Ireland: The Luck of the Irish

Welcome to Dublin. On arrival at Dublin airport make your way to the Arrivals Hall to meet our representative,followed by a transfer to our group hotel. At the hotel, visit our hospitality desk in the lobby to meet our team whowill provide you with useful information regarding pre-embarkation procedures and about your time in Dublin. Youwill also receive cabin tags for your luggage. Please clearly label the tags with your name and your cabin number onthe ship.This evening offers time to relax in preparation for our ‘day out in Dublin’ tomorrow. Our group hotel has a popularrestaurant and is close to plenty of corner pubs and cosy restaurants should you wish to ‘share a jar’ or try somelocal cuisine.Accommodation: Dublin Hotel

Dublin is making a comeback. The decade-long "Celtic Tiger" boom era was quickly followed by the Great Recession, but The Recovery has finally taken a precarious hold. For visitors, this newer and wiser Dublin has become one of western Europe's most popular and delightful urban destinations. Whether or not you're out to enjoy the old or new Dublin, you'll find it a colossally entertaining city, all the more astonishing considering its intimate size.It is ironic and telling that James Joyce chose Dublin as the setting for his famous Ulysses, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man because it was a "center of paralysis" where nothing much ever changed. Which only proves that even the greats get it wrong sometimes. Indeed, if Joyce were to return to his once-genteel hometown today—disappointed with the city's provincial outlook, he left it in 1902 at the age of 20—and take a quasi-Homeric odyssey through the city (as he so famously does in Ulysses), would he even recognize Dublin as his "Dear Dirty Dumpling, foostherfather of fingalls and dotthergills"?For instance, what would he make of Temple Bar—the city's erstwhile down-at-the-heels neighborhood, now crammed with cafés and trendy hotels and suffused with a nonstop, international-party atmosphere? Or the simple sophistication of the open-air restaurants of the tiny Italian Quarter (named Quartier Bloom after his own creation), complete with sultry tango lessons? Or of the hot–cool Irishness, where every aspect of Celtic culture results in sold-out theaters, from Once, the cult indie movie and Broadway hit, to Riverdance, the old Irish mass-jig recast as a Las Vegas extravaganza? Plus, the resurrected Joyce might be stirred by the songs of Hozier, fired up by the sultry acting of Michael Fassbender, and moved by the award-winning novels of Colum McCann. As for Ireland's capital, it's packed with elegant shops and hotels, theaters, galleries, coffeehouses, and a stunning variety of new, creative little restaurants can be found on almost every street in Dublin, transforming the provincial city that suffocated Joyce into a place almost as cosmopolitan as the Paris to which he fled. And the locals are a hell of a lot more fun! Now that the economy has finally turned a corner, Dublin citizens can cast a cool eye over the last 20 crazy years. Some argue that the boomtown transformation of their heretofore-tranquil city has permanently affected its spirit and character. These skeptics (skepticism long being a favorite pastime in the capital city) await the outcome of "Dublin: The Sequel," and their greatest fear is the possibility that the tattered old lady on the Liffey has become a little less unique, a little more like everywhere else.Oh ye of little faith: the rare ole gem that is Dublin is far from buried. The fundamentals—the Georgian elegance of Merrion Square, the Norman drama of Christ Church Cathedral, the foamy pint at an atmospheric pub—are still on hand to gratify. Most of all, there are the locals themselves: the nod and grin when you catch their eye on the street, the eagerness to hear half your life story before they tell you all of theirs, and their paradoxically dark but warm sense of humor. It's expected that 2016 will be an extra-special year in the capital, as centenary celebrations of the fateful 1916 Easter Rising will dominate much of the cultural calendar.

Dublin, the vibrant capital of Ireland, is a city brimming with energy and resilience. Once under British rule, Dublinhas emerged with a distinct sense of identity, leading Ireland as a proud member of the European Union andreflecting its evolving role in modern Europe. The city has been home to some of the world’s most influential literaryfigures, including Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, and George Bernard Shaw. Iconic landmarks such as TrinityCollege, home to the esteemed Book of Kells, highlight its storied past, while the city also serves as a hub of artisticand cultural expression, with global musicians like U2, whose impact resonates from their Dublin roots, havinginvigorated its creative scene. Dublin’s vibrant pub culture offers a lively social fabric, where traditional andcontemporary influences merge to create a city to explore both day and night.Choose your favourite ‘Your Choice’ experience for a morning full of all things Irish, with time to explore Dublin thisafternoon, before we gather for a Welcome Event this evening.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1- Morning experience: Walking DublinDublin’s compact character makes it an ideal one for a leisurely walking tour. This morning, our local guidesentertain us with tales of the city’s character-filled history. We will hear stories of Ireland’s emotional past throughthe eyes of its many artists, manic Lord Mayors and rebellious citizens whilst following the park-side alleys ofDublin’s ‘backyard’, St Stephens Green, to the grand Georgian buildings of Irelands’ first university, Trinity College.Founded by Queen Elizabeth I, the grounds of the college offer 40 acres of academic seclusion from the hustle andbustle of downtown Dublin, while our path slows to hear quotes from Dublin’s most flamboyant son, Oscar Wilde,before stopping to visit the historic Huguenot cemetery and other iconic sites of Ireland’s capital, before returning tothe hotel.Option 2 – Morning experience: An EPIC Tale of EmigrationExplore one of Dublin’s top sites, focused on Ireland’s favourite topic: emigration. Our ancestry theme allows us tomeet one of Ireland’s greatest exports, its people, with a self-guided tour of the award-winning EPIC – the IrishEmigration Museum. Discover what it means to hold Irish heritage, as you meet poets and presidents, singers andsuffragettes. You will meet famous folk and families, from Ned Kelly to the Kennedys, as you follow your souvenir-passport to find out where they came from, why they left, and the differences they have made to our everyday lives.Option 3 – Morning experience: The Guinness StoryThe Guinness brewery opened on this spot over 250 years ago, when Arthur Guinness signed a 900-year lease –there’s only 650 years to go. We will see, hear and smell the secret ingredients as they travel through a series of vastmachines, before the self-guided tour ends in the circular panoramic Gravity Bar, with its sweeping views across thecity of Dublin. Here, we will enjoy a pint of ‘the black stuff’ while viewing how to pour the perfect pint at theGuinness academy. Choose to make your own way back to the hotel or catch a lift on our coach.Accommodation: Dublin HotelMeals: Breakfast, Welcome Event canapés

Dublin is making a comeback. The decade-long "Celtic Tiger" boom era was quickly followed by the Great Recession, but The Recovery has finally taken a precarious hold. For visitors, this newer and wiser Dublin has become one of western Europe's most popular and delightful urban destinations. Whether or not you're out to enjoy the old or new Dublin, you'll find it a colossally entertaining city, all the more astonishing considering its intimate size.It is ironic and telling that James Joyce chose Dublin as the setting for his famous Ulysses, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man because it was a "center of paralysis" where nothing much ever changed. Which only proves that even the greats get it wrong sometimes. Indeed, if Joyce were to return to his once-genteel hometown today—disappointed with the city's provincial outlook, he left it in 1902 at the age of 20—and take a quasi-Homeric odyssey through the city (as he so famously does in Ulysses), would he even recognize Dublin as his "Dear Dirty Dumpling, foostherfather of fingalls and dotthergills"?For instance, what would he make of Temple Bar—the city's erstwhile down-at-the-heels neighborhood, now crammed with cafés and trendy hotels and suffused with a nonstop, international-party atmosphere? Or the simple sophistication of the open-air restaurants of the tiny Italian Quarter (named Quartier Bloom after his own creation), complete with sultry tango lessons? Or of the hot–cool Irishness, where every aspect of Celtic culture results in sold-out theaters, from Once, the cult indie movie and Broadway hit, to Riverdance, the old Irish mass-jig recast as a Las Vegas extravaganza? Plus, the resurrected Joyce might be stirred by the songs of Hozier, fired up by the sultry acting of Michael Fassbender, and moved by the award-winning novels of Colum McCann. As for Ireland's capital, it's packed with elegant shops and hotels, theaters, galleries, coffeehouses, and a stunning variety of new, creative little restaurants can be found on almost every street in Dublin, transforming the provincial city that suffocated Joyce into a place almost as cosmopolitan as the Paris to which he fled. And the locals are a hell of a lot more fun! Now that the economy has finally turned a corner, Dublin citizens can cast a cool eye over the last 20 crazy years. Some argue that the boomtown transformation of their heretofore-tranquil city has permanently affected its spirit and character. These skeptics (skepticism long being a favorite pastime in the capital city) await the outcome of "Dublin: The Sequel," and their greatest fear is the possibility that the tattered old lady on the Liffey has become a little less unique, a little more like everywhere else.Oh ye of little faith: the rare ole gem that is Dublin is far from buried. The fundamentals—the Georgian elegance of Merrion Square, the Norman drama of Christ Church Cathedral, the foamy pint at an atmospheric pub—are still on hand to gratify. Most of all, there are the locals themselves: the nod and grin when you catch their eye on the street, the eagerness to hear half your life story before they tell you all of theirs, and their paradoxically dark but warm sense of humor. It's expected that 2016 will be an extra-special year in the capital, as centenary celebrations of the fateful 1916 Easter Rising will dominate much of the cultural calendar.

After breakfast, we travel to Kilkenny for a visit to Kilkenny Castle en route to the Douglas Mawson.Considered Ireland’s best preserved medieval city, Kilkenny mixes small town intimacy with a big city buzz. Theformer home to the seat of the medieval Irish parliaments, it rivalled Dublin in importance which is evident in itsimposing Norman buildings and marble-clad facades, even today.Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny’s monolithic castle andfew have a more fascinating family story. Kilkenny Castle’s 800 years of history is associated with the rise and fall ofthe Marshal and Butler families who rose in nobility from Earls to Dukes. In more recent years they were known fortheir marriages to famous personalities like Winston Churchill’s cousin, and Ellen Stager, an American heiress whobrought quite a fortune into the Butler family. However, by 1922 Kilkenny Castle was embroiled in political problemswhen it was occupied by Republicans and besieged by troops of the Free State. In 1967, the family sold the castle tothe Kilkenny Castle Restoration Committee for a mere £50. If you love a good riches-to-rags story, you will enjoy thestory of Kilkenny and its powerful peerage on a self-guided tour of the castle and its grounds.We make our way further south to the county’s namesake, Waterford. Known as the city where culture meets the‘craic’ (that is Irish for a good time), Waterford is a modern city with a layered history. Invaded by the Norsemen in914, Waterford became a Viking settlement, which is reflected in its people even today. It emerged from the MiddleAges as a trading port with the wealth from goods that came from as far away as Newfoundland, the profits of whichfunded the construction of the many Georgian Mansions that line the city’s streets. A town for those who enjoy agood stroll, Waterford is easy on the eye, offers plenty to see and as its reputation suggests, is full of fun. Your timehere is free to stroll this easily navigated city, before transferring to the Douglas Mawson.This evening, we complete an important safety briefing, before enjoying a ‘Welcome aboard’ dinner, where we meetour crew and Aurora Expeditions team.Meals: Breakfast, Dinner onboard

The largest town in the Southeast and Ireland's oldest city, Waterford was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century and was taken over by Strongbow, the Norman invader, with much bloodshed in 1170. The city resisted Cromwell's 1649 attacks, but fell the following year. It did not prosper again until 1783, when George and William Penrose set out to create "plain and cut flint glass, useful and ornamental," and thereby set in motion a glass-manufacturing industry long without equal. The famed glassworks closed after the 2008 financial crisis, but Waterford Crystal has triumphantly risen again from the flames in a smaller, leaner version, opened in 2010 and now relocated to the Mall.

Once a port town, always a port town, Cork sits proudly on an island in the middle of the Lee River. Surrounded bywater, the city’s salty air tells the story of Irish emigration, with its historical harbour of Cobh and shores of Kinsale,famed as the port of boarding for the Irish who left for foreign lands. If your ancestors are Irish, there is a highchance they came through Cork. Today, the city has a flair for great gigs and modernised traditional dishes and isconsidered an Irish food mecca that is centred around its restored 18th-century English Market.Our morning shore excursions offer you the opportunity to ‘get the gift of the gab’ or follow those Irish who left theirhomeland for foreign shores. This afternoon, aboard the Douglas Mawson, we’ll indulge in a quintessential Irishexperience with a private whiskey tasting. More than just a spirit, this ‘saintly’ brew embodies Ireland’s essence.A local expert will share their deep passion and knowledge, guiding us through the rich heritage, meticulouscraftsmanship, and captivating stories that define this amber treasure. Prepare to immerse yourself in the world ofIrish whiskey and discover why it holds such a special place in the heart of Ireland.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1- Morning experience: Cobh, the Titanic Experience & the Queenstown storyWe join a tailormade guided walking tour of Cobh, tracing the story of Irish emigration. Seeking a better life, orsimply hoping to survive starvation, hundreds of thousands boarded their vessels bound for foreign lands at Cobh,formerly known as Queenstown. This included Annie Moore, a teenager who was the first immigrant to beprocessed at the newly opened Ellis Island in New York City. Our walking tour leads us to the Titanic Experience. On11 April 1912, 123 passengers boarded the RMS Titanic in Queenstown (now Cobh), a bustling harbour town, boundfor New York. Just days later, these individuals would face one of the most tragic maritime disasters in history. TheTitanic Experience Cobh offers a poignant exploration of this fateful journey. Through knowledgeable guides andimmersive audiovisual displays, visitors are transported back to that fateful April. The exhibition details the Titanic’sfinal days and the desperate struggle for survival after the ship struck an iceberg. Personal stories are highlighted,including those passengers who embarked from Cobh.Having ‘survived’ the Titanic Experience we trace the story of Irish emigration, with a self-guided audio tour of ‘TheQueenstown Story’ at the Cobh Heritage Centre. The ‘Queenstown Story’ traces Irish emigration since the 1600s,including the transportation of convicts to Australia and the impact of disasters like the Titanic and the Lusitania. Theexhibition, housed in Cobh’s restored Victorian railway station, features personal tales, such as Jeremiah Burke’smessage in a bottle from the Titanic and Margaret Drury’s convict voyage to Australia. Discover these moving storiesand more, reflecting the hardships and hopes of Irish emigrants across the globe.Option 2 – Morning experience: Blarney Castle and the Blarney StoneIf every myth, legend and limerick associated with Blarney Castle’s indomitable ‘stone’ were true, the world wouldbe asking it to solve all our problems. Where the stone came from and how its modern-day reputation wasconceived is a matter of contention, but there is no doubt that the thousands of travellers who kiss it every weekreceive ‘the gift of the gab’. Thought to endow all those who kiss it with eloquence and the skill of flattery, theBlarney stone is shrouded in stories. Was it a witch who was saved from drowning that revealed its power? Was itthe Lord of Blarneys eloquent reply to the land title demands of Queen Elizabeth I? Was it the Goddess Cliodhna’shinted reply to a love-lost Cormac McCarthy? Today we will find out the truth.Option 3 – Morning experience: The Seaside Gem of KinsaleWe drive to the coast and the picture-perfect town of Kinsale, where we hear stories of naval battles, foreigninvasions and shipwrecks. Once a garrison town embroiled with invading navies, Kinsale became the natural landfallfor ships sailing from the continent and the Americas. It is in these waters where two of the world’s greatest oceanliners were last seen. In the early hours of 7 May 1915, the Cunard liner Lusitania was struck, only a mere 11 nauticalmiles off the coast of Kinsale, by a single torpedo shot from a German U-Boat. The people of Kinsale rallied to assist,but within 18 minutes she sank, with only 764 of the 1959 souls on board surviving. There is time to enjoy a strollaround this colourful coastal enclave before returning to Cork for lunch onboard.

Cork City received its first charter in 1185 from Prince John of Norman England, and it takes its name from the Irish word corcaigh, meaning "marshy place." The original 6th-century settlement was spread over 13 small islands in the River Lee. Major development occurred during the 17th and 18th centuries with the expansion of the butter trade, and many attractive Georgian-design buildings with wide bowfront windows were constructed during this time. As late as 1770 Cork's present-day main streets—Grand Parade, Patrick Street, and the South Mall—were submerged under the Lee. Around 1800, when the Lee was partially dammed, the river divided into two streams that now flow through the city, leaving the main business and commercial center on an island, not unlike Paris's Île de la Cité. As a result, the city has a number of bridges and quays, which, although initially confusing, add greatly to the port's unique character. Cork can be very "Irish" (hurling, Gaelic football, televised plowing contests, music pubs, and peat smoke). But depending on what part of town you're in, Cork can also be distinctly un-Irish—the sort of place where hippies, gays, and farmers drink at the same pub.

We arrive at Bantry Bay and tender to shore. The harbourside town of Bantry is the gateway to the touring routeknown as the Wild Atlantic Way. It is easy to see why Ireland’s colour of choice for everything is green, from itsnational sporting uniforms to its flag, as we drive the famed Ring of Kerry, tread the trails of Whiddy Island orexplore the Beara Peninsula, surrounded by the lush grass covered hills and dales of the Emerald Isle. For thosechoosing a morning excursion, Bantry itself is small enough for a comfortable stroll in the afternoon, with artisanshops, friendly cafes and, of course, plenty of pubs to try a local brew.The wild beauty of Irelands western coast is on show today, along with the life it offered, past and present. Here wemeet small town Ireland with an insight into a different side to the Irish.This evening, we will be going ashore to meet them on an Irish night out. To be sure there will be music, singing andplenty of storytelling or this simply would not be Ireland.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1 – Morning experience: Meet the Mayor of Whiddy IslandA 15-minute ferry crossing takes us to one of Ireland’s 80 islands – Whiddy Island, with a population of 30. A formerWorld War I US Navy seaplane base known as Bantry Bay Station; Whiddy Island offers an insight into ‘island life inIreland’. At just 5.5 x 1.6 kilometres in size, it is an island that is ideal for walking. It is famous for its red and purplehue provided in summer by an extensive planting of fuchsias and birdlife, as Whiddy is also home to kingfishers, littleegrets and shags. But it is the story of its people that we have come to hear about, and we could not ask for a morelocal guide to show us around. He is the local publican, local postal worker, and he is locally known as the King ofWhiddy Island. We learn about traditional baking and mussel farming and, of course, we wash it down at his pubwith a local brew.Option 2 – Morning experience: The Beara PeninsulaThe Ring of Beara, located on Bantry’s neighbour, the Beara Peninsula, is one of the region’s top three scenic drives,known for its rugged and less touristy charm. This 128-kilometre route, including the renowned Beara Way, offers ajourney through some of Ireland’s most striking landscapes. We encounter a dramatic coastline where the AtlanticOcean crashes against steep cliffs, creating breathtaking views. The route is flanked by sharp-featured mountainsand intricate rock formations, with exposed and contorted strata presenting a geologist’s dream. Scenic detours leadto hidden gems such as ancient stone circles, secluded beaches, and picturesque villages like Eyeries, known for itsbrightly painted houses. Time permitting, we visit the quaint village of Allihies, famous for its copper-mining history,offering stunning vistas of Beara’s lakes and valleys. With its wild beauty and diverse scenery, the Ring of Bearapromises an unforgettable adventure for those seeking a turly authentic and rugged Irish experience.Option 3 – Full-day experience: Ring of KerryNo, this is not a real ring, although its presence is gold for the local economy, as a day spent driving the Ring of Kerryis the touchstone against which all other beauty spots in Ireland are measured. The Iveragh Peninsula is a magicalplace full of myths and legends. This landscape of sandstone hills, wooded valleys and pristine lakes has inspiredpoets and authors to pen many a lament. A photographer’s dream, the region is dotted with quaint towns andvillages. Its lands have been carved into a series of mountain passes that whisper their story as we follow the trail ofthe Ring of Kerry.

It is time to join our breakfast club this morning as we sail at sunrise towards the Skellig Islands. Off the coast ofCounty Kerry, two rocky pinnacles rise from the Atlantic Ocean. The Skellig Islands are world-renowned for theirornithological and archaeological significance. Skellig Michael is the site of a well-preserved monastic outpost of theEarly Christian period and is now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Little Skellig is equally renowned inmatters of ornithology. As the home of 27,000 pairs of gannets, it is the second largest colony of such seabirds in theworld.Some 1,400 years ago a congregation of monks were searching for a place to practice their religion in completesolitude and isolation. Determined to build a monastery on these remote islands, generation after generation ofmonks hand-carved 600 stone steps with the simplest tools to build a hilltop monastery 180 metres above thepounding waves. The survival of the terraces, oratories and six corbel stone beehive huts are to this day a testamentto their skill and dedication. The archaeological remains show the dramatically spartan conditions in which themonks lived; however, after enduring several Viking raids, the monks eventually left the island in the 13th century.The site has subsequently become a place of Christian pilgrimage.Note: The Office of Public Works (OPW) manages the Skelligs, and they no longer allow cruise ship passengers toland on Skellig Michael. Visitor numbers to Skellig Michael in recent years have reached the maximum permitted byUNESCO and any violation of UNESCO criteria will affect the future UNESCO status of the island. From the elevatedheight of our vessel, we will enjoy a cruise of the islands before reaching Dingle Bay and tendering ashore.Once described by National Geographic Traveller as ‘the most beautiful place on earth’, Dingle is away from thegeneral ‘tourist route’, affording us exclusive access to the wild west coast. Traditionally a fishing port, DingleHarbour is where we anchor and tender into town. Known for its rugged scenery, dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches,the surrounding promontory is the coastal heart of County Kerry, while Dingle itself has a bohemian flair and isfamous for its hardware pubs where you can enjoy a brew and buy wares. We enjoy lunch onboard before tenderingashore to experience a slice of Ireland’s rural lifestyle, while viewing the wild side of the country and the Irish whocall County Kerry home.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1 – Afternoon experience: Dingle Peninsula and TraleeAs the Atlantic carves the coast, we watch its waves from our clifftop drive to Slea Head. Our route weaves andtwists as we follow the peninsula, with stops to take in its dramatic scenery as the road narrows, and we literallydrive to the edge of the ocean. An unforgiving land, this peninsula attracted medieval monks, who lived in beehive-shaped, stone clocháns, which we visit at the Fahan Beehive. On the horizon we see the deserted Blasket Islands; anunenviable place to live. The islands were evacuated in 1953 due to a dwindling, ageing population, but theislanders’ stories live on, thanks to the Blasket Centre. This interactive museum tells tales of the islanders whosurvived in often unliveable conditions. We hear their stories, learn some ‘real Irish’ and marvel at their tenacity,before heading onto the famed town of Tralee for a stroll of its quaint streets.Option 2 – Afternoon experience: Life on the Land – Past and PresentWe hear tales of ‘life on the land’ this afternoon as we visit ‘famine cottages’ and meet the shepherds and the sheepdogs of the Dingle Peninsula. Our scenic drive follows a route along the dramatic cliffs of the promontory, beforeheading inland to the farmlands of Dingle.This land is sheep country. Generations of farmers have survived here through wild weather, outbreaks of diseaseand, of course, famine. The Kavanagh family is one of them. In the 19th century, the densely populated, westerncounties of Ireland were poverty stricken. The people in these areas were hugely dependent on the potato crop, andwhen the potato blight arrived in the 1840s, West Kerry experienced severe hardship. Neglected by the rulingclasses, people endured horrific conditions, forcing many to emigrate, while those who remained, starved. We heartales of extreme poverty and struggles for survival as we visit the family’s 19th-century cottages, which remain asthey were during the great famine.The story of this land continues in a lighter vein as we enjoy a sheepdog demonstration. The shepherds’ ‘bestfriends’ take instructions in native Irish as they show off their skills and win our hearts with their cunning ability toherd even the most determined of sheep. Off the coast we see the deserted Blasket Islands: an unenviable place tolive. The islands were evacuated in 1953 due to a dwindling, ageing population, but the islanders’ stories live on,thanks to the Blasket Centre. This interactive museum tells tales of the islanders who survived in often unliveableconditions. We hear their stories, learn some ‘real Irish’ and marvel at their tenacity, before returning to the ship.Option 3: Afternoon experience: Dingle Bay KayakingThe waters of Dingle Bay are popular with kayakers of all abilities. We invite all intrepid kayakers to join a local guidethis afternoon to explore the coastline, sea caves and harbour of Dingle Bay. It is not unusual to encounter dolphinsduring this experience, but it is the geographical scenery that makes an afternoon on the bay special. You will beintroduced to kayaking, before spending around 2.5 hours kayaking on the bay. We ask that you accurately assessyour kayaking fitness before choosing this option, as you will not be able to leave the excursion and return to theport by yourself once the excursion has commenced. (This kayaking option requires a minimum number ofparticipants to operate and is subject to local weather conditions. Should it be cancelled, we will try our best toprovide you with another experience.)

The breakfast club meets again this morning as we sail the fabled Cliffs of Moher. Towering over the West Clarecoast, the Cliffs of Moher are best seen in the early morning from the sea. Visually spectacular, they sit astride thestriking landscape of the Burren on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. At a height of over 200 metres atO’Brien’s Tower, and following the coast for almost 13 kilometres, these ancient cliffs were formed over 320 millionyears ago, and today form part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. We enjoy a slow sail alongthe cliff face, before inching into Galway Bay and tendering to Galway town.This popular west coast seaside town of Galway attracts a steady flow of local visitors. The Irish come here to walkits long promenade and as tradition dictates, kick the walls end for good luck, enjoy fish and chips straight from thenewspaper and, of course, ‘go on the gargle’ in its cosy pubs.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1 – Morning experience: Dunguaire CastleLaundered as Ireland’s ‘most photographed castle’ Dunguaire Castle sits on a rocky outcrop on the shores of GalwayBay. Built by the dubious O’Hynes clan in the 16th century, this tower-households many secrets. Famed in song andstory even to this day, Dunguaire flaunted its heyday in the 1920’s when it was bought and renovated by Oliver StJohn Gogarty, the famous surgeon and literary figure. Under his patronage a great Celtic revival in Irish literatureencouraged literary revivalists such as W.B. Yeats, his patron Lady Gregory, George Bernard Shaw, Edward Martin,and J.M. Synge. Yeats believed strongly in the Celtic Cardic Tradition and set about reviving the ancient oral customsincorporating them into his plays and poetry. Thirty years later Dunguaire found a new owner. Originally a Londonfashion house socialite Christobel Lady Ampthill escaped her scandalous past when she fled to Dunguaire – a storyunto itself. A visit to Dunguaire Castle offers a morning full of tales of eccentricity. On return to Galway, we enjoy ashort orientation tour. Explorers wishing to stay on in Galway can experience this popular town independently, withtender shuttles to the ship available at Galway pier.Option 2 – Full-day experience: Galway and the Workhouse MuseumWe join a guided exploration of Galway upon our arrival mid-morning. Galway City is rich in culture, art, and history,and has many boutique shops offering the best of Irish crafts, literary works, and artwork. Home to two of theleading colleges in Ireland, Galway has a vibrant culture and is a town for walking. We view The Spanish Arch, that,being Irish, has no connection to Spain whatsoever, before boarding our coach for an hour or so drive through theopen countryside of County Galway, where we find a testament to Ireland’s dark days.Wracked with poverty and famines, Ireland struggled throughout the 17th – 19th centuries. Many Irish emigrated,but those who could not were often forced to enter institutions simply known as ‘The Workhouse’. As the namesuggests, inmates were made to work long hours for meagre food and lodgings in terrible conditions. One of thecruellest aspects of the workhouse was that it split families, segregating them into separate living areas of women,men, girls and boys. Often family members would never see each other again. We visit a new museum, located in aformer workhouse, which aims to show the plight of those who made the ultimate decision in hopes they, and theirfamilies, would survive. The museum displays artefacts that are relevant to workhouse life, some of which are theonly remaining link to the people who once lived there. After our visit we return to Galway and tender to the ship.

Galway is a city in the West of Ireland in the province of Connacht. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay and is surrounded by County Galway. It is the fourth most populous urban area in the Republic of Ireland and the sixth most populous city in the island of Ireland. It is both a picturesque and lively city with a wonderful avant-garde culture and a fascinating mixture of locally owned speciality shops, often featuring locally made crafts. Indeed local handcrafts are a feature of the entire region including hand knits, pottery, glass, jewellery and woodwork. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops, and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls. The city bears the nickname "The City of the Tribes" because "fourteen tribes" of merchant families led the city in its Hiberno-Norman period. The merchants would have seen themselves as Irish gentry and loyal to the King. They later adopted the term as a badge of honour and pride in defiance of the town's Cromwellian occupier.

The fishing village of Killybegs is gateway to the rugged beauty of Slieve League Cliffs and the dramatic backdrop ofIreland’s own Table Mountain, Ben Bulben. Jutting out of Sligo’s northern edge, the peninsula of Mullaghmore pokesinto the North Atlantic. Land and sea meet in confluence along the coast of County Sligo, a landscape of jaggedmountain peaks that inspired the work of Nobel-winning poet William Butler Yeats. We sail into the harbour ofKillybegs early afternoon with time to explore the nearby cliffs and their cliffside walk or learn about sustainablewhiskey distilling at the family owned and operated Adara Distillery.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1 – Afternoon experience: Slieve League CliffsSlieve League is Ireland’s ultimate sea cliff experience and a signature point on the Wild Atlantic Way. Believed to beEurope’s highest accessible sea cliffs, they rise 600 metres from the ocean below. The lookouts here offer unspoiledviews of the Atlantic as it slams the coastline of Donegal. Slieve League boasts a raw landscape and challenginglifestyle for those who call County Sligo home. We meet some of these stoic characters at the Tí Linn café and craftshop for a hot drink and scones. The Slieve League Cliffs Centre supports local artisans by selling their handmadespecialties including items from the Donegal Tweed company and Triona, a company located only a few kilometresaway at Adara.Option 2 – Afternoon experience: Adara and the Adara Whiskey DistilleryFor those who would prefer to hear about the most popular ‘spirits’ of the region, we visit the friendly folk of Adara.One of the five designated heritage towns in County Donegal, Adara has built itself a reputation as a village ofcraftsmen and women. The movement towards uniquely Irish goods is a growth market for the villages scatteredthroughout Ireland’s isolated peninsulas. It provides work for young people and whole families are typically involvedin the production. As home to the popular Triona Design, visitors enjoy weaving demonstrations based on traditionalmethods. Steeped in tradition the Adara Distillery operations produce An Dúlamán Irish Maritime Gin and Sliabh LiagWhiskeys. Established by two ‘scatterlings’, James and Moira Doherty, who returned to the Sliabh Liag peninsula tobuild a legacy, the distillery employs 30 people in the village of 700. We tour the distillery to appreciate asustainable, boutique side of Irish whiskey making. One inspired by the almost lost tradition for a smoky style ofspirit, brought up to date with the best distillation know-how. We will learn about the history of Donegal’s distillingheritage and see skilled workers breathing new life into it. All tied together by a tasting of this unique brew.

Killybegs The days start early in Killybegs, as this quiet fishing town rumbles to life, and ships with red and blue paint peeling from their hulls quietly depart, ready for a morning's hard work at sea. Located in a scenic part of County Donegal, Killybegs is Ireland's fishing capital, and the salty breeze and pretty streets serve as a revitalising medicine for visitors. The town is also your gateway to some of the country's most majestic coastal scenery, which is dotted with flashing white lighthouses, keeping watch over invigorating seascapes. Killybegs enjoys a privileged position on the coast of north west of Ireland, close to the spectacular Slieve League - a titanic mountain, which explodes upwards from frothing ocean. Walk as close as you dare to the coastline’s sheer drops, or admire the folding cliffs from the best vantage point, down on the water.

Our overnight sailing takes us to Northern Ireland, and the fascinating city of Londonderry. Simply known as Derry tothe Nationalist (Catholic) population but still referred to as Londonderry by the Unionist (Protestant) population, this‘border’ town has seen it all. The sectarian ‘Troubles’ of this predominantly Nationalist city may have blemished itsreputation, but in recent years these tensions have eased, and although some suburbs retain their sense of division,strolling the streets is safe and the general population are happy to share stories of their stormy past and ambitiousfuture. We come alongside on the river Foyle, the now open, natural border between the United Kingdom and theRepublic of Ireland. Choose to ‘stay in town’ to hear the city’s fascinating story, or head north to the coast to followfables of giants and failed dynasties.Personalise your exploration with our included ‘Your Choice’ experiences.Option 1 – Morning experience: Londonderry~Derry – Past, Present, FutureOur local guides interpret the story of Londonderry~Derry in this excursion, which is a combination of a walking andcoach tour. Having lived through the tumultuous times of ‘The Troubles’ as the locals refer to it, their first-handexperiences immerse us in the era when a word to the wrong person, a stroll on the wrong side of the street, or amisplaced glance, could cost you your life. In recent years, the artists and youth of Londonderry~Derry have paintedemotive murals on walls around the city. We pass several of these as our guides explain the city’s tumultuous past. Anumber of monuments in the Bogside neighbourhood shed even more light on key events, such as the hunger strikesthat marred the city.Option 2 – Morning experience: The Ulster Folk ParkThe Ulster American Folk Park provides a profound insight into the history of Ulster, a province in Northern Irelandwith a rich cultural heritage. In the 18th and 19th centuries, over 250,000 people from Ulster emigrated to theUnited States and Canada. Driven by a mix of economic hardship, land shortages, and political unrest, many soughtbetter opportunities and a new start in North America. The park vividly recreates rural Ulster life, allowing visitors toexperience the conditions that prompted this mass emigration. Traditional thatched cottages, bustling village scenes,and detailed exhibits offer a glimpse into the lives left behind. Through immersive displays and historical re-enactments, the park explores the arduous transatlantic journey these emigrants endured, as well as theirpioneering spirit in forging new lives. This experience provides a deep understanding of the personal and culturaltransformations that defined their migration. Our one-hour drive returns us to Londonderry~Derry with time toexplore the city independently this afternoon. (Please note: Due to opening hours, a boxed lunch will be suppliedfrom the ship today, so that you may enjoy your time without interruption)Option 3 – Full-day experience: Dunluce Castle, Giant’s CausewayNorthern Ireland is blessed with impressive natural scenery: vast valleys, glittering lakes and cliffs hoisted up fromthe Atlantic. We visit its most famous natural attraction, the Giant’s Causeway. Listed as a UNESCO World HeritageSite, the Giant’s Causeway consists of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns lifted from the ocean by volcanicactivity over 60 million years ago. Of course, according to legend, giants strode across columns over the sea fromScotland, creating what looks like a giant pathway of stepping-stones that start on land and disappear into theocean. After lunch at a local restaurant, we follow the Scenic Causeway Road to Dunluce Castle. Once theheadquarters of the MacDonnell clan, the castle fell victim to a violent storm and was abandoned. Its ruins andspectacular backdrop have been popular recently, after it was used as the Castle of Pyke in the famous series Gameof Thrones. Returning to Londonderry~Derry, we enjoy a short driving tour before returning to the ship.

Nestled behind lofty city walls, Londonderry is a destination of culture, which boasts an increasingly envied reputation. This Northern Irish city is still riding on the momentum of a fantastic 2013, when it was named as UK City of Culture, and singled out as one of Lonely Planet's top 5 destinations to visit. The wonderfully preserved city walls are perhaps Londonderry's most treasured charm, and they encircle 1,450 years of history, and are over 400 years old. The walls came to the fore of the city's history during the Siege of Derry, back in 1688 - when King James's forces attacked, causing mass starvation and suffering over 105 days of stalemate. It takes approximately an hour to wander the entire circuit of the walls, and see their seven gates, and you’ll absorb a feast of information along the way. View the mighty cannons that boomed during the siege, or stop into one of the plentiful cafes, should you need a little refreshment before continuing your journey. St. Columb’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1633, towers over the walled city, and is one of the city's most significant historic sites. Its dreamy spire contains a set of bells that have peeled out melodies here since 1638, making them Ireland's oldest.

t is fair to say Belfast has endured its share of turbulent times. Famines, disease, invasions and recessions havepainted a picture of a resilient city, but it was the more recent period known as ‘The Troubles’ that defined its imageof division. Barbed wire, armed soldiers, and constant bomb searches kept tourists away. Today, however, Belfasthas transformed, thanks to open political dialogue and foreign investment. The city feels lighter, as if a heavy burdenhas been lifted from its shoulders.Our day in Belfast is filled with stories of the workers who toiled for 14 hours a day to build the world’s mostglamorous ship, the Titanic, the employment it created, and the race to finish her. Had they taken their time, wouldthings have been different for the Titanic? Located on the site where the ship was built, the dockyard’s TitanicExperience may answer a few of our questions. From the dockyards, our tour skips ahead to the days of ‘TheTroubles’ as we are guided through Unionist and Nationalist neighbourhoods. The occasional security gate is areminder that the island is still contested, but nowadays the city is split into seven virtual quarters, or cultural zones;Cathedral Quarter, Titanic Quarter, the Gaeltacht Quarter, Smithfield Market and Library Quarter, Linen Quarter,Market Quarter and Queen's Quarter. rather than walled ones. We peek at Belfast’s ‘quarters’ before turning southand returning to Dublin for our final night in Ireland’s capital.Our evening is a farewell to our fellow explorers and a celebration of all things Irish as we kick up our heels at anauthentic traditional Irish dancing show, accompanied by a few ‘jars’ and a delicious Irish Farewell dinner.Accommodation: Dublin HotelMeals: Breakfast, Dinner

Before English and Scottish settlers arrived in the 1600s, Belfast was a tiny village called Béal Feirste ("sandbank ford") belonging to Ulster's ancient O'Neill clan. With the advent of the Plantation period (when settlers arrived in the 1600s), Sir Arthur Chichester, from Devon in southwestern England, received the city from the English Crown, and his son was made Earl of Donegall. Huguenots fleeing persecution from France settled near here, bringing their valuable linen-work skills. In the 18th century, Belfast underwent a phenomenal expansion—its population doubled every 10 years, despite an ever-present sectarian divide. Although the Anglican gentry despised the Presbyterian artisans—who, in turn, distrusted the native Catholics—Belfast's growth continued at a dizzying speed. The city was a great Victorian success story, an industrial boomtown whose prosperity was built on trade, especially linen and shipbuilding. Famously (or infamously), the Titanic was built here, giving Belfast, for a time, the nickname "Titanic Town." Having laid the foundation stone of the city's university in 1845, Queen Victoria returned to Belfast in 1849 (she is recalled in the names of buildings, streets, bars, monuments, and other places around the city), and in the same year, the university opened under the name Queen's College. Nearly 40 years later, in 1888, Victoria granted Belfast its city charter. Today its population is nearly 300,000, tourist numbers have increased, and this dramatically transformed city is enjoying an unparalleled renaissance.This is all a welcome change from the period when news about Belfast meant reports about "the Troubles." Since the 1994 ceasefire, Northern Ireland's capital city has benefited from major hotel investment, gentrified quaysides (or strands), a sophisticated new performing arts center, and major initiatives to boost tourism. Although the 1996 bombing of offices at Canary Wharf in London disrupted the 1994 peace agreement, the ceasefire was officially reestablished on July 20, 1997, and this embattled city began its quest for a newfound identity.Since 2008, the city has restored all its major public buildings such as museums, churches, theaters, City Hall, Ulster Hall—and even the glorious Crown Bar—spending millions of pounds on its built heritage. A gaol that at the height of the Troubles held some of the most notorious murderers involved in paramilitary violence is now a major visitor attraction.Belfast's city center is made up of three roughly contiguous areas that are easy to navigate on foot. From the south end to the north, it's about an hour's leisurely walk.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to all the Irish who have shared their stories with us, past and present, with a smileon our face and a story on our lips. An airport transfer shared with your fellow explorers is included for your onwardflight.Meals: Breakfast

Dublin is making a comeback. The decade-long "Celtic Tiger" boom era was quickly followed by the Great Recession, but The Recovery has finally taken a precarious hold. For visitors, this newer and wiser Dublin has become one of western Europe's most popular and delightful urban destinations. Whether or not you're out to enjoy the old or new Dublin, you'll find it a colossally entertaining city, all the more astonishing considering its intimate size.It is ironic and telling that James Joyce chose Dublin as the setting for his famous Ulysses, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man because it was a "center of paralysis" where nothing much ever changed. Which only proves that even the greats get it wrong sometimes. Indeed, if Joyce were to return to his once-genteel hometown today—disappointed with the city's provincial outlook, he left it in 1902 at the age of 20—and take a quasi-Homeric odyssey through the city (as he so famously does in Ulysses), would he even recognize Dublin as his "Dear Dirty Dumpling, foostherfather of fingalls and dotthergills"?For instance, what would he make of Temple Bar—the city's erstwhile down-at-the-heels neighborhood, now crammed with cafés and trendy hotels and suffused with a nonstop, international-party atmosphere? Or the simple sophistication of the open-air restaurants of the tiny Italian Quarter (named Quartier Bloom after his own creation), complete with sultry tango lessons? Or of the hot–cool Irishness, where every aspect of Celtic culture results in sold-out theaters, from Once, the cult indie movie and Broadway hit, to Riverdance, the old Irish mass-jig recast as a Las Vegas extravaganza? Plus, the resurrected Joyce might be stirred by the songs of Hozier, fired up by the sultry acting of Michael Fassbender, and moved by the award-winning novels of Colum McCann. As for Ireland's capital, it's packed with elegant shops and hotels, theaters, galleries, coffeehouses, and a stunning variety of new, creative little restaurants can be found on almost every street in Dublin, transforming the provincial city that suffocated Joyce into a place almost as cosmopolitan as the Paris to which he fled. And the locals are a hell of a lot more fun! Now that the economy has finally turned a corner, Dublin citizens can cast a cool eye over the last 20 crazy years. Some argue that the boomtown transformation of their heretofore-tranquil city has permanently affected its spirit and character. These skeptics (skepticism long being a favorite pastime in the capital city) await the outcome of "Dublin: The Sequel," and their greatest fear is the possibility that the tattered old lady on the Liffey has become a little less unique, a little more like everywhere else.Oh ye of little faith: the rare ole gem that is Dublin is far from buried. The fundamentals—the Georgian elegance of Merrion Square, the Norman drama of Christ Church Cathedral, the foamy pint at an atmospheric pub—are still on hand to gratify. Most of all, there are the locals themselves: the nod and grin when you catch their eye on the street, the eagerness to hear half your life story before they tell you all of theirs, and their paradoxically dark but warm sense of humor. It's expected that 2016 will be an extra-special year in the capital, as centenary celebrations of the fateful 1916 Easter Rising will dominate much of the cultural calendar.