There is nowhere else on earth with a warmer welcome than Ireland - and right now it’s never been easier to get there, thanks to year round service to Dublin with Aer Lingus and new direct flights in 2018 from Toronto to Shannon and Montreal to Dublin with Air Canada. Transat and WestJet also have seasonal charter service – making Ireland accessible and affordable with lots of choice! With the excellent flight connections, Dublin and Belfast make a great city break vacation.
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Just a short 6 hour flight away, Ireland is the closest point in European for Canadians wanting to discover this rich culture and heritage. It’s safe and easy to travel around the country and there is no language barrier – no wonder we are visiting in record numbers!
If you search the Trafalgar website at www.trafalgar.com you will find 24 itineraries that include Ireland and more than 9 that exclusively focus on Ireland - including a very well-priced tour from the Cost Saver brand. So, there is lots of choice according to your interests and budget. The beauty of a trip with Trafalgar is that accommodation, meals, sights and experiences are all taken care of. You don’t have to worry, and you won’t miss anything with their well planned itineraries and knowledgeable Tour Director who is with you every step of the way.
No driving, no route finding, no organizing, no negotiating – you don’t even have to carry your own suitcase! Which means you are free to have fun and enjoy the company of your fellow travellers.
Don’t just think of Ireland as a summer destination – Ireland is always in season, and Fall is a particularly lovely time. Did you know that the average temperature in Ireland in September ranges between 10 and 18 degrees? In September there is an average of over 4 hours sunshine per day and less rainfall than in the peak month of August. Compare the mild winter temperatures in Ireland to Canada and it’s a no brainer!
Not only is the weather in the Fall often very pleasant – Ireland is less crowded and better value in the off peak months. It is a good time to enjoy a city break in Dublin or Belfast and Ireland’s excellent restaurants, accommodations and tours are open all year round. And the fabulous history, culture, festivals, stunning scenery - and golf - are waiting for you 12 months of the year.
In Ireland you can discover history that goes back earlier than the pyramids, and marvel at some of the most stunning coastal scenery you will find anywhere.
The awe-inspiring Wild Atlantic Way
The Wild Atlantic Way, stretching all the way from the Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal to Kinsale in Co. Cork is amongst the world’s best driving tours. It stretches along 2,500 km of the wildest, most captivating scenery found anywhere - with lots to do and see along the way. Go whale watching and then enjoy an amazing seafood dinner in County Cork; take a walk along the dramatic Cliffs of Moher and stop for homemade ice cream. Or see the Northern Lights along the Donegal coastline.
Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coastal Route
As well as the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland has more than its fair share of stunning coastal scenery. In Northern Ireland the majestic Causeway Coastal Route, famed for its dramatic landscapes, is counted as one of the world’s great road journeys. Not to be missed is the famous Giant’s Causeway, but there is also a new addition to the coastal experience that allows you to walk along the very edge of the Irish Sea.
The Gobbins coastal path was originally created as a tourist attraction for the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company in 1902, with visitors paying 6d to enjoy a ‘perfect marvel of engineering'. Now the path has been reopened to provide an unexpected white-knuckle walk which will thrill those with a sense of adventure and delight those who are looking to experience the coast up close.
Ireland’s Ancient East
Ireland’s Ancient East represents a wonderful opportunity to experience 5,000 years of European history in a compact area. The Ancient East area allows visitors to get off the beaten track to see, hear, touch and feel the imprints made over millennia by the settlers in this beautiful landscape.
Ancient Man, Early Christians, Medieval Lords, Colonial Settlers and their descendants have all been seduced by Ireland’s lush, green and fertile lands. And it’s easy to explore as visitors can go at their own pace to discover tombs older than the pyramids, a Viking settlement or castles and fortresses. And, as everywhere else you go in Ireland, there are stories from the friendly locals who are some of the best story tellers in the world.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site at Newgrange should also be on your “must see” list. It’s a Stone Age monument in the Boyne Valley, County Meath consisting of a large circular mound with a stone passageway and chambers inside. The mound is ringed by 97 large kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art.
Newgrange is famous for the spectacular shaft of light that spills through its roof-box every year at winter solstice. This alignment, coaxes the sunlight 19 metres into the heart of the chamber – demonstrating an amazing knowledge of astronomy when you consider that Newgrange was constructed about 3,200 B.C., which makes it older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Setting for Films and TV Series
The Irish countryside is so beautiful that it is becoming a movie star in its own right! Much of the Fantasy blockbuster TV series “Game of Thrones” is filmed on location in Northern Ireland. If you are a fan – Northern Ireland is the epicentre of all things Game of Thrones. Aside from the landscapes that evoke true fantasy - there’s a good reason why Northern Ireland was picked by Game of Thrones location scouts. There are castles everywhere; incredible structures that catapult you right to the heart of the mythical land of Westeros.
Northern Ireland offers fans a self-drive tour through scene-stealing locations along the Causeway Coast and Glens. And the Titanic Studios in Belfast are also frequently used for filming.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens sent the global box-office into hyper drive. Since 1977, the record-breaking movie franchise has travelled through more than a few galaxies. This time around the cast and crew jetted into a little town called Portmagee, County Kerry, on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, to discover a dream filming location. The heart stopping scenery of Skellig Michael was depicted as the hideout of Luke Skywalker in the movie. Skellig Michael, a remote island in Co Kerry, housed a monastery from around the 6th to the 12th century, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In addition the popular TV series “Vikings” on the History Channel is filmed in Co Wicklow. This is a very appropriate setting as Viking heritage runs deep in Ireland’s Ancient East.
Food in Ireland is fresh, tasty and served with a contemporary twist. The cuisine and craft beer scene in Ireland is going from strength to strength, and are a great reason to visit. It is blossoming right now with new microbreweries, gastro-pubs, craft distilleries and artisan eateries serving the freshest local ingredients. Awaiting you are artisan cheese, exceptional beef and lamb and fresh-off-the-boat seafood, sublime smoked salmon and the creamiest butter imaginable!
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When it comes to food on the island of Ireland, you need to start at the very beginning with the purity of the natural produce. The green pastures, deep valleys and abundant waters surrounding the island have helped create outstanding natural flavours that you won’t get everywhere else. Ireland’s food boasts an impeccable provenance and can be best enjoyed here – in the very place it comes from.
There’s nothing quite like following a food journey from producer to plate – and Ireland is peppered with opportunities to get more involved with your food. What better experience than to sit by a turf fire in a traditional pub, where you’ll eat the freshest seafood and hear the Irish language, songs and stories. Plus look at some of the excellent markets such as The English Market in Cork, the Temple Bar Food Market in Dublin and the St George’s Market in Belfast.
And for the chance to get your hands on raw ingredients and craft some magic of your own, you can take your pick of working farms, cosy cookery schools, and food festivals.
There are approx. 70 million people around the world who claim Irish ancestry and close to 5 million of them are right here in Canada - so it’s no surprise many Canadians look to explore their Irish ancestry. There are many resources in place to help explore.
Tracing your Roots
To begin your research here are three useful websites:
A useful first step is the Irish Government website Irish Genealogy: www.irishgenealogy.ie
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Early 20th-century census returns can be perused at the National Archives website: www.nationalarchives.ie
The Irish Family History Foundation has a website run on behalf of county-based genealogy centres: www.familysearch.org
Once you get to Ireland there is lots of help is available to trace your roots. Throughout Ireland there are numerous centres for genealogical research. Every county in Ireland has a genealogy centre manned by professional genealogists and many churches have records too. So if you find out which town your ancestors come from, be sure to visit the local parish.
In Dublin, the National Library, National Archives and General Register Office are all key sources, with the National Library and National Archives both providing free advice from trained staff. In Belfast, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland holds a treasure trove of records, returns and registers from the province of Ulster. The General Register Office and Ulster Historical Foundation are also great resources.
An additional option is to commission a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists in Ireland to help speed things up. They can help find ancestors and living relatives.
Heritage Attractions
It’s no surprise that there are people all around the world with Irish heritage because there has been such a history of emigration from Ireland. And now there is a new attraction in Dublin that charts some of this powerful history. EPIC Ireland is Dublin’s dramatic new visitor attraction, telling the stories of 10 million journeys and the Irish roots of 70 million people. It explains how this small Island has profoundly influenced and changed the world. This world-class exhibition tells the story of the Irish people around the world using state-of-the-art technology with incredible visual stories and lots of interactivity.
As well as the high tech interactive exhibition, Epic Ireland will also offer a state-of-the-art Irish Family History Centre genealogy centre. Here you can sit with a genealogy expert for a 15-minute consultation or purchase a Family Tree DNA Kit. Workstations allow you to sign up to the Irish Family History Centre website and join the online community at www.FindMyPast.ie where you will be able to search through the largest number of Irish family history records such as: Birth, Marriage and Death records, Census records, Parish records, travel and migration records
History of the Irish Easter Rising
2016 was the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising - an important part of Irish history and a major historical landmark on the road towards Irish independence. There is a new visitor attraction in Dublin to celebrate this. The Post Office in Dublin was the centre of the Easter Rising and now GPO Witness History is a brand new permanent visitor attraction in the iconic GPO building on O’Connell Street, Dublin.
This highly immersive and engaging exhibition puts you right inside the GPO during Easter Week in 1916. History will come to life as you experience events from both sides of the conflict and through the eyes of bystanders caught in the crossfire through electronic touch screens, video, audio visual booths, sound and authentic artefacts – many previously unseen. You’ll be immersed in the action as you compose newspaper reports, examine the original copy of the Proclamation and send Morse code to declare the Irish Republic by radio.
The St Patrick’s Day festivals in Ireland are world renown – but there are numerous festivals that go on year round throughout the country. No matter when you visit you will discover the folk in Ireland having a good time at fantastic, fun, foody, or downright frivolous festivals! Here are just a few of the intriguing and innovative events - check out www.ireland.com for more. |
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Food Festivals
Balmoral Show (16-19 May, 2018)
The Balmoral Show in association with Ulster Bank is Ireland's largest agri food event that entertains and educates the entire family. NI's largest agricultural event.
Taste of Dublin (14-17 June, 2018)
Over four indulgent days the city’s latest, greatest and hottest restaurants will each fashion together exquisite signature dishes, allowing you to create your dream tasting menu at the ultimate foodie festival.
The food and craft beer scene alone is a great reason to visit Ireland. It is blossoming right now with new microbreweries, gastro-pubs, craft distilleries and artisan eateries serving the freshest local ingredients. And what better experience than to sit by a turf fire in a traditional pub, where you’ll eat the freshest seafood and hear the Irish language, songs and stories. Plus there are many festivals celebrating Irish cuisine.
The Irish Craft Beer & Cider Festival (September, 2018)
Ireland's largest and best craft beer festival takes place in Dublin with over 50 Brewers featuring 300+ beers. Cidermakers and Distillers also form part of this festival.
Galway Oyster and Seafood Festival (28-30 September, 2018)
The Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival is held on the very last weekend in September to celebrate Galway’s rich annual oyster harvest (in season from September – April). Deemed one of Europe’s longest-running food extravaganzas, the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival was launched in September 1954!
Dracula and Halloween Festivals
Believe it or not – Ireland is the home of Dracula! Bram Stoker, the author of “Dracula” was an Irishman who was born on in 1847 in Clontarf, on the north side of Dublin. Some historians have suggested that Stoker did not receive the inspiration for his dark and twisted tale of Dracula from the brutal life of Vlad the Impaler, but rather developed his ideas from Irish folklore. Irish fables tell the story of Abhartach, a 5th century chieftain known for his bloodsucking habits. After they killed him he rose from the grave and demanded a bowl of blood from the wrists of his subjects to sustain his energy.
The Irish have embraced the author and his ghoulish creation and also Halloween – which is said to have originated in Ireland from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.
Bram Stoker Festival (October, 2018)
The festival celebrates the Dublin-man behind Dracula with films, talks, readings, and a scare or three. It takes place every year during Dublin Festival Season (1 September - 31 October), when the city hosts more festivals than any other time of the year.
Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival (October, 2018)
Towns and cities across Ireland celebrate Halloween, but it's Derry-Londonderry that really does it in style. The Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival is the largest Halloween celebration in Europe, attracting up to 25,000 enthusiasts from across the globe who flock to the city to take part in the festival each October.
Christmas Markets
Belfast Christmas Market (November/December, 2018)
This award-winning market in the grounds of Belfast Hall. Local producers make up over 40% of the market, selling a variety of tasty treats and products.
Galway Christmas Market (16 November - 22 December 2018)
Ireland’s longest running Christmas Market with over fifty traders from all over Ireland and Europe selling a host of crafts, festive food, treats and Christmas gift ideas
Waterford Winterval Christmas Festival (November/December, 2018)
Ireland’s premier Christmas Festival and now in its 6th year Winterval attracts around 500,000 people to Ireland’s oldest city over the 6 weeks of the festival.
Other Festivals
There are an incredible variety of exciting festivals, here are jsut a few examples:
Temple Bar TradFest (23-27 January, 2018)
A festival of mostly free events showcasing the entire spectrum of traditional and folk music in iconic locations around Dublin.
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival (31 August - 30 September, 2018)
Matchmaking is one of Ireland's oldest traditions and, for the last couple of hundred years; a good deal of it has taken place in Lisdoonvarna during September and early October. The Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival is one of the world's biggest singles festivals and attracts up to 60,000 people every year. At 160 years old and 5 weeks long, it is one of Ireland's longest and most traditional festivals
Electric Picnic (31 August - 2 September, 2018)
An annual music and arts circus that is big on imagination!
Wexford Festival Opera (19 October - 4 November, 2018)
Since the first ‘Festival of Music and the Arts’ took place in October 1951, Wexford Festival Opera has grown into one of the world’s leading opera festivals. Right from the beginning, the Festival made a name for itself by introducing audiences to unjustly neglected works. For 64 years the Festival has breathed new life into forgotten masterpieces, establishing a reputation for high-quality productions that, every year, bring thousands of opera-lovers flocking to Wexford from all over the world.
New Year’s Eve Festival Dublin (30 December 2018 - 1 January 2019)
A 3 day city wide festival celebrates the best of contemporary Irish talent in Arts, Music, Culture and Live Entertainment. NYF celebrates a multi-platform experience inspired by the diversity and complexity of Ireland’s contemporary culture. NYF showcases the evolution of Ireland's shining talent in music, dance, design, art, and spoken word.
Trafalgar has been creating exceptional guided vacations for over 70 years, so consider one of their trips that explores Ireland. Not only do Trafalgar offer great value but they also make travelling effortless, authentic and fun. Providing travel experiences rather than tours, Trafalgar’s perfectly planned itineraries ensure that you see all the key sights. There is no need for you to be embroiled in all the logistics and planning - Trafalgar arrange everything including transport, accommodation, luggage handling and VIP access to major attractions.
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In Canada Trafalgar has been voted the best motor coach tour operator for over 15 years running by travel agents and globally Trafalgar have won 50 trade and consumer awards. Together with the Trafalgar behind-the-scenes team, your Travel Director will attend to every detail of your trip so all your time can be spent enjoying your holiday.
The importance of the Travel Director cannot be overstated - it is like having a friend in Ireland ready to welcome you, make sure you meet the locals and introduce you to the country’s hidden treasures. Itineraries often have free time built in and the Tour Director will always be there to help you with advice if there is something that you especially want to see or do.
Most importantly the Tour Director is there to make sure that you enjoy your vacation! It starts with the fact that everything is taken care of - so you are stress free and therefore able to relax and enjoy yourself. You also have free time to unwind and explore at your own pace. It continues with your like-minded travel companions from around the world - lifelong friendships have been forged on a Trafalgar vacation! Altogether it is a very social experience - sharing amazing insights and fabulous meals with your Tour Director and fellow travellers.
The hallmarks of a Trafalgar guided vacation are authentic activities and cultural insights. “Be my Guest” dining is designed to help you discover the “real” Ireland while meeting local people in their own homes. Check out the different itineraries to find the experience that most appeals to you. On the “Irish Experience” tour you join Oonagh and scavenge for ingredients that will be used to create a unique lunch at O’Brien’s homely Bartra restaurant. This family run seafood and steak restaurant sources the best local seafood and steaks and serve vegetables fresh from the garden. The restaurant combines stunning views over Liscannor Bay with a homely atmosphere and an old-style, Irish cottage charm. Another example on the “Best of Ireland” itinerary is having cream tea in the Old Kitchens of Westport House - a 16th century home in Westport, Co. Mayo.
Thanks to Trafalgar’s local knowledge, all your accommodation is hand-picked for quality, character and location. But some tours stop at authentic hotels that really capture local culture in a unique light. On the “Iconic Ireland and Ashford Castle” itinerary you get to stay in a real Irish Castle! Ashford Castle is in County Mayo in the North West of Ireland. Originally built in the 11th century, it’s a castle hotel heavyweight when it comes to luxury accommodation. A five-star hotel, Ashford has won countless awards and accolades since it opened its doors to guests in 1915, including Best Resort Hotel in Europe from Condé Nast Traveller. While John Ford filmed The Quiet Man in nearby Connemara, many of the film’s stars stayed here. As well as John Wayne - Oscar Wilde, John Lennon and Ronald Reagan have also been guests.
There are many itineraries with Trafalgar that feature Ireland either by itself or included with other neighbouring countries in Europe. The itinerary you choose will always be a balance of the time that you have available and your budget.
At LeisureTours
Enjoy later starts and longer stays at a more leisurely pace e.g. “Amazing Ireland”. You have lots of time to explore on this 14 day tour with “at leisure time” so you can explore Dublin, Belfast, Donegal and Galway.
Country Tours
These are tours that take in as much as possible of the whole country e.g. the “Irish Experience” tour – or itineraries which explore only one part of the island e.g. the 10 day “Best of Ireland”, or 5 day “Treasures of Ireland”. These do not include Northern Ireland but concentrate more time the South.
Regional Explorer
These are tours of Britain that also include other countries e.g. the 23 day “Britain and Ireland Grandeur” or 10 day “Britain and Ireland Highlights”.
Hidden Journey Tours
Tours may cater to a special interest – for example the 8 day “Castles and Manors” itinerary that allows you to stay in wonderful historic accommodation such as Ballynahinch Castle, Kilronan Castle and The Malton, a stunning Victorian hotel and a much loved Killarney landmark that opened in 1854.
CostSaver
These tours are the perfect way to discover a destination for the first time e.g. the 8 day “Irish Wonder” tour. You’ll enjoy incredible inclusions and unbeatable value on every trip. They represent great savings versus the cost of doing it yourself.
A popular idea is to add on some extra days at the beginning or end of your Trafalgar trip to allow time for independent exploration. It is also quite common for travellers to decide to take two Trafalgar tours back to back.
Faced with so much choice it makes sense to turn to your travel agent for advice. An experienced Travel Agent will likely have travelled personally with Trafalgar and will be familiar with all the different itineraries. The Trafalgar website at www.trafalgar.com is also an excellent source of information, including reviews posted by Trafalgar guest, through a 3rd party review engine called FEEFO with thousands of individual ratings on particular guided vacations. It’s a great way to find additional information and inspiration and to help you decide on the perfect itinerary for you.
Want to know more about the destination? Check out Chris' Travel Notes!
Chris writes extensive Travel Notes for each show that will help you plan your next trip. Find out more about the Destination; Climate; Getting Around; Accommodation; Kids to Seniors; History; Sports and Activities; Attractions; Culture; Cuisine; Special Deals and where to go to get even more information!
Click on the Travel Notes icon to download a pdf file that you can read, print out and even take with you on your travels! |
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