Omicron Group SOCI 499x

S O C I 4 9 9 X T r a v e l & S t u d y I n I r e l a n d : A V i r t u a l T o u r
Trip itinerary, costs and associated items.

T R I P I T I N E R A R Y

Day 1
Leave Cincinnati (June 13), stopover in Philadelphia, arrive at Shannon Airport in Ireland around 11:00 am on June 14 (day 1). Our waiting coach takes us straight from the airport to visit nearby Bunratty castle which dates from the early 1400's and Bunratty Folk Park, a reconstructed traditional Irish village (11 Euros entrance fee for both places), and have late lunch at the world famous Dirty Nelly pub, established in 1620, which is adjacent to the Park.
Stop at Dromoland Castle, where President Bush stayed while on a summit trip. Arrive at Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway -- Galway is about 60 miles north of Shannon. Galway is Europe's fastest growing city and the fourth largest in Ireland . A lively university city of narrow streets, quaint shop fronts, bustling pubs and stunning surrounding scenery, it has always attracted a bohemian mix of musicians, artists and intellectuals. Lying on the banks of the River Corrib, Galway is home to the famous Druid theater. This is our first night in Ireland.

Day 2
Depart for tour of Connemara through the Maumturk Mountains to visit Kylemore Abbey and its Church, Mausoleum, and Gardens (6.50 Euros) nestled in a lush forest on the edge of Kylemore Lake . This abbey is the only one in Ireland that is run entirely by nuns. Lunch at Veldon’s. Visit Aasleagh Falls, Mayo County and the town of Leenane. Stop at National Park (2.75 E). Stop in the city of Clifden and pass by where the film “Quiet Man” was filmed. Return to Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway

Day 3
Depart Galway for North Clare toVisit Dunguaire Castle (2.20 E). The drive through the Burren – a protected area with rare species of plants and rare rocks, including he 5,000 year-old Poulnabrone Dolmen. . Stop in Ballyvaughn for break. Stop for photo op on Corkscrew Hill – pass by Gregan’s Castle and Hotel, go through Lisdoonvarna – matchmaker town,
pass by “Lego Castle” – a hotel now, gaze at the four Aran Islands off the coast and then
visit the Cliffs of Moher (3 E) and O’Briens Tower – the cliffs are the highest in Europe – rising more than 200 meters from the Atlantic ocean below. Head to town of Lahinch by the sea, lunch at O’Looney’s. Stop at Lemaneagh Castle and the nearby graveyard built in 1200.
Stop at The Dolmen – Poulnabrone – Portal Tomb (5,800 year old tomb; at least 22 bodies buried there over 600 years; tombs for the special dead) and then drive to Doolin for our overnight stay. Go to McDermott’s Pub, world famous for its live Irish music.

Day 4
Depart Doolin via Killimer Car Ferry to Tarbert. Pass by the Spanish Point – where the Spanish Armada came across, wrecked, and sank. Stop at Tralee by the sea – go to Ballybunion Castle on the cliff of the beach (dated pre-1500; destroyed 1582 during the Kerry Raids; one of 15 different cliff forts). Drive through Killorglin and Castlemaine and on to overnight at Dingle.

Day 5
Depart for Tour of the Dingle Peninsula
Visit Beehive huts (2 E) dated from 2000 BC. Visit Relics of the 1845 Irish Famine (2 E), view Dunmore Head from Slea Head – it is the most western part of Europe, stop at Dunchaon Pier for photo op – it is the ferry to Blasket Island -- and visit The Blasket Islands Center (2 E). Back to Dingle for lunch and then drive to Conner’s Pass. In the afternoon we will take a boat tour to see Fungi, the Dolphin (12 E). Overnight at Dingle

Day 6
Depart Dingle. Visit Muckcross House and Gardens (2.25 E), Ross Castle, Killarney National Park , the Gap of Dunloe, and the three beautiful Killarney lakes. Killarney is also famous for traditional Irish music heard in its many singing pubs where you can dance and talk with the talented musicians. Overnight at Killarney

Day 7
Depart Killarney to visit Blarney Castle and to kiss the Blarney Stone (7 E). Then drive to Waterford to visit its world-famous Crystal Factory and eventually arrive at Kilkenny. Free afternoon and overnight at Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel

Day 8
Depart Kilkenny for New Ross Via Enniscorthy and on to visit Powerscourt Castle and Gardens (outside of Dublin) (5 E for garden). Drive through Gorey and on to the “Vale of Avoca” and Glendalough. Arrive at Dublin late afternoon. Walk to the Temple Bar district for dinner. Overnight at the Jury's Inn, Parnell St.,

Day 9
A full day to explore the sights of Dublin, a city brimming with culture and places of interest. Among the places we will visit are: the 8th century illuminated manuscripts, the Book of Kells, on display at the impressive Trinity College (10 E for both), Ireland 's first university (founded 1592); Phoenix Park , twice the size of New York City 's Central Park, Georgian Dublin around Steven's Green; the Nation Botanical Gardens; the Hugh Lane Municipal Art Gallery; and the Guinness Brewery. Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. Overnight in Dublin (ninth night in Ireland.

Day 10 (Jun 23)
Transfer to Dublin Airport and through Philadelphia back to Cincinnati (same day arrival)..

R E L E V A N T I N F O

Payment Plan and other financial details: A deposit of $300 dollars per person is required as soon as possible in order to secure your place. Please bring your deposit checks to me or to Sandi Delabar, Secretary of Social Sciences Department, or mail them to our SSU address or put in an envelope and push under my office’s door. Make check payable to “Stylianos Hadjiyannis.” If a participant can pay for the entire cost of the trip in one payment it is recommended that they should do so at this stage.

When you give us your deposit please indicate to us if you:

ü Will be taking the tour as a student

If you are traveling alone we will find same gender roommates for you.

When you give us your deposit please provide us with your

Ø Current e-mail address

Ø Home address

Ø Phone number

As soon as enough participants to make the trip a go have turned in their checks, I will cash your checks and wire the deposits to Ireland. You will be notified prior to cashing the checks to ensure there is no change in your plans to participate. If you decide to cancel on the trip your check will be returned to you. Once Authentic Ireland Travel has received the wired money and forward payments to the airline you can still cancel but there might/will be no refund.

The payment plan after the deposits is as follows: By end of February $600, by end of March $600, and by end of April the remainder. This plan contains a certain degree of flexibility but please try to be prompt. Please let me know as soon as problems with your payments develop.

All participants will need a valid passport. See me for information on how to obtain one. It might take up to two months for your passport to be processed so act on this as early as possible. No visa is required for US passports. For non-US passport holders please check with your country’s consulate or with the republic of Ireland (Eire) consulate/embassy on the Internet.

For all participants (US or non-US): The complete name you will give me or Sandi Delabar will be used to reserve your airline seats. The airline will use this name to eventually issue you the ticket. The name on your ticket must be identical to the name in your passport.

Please note: Priority for participation is for those who take the tour as students. This is a summer quarter (1st five week term) 2006 course. You will need to register for this class, as you do with your other classes, when summer quarter registration begins.

There will be space for “community members” to join the group. “Community members” are defined as any person willing to come along. Priority will be given to relatives/significant others/friends of enrolled students. You are welcome to submit their names (and deposit money). They will be accepted on a first signed up basis. The goal is to have at least 30 persons traveling in order to ensure the better rate so please help me advertise this tour.

There will be 3 to 4 pre-trip orientation group meetings. Participants will be notified accordingly and in a timely manner when those will occur. All participants are required to attend these. Many aspects of the trip and travel advisories will be discussed. There will also be a series of meetings of an academic nature. All enrolled students are required to attend these. Non-student participants may attend if they so wish.

Finally, I look forward to being your professor and guide in a great study tour such as this if past trips are an indication of their worth. For returning veterans I feel doubly honored in sharing this adventure with you. Please see me for any questions not discussed here or elsewhere in this site.

Summary of Important points:

In making a deposit to ensure your reservation and participation, indicate to me or Sandi whether you will be taking the tour as an enrolled student, give us your name as it will appear in your passport, provide us with a valid e-mail address, indicate your rooming preferences, obtain a passport, observe the payment deadlines, attend the meetings, inform us of changes in your plans, enroll in the course, promote the tour to other students and community members, peruse the web site for this trip, and be prepared to have a great educational and fun experience.