Ireland's Secret Gardens Tour June and September 2012

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Garden Tour Overview

The Irish Connection garden tours can be customized for any group of between 15 and 20 people. We can be entirely flexible in the development of the tour and it can be adjusted to more or less days and more or less garden visits. We can plan the tour to travel just in the South of Ireland or just in the North, or to the whole of the island of Ireland. We can include more castles and manor house visits or make it exclusively horticultural in emphasis. We can include shopping days and rest days if the group wants these. We can supply an expert garden guide or work with an expert in Gardens forming their own group.

We can include pre and post tour hotel accommodations for private exploration in Ireland by individual members of the group, and to rest and recuperate before the tour begins. We can also offer shorter tours to gardens based on Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Cork or Belfast with city tours included and evening cultural activities.

The tour is shown here for June and September 2012. There is much to enjoy in Irish gardens at any time from April to October, during the Gardening Year in Ireland. Request a custom tour for any dates and locations in Ireland and any number of participants from 1 to 35.

Itinerary for the 2012 Garden Tours

For those who wish to arrive early to recover from jet lag and to enjoy some special times in Killarney, we can make arrangements for private transfers to Killarney and pre tour accommodation at additional cost at the Killarney tour hotel. Additional tours, guided walking in the hills, golf or spa treatments in the wonderful spa can be arranged if participants wish during this pre tour period, for additional cost.

Itinerary Summary
Garden tour begins in Ireland on either Sunday June 17th or on Sunday 9th September, 2012
Depart USA - overnight in the plane arrive early next day in Shannon

Day 1: Arrival Day -
Arrive from the USA at Shannon airport. Group will be met by the coach and driver and will travel immediately to the hotel in Killarney. Those who wish can travel the 15 minutes or so to Muckross house and garden where they can walk in the garden (not guided or included in the cost), enjoy the ambience and return to the hotel for the evening with dinner.
Dinner included to night
Overnight Killarney Hotel

Day 2: Travel the Ring of Kerry and visit a wonderful garden - -
Drive the Ring of Kerry with its amazing views and mountains, followed by a visit to Dereen gardens. Free time in the evening for choosing a local pub for dinner or a light meal at the hotel. Dinner not included tonight, choose from the many hotels and restaurants in Killarney.
Overnight Killarney hotel

Day 3: Take a magical trip to an island garden today - -
Travel to the ferry point at Glengariff for a trip to Garinish Island gardens. On returning to the mainland at lunch time, travel to Skibereen to enjoy the atmosphere of a fishing village. Explore on your own, talk to the locals - then on to Cork and overnight in Cork with dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: Explore Cork a free day for personal exploration - -
Explore Cork independently today for shopping, antiques and a cup of coffee in the town. Later in the evening explore the many pubs and restaurants of Cork (unguided). Dinner is not included tonight.
Overnight Cork Hotel.

Day 5: Visit two very different gardens, one part of a cooking school - -
Travel by coach to Lakemount gardens and continue on to Ballymaloe Cookery School gardens, a feast for the eyes in this well known cookery school. Overnight Cork and diinner on your own for opportunities to taste the beer and try the restaurants as you please.

Day 6: Waterford - -
Waterford offers a choice to shoppers ranging through sophisticated fashion shops, craft shops, modern malls including city Square and superb delicatessens and colorful traditional, family owned shops. Entry for the group to Waterford Crystal
Overnight: Waterford and dinner with the group at the hotel included.

Day 7: Mount Usher and Powerscourt Gardens - -
Visit Powerscourt today. This is a formal garden with many unusual features, Travel into Dublin and enjoy some free time in the afternoon exploring this great city - its pubs, shops, St. Stephen's Green, art galleries, museums and churches.
Overnight in Dublin.
Dinner is not included tonight.

Day 8: Tour Dublin and visit Helen Dillon's Dublin garden - -
Guided coach tour of Dublin to see the sights. Today visit Helen Dillons's Dublin garden. Always looking for different ways to focus on plants or design features, she has recently introduced a water feature - an expanse of water, which shows off the plants surrounding it and appears to enlarge her town garden. Some free time in Dublin and this evening join other group members in a Farewell dinner. Overnight in Dublin.

Day 9: Departure from Dublin for the USA - -
After breakfast travel by coach to the airport for departure to the USA.

Touring schedule, garden visits and hotels subject to change

Accommodation for 2 nights Killarney
3 nights Cork
1 night Waterford
2 nights Dublin in twin share accommodation
Breakfast each day
There is a single supplement in addition to the twin share cost
Coach airport transfers
Use of a quality coach and driver throughout the tour
Dinner 3 courses with tap water (wine available but not included) included on 4 nights
Entrances to the gardens to be visited as shown in the itinerary included
Entrances to Waterford Crystal factory
Ferry to Glengariff
Driving tour of Dublin included.

Not Included
Air transportation
Any taxi or other transportation not specifically included in the tour itinerary
Insurance - this is highly recommended and can be provided.
Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry and telephone bills.
Entrances to places of interest, gardens or attractions not included in the tour itinerary
Any meals not specifically included in the tour itinerary
Lunch each day is not included in the tour price.
Spa treatments of any kind

Cost
$2,950.00 per person sharing in a twin or double room
$ 650.00 single supplement added to the twin share cost

Deposit and final balance payment
In order to confirm this tour we need a deposit of $350 per person payable to The Irish Connection by agency check and mailed to The Irish Connection, PO Box 15495, Atlanta, GA 30333.

The tour is for a minimum of 10 people

We reserve the right to make changes to the tour price based on currency fluctuation.

NOTE: The itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, and requires a minimum of 10 people.

Individuals and couples can book online or by phone. A group can book as a group of 10 or more with or without their own Tour Leader.

All tours of the Irish Connection are subject to availability and Conditions of Sale and Registration.
To request further details and Conditions of Sale and Registration forms contact the Irish Connection