive in Dublin for lunch.   Panoramic tour of Dublin City, viewing the most important sites and visit Trinity College the oldest university in Ireland.   The college is famed for the great treasure it houses including the Book of Kells a 9th century illuminated manuscript.       Visit the National Museum or free time for shopping. Dinner/Bed/B.fast in Dublin
Day 8.	DUBLIN AIRPORT Depending on the flight time, transfer from Dublin Airport for return flight to France.