39 www.irishdancing.com IDM

For years, readers of Irish Dancing Magazine (IDM) have asked the company for suggestions regarding touring Ireland.

“So many of our readers have never been to Ireland, and this is something on their bucket list,” explains Denise Keane, Publisher of IDM. “When IDM heard the Holly&Kavanagh School in Dublin was planning a feis for August of 2018, everything came together in terms of planning the perfect Irish-dancing-themed trip.” It wasn’t long before IDM contracted with the respected tour company, Celtic Tours, to organize a fabulous tour for Irish dance fans.

The eight-day tour is taking place 2nd – 9th August 2018 and will focus on dancers and their families experiencing the raw beauty of Ireland, the hustle and bustle of Ireland’s capital cities of Dublin and Belfast, Irish dancing and trad music! Guests of the tour will begin in Dublin City where participants will stay in the beautiful Camden Court Hotel, located a short walk from Dublin’s famous St. Stephen’s Green. The hotel has a 16-metre pool and spa. “There are so many things included in the tour,” explains Keane. “Not only are guests travelling in a luxury coach and staying in 4-star hotels, they are also travelling with an IDM staff member and an expert Irish tour guide.” After

Dublin, the tour heads to Wicklow to see some specular scenery, and then it is off to Belfast and the Causeway Coast. “IDM is ‘on trend’ with where to travel after Dublin. I am excited to see that the travel publisher, Lonely Planet, just rated Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the top region in the world to visit in 2018,” says Keane. The cost of the tour, priced at $1775 per person, includes 4-star hotel accommodations, travelling on a luxury coach, expert tour guides, admission to attractions including Riverdance, Guinness, Powerscourt, the Titanic Museum, Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, historical tours of Dublin and Belfast, and more! Guests of the tour will enjoy seven lovely Irish breakfasts

and two lunches. Plus, the group will enjoy a dinner and Irish music on the first night of the trip. In terms of Irish-dancing-specific activities, guests can enrol in the Irish Open Feis or attend as a spectator. “This is a regular feis with all levels of dancers from beginners thru Open Champions and even adult competitions,” explains Keane. “If you are under the CLRG dance organisation, you can enter this feis and if not, you can still enjoy the dancing as a spectator. Or, you may choose to take this day to enjoy the sites, shopping, and history of Dublin City.” The feis organizer expects that some of the big names in Irish dance costumes and shoes will vend at the feis, so this will be a good shopping opportunity; a bonus of attending a feis in Ireland. On the competition day, the tour will pick up guests three times at the Helix Theatre. Other exciting Irish dancing moments will include seeing the facilities of one of the top Irish dancing design houses on the planet, located in Belfast. “This will be a big-name designer, most certainly,” says Keane. Throughout the tour the expert guides will recommended the best places to find trad music in the evenings. “I truly believe this will be a trip of a lifetime,” says Keane. For more information visit www.celtictours.com/94017

Tour Ireland

Irish Dancing Magazine Announces Tour of Ireland!

40 IDM www.irishdancing.com

TOUR IRELAND - PROMOTION

✱ Transfer to and from the Irish Open Feis in DUBLIN CITY! Dance at the feis or enjoy watching the fabulous standard of this competition open to dancers WORLDWIDE. *Note this is a CLRG feis OPEN to all levels from beginner thru Open Champion! Feis entry fee additional (varies by dancer) and spectator fee (€5) additional cost at the door. www.irishopenfeis.com for details.

✱ Admission to Guinness Storehouse, Powerscourt Gardens and Titanic Belfast included in tour cost!

✱ Check out some of Belfast’s famous costume design houses and more!

✱ Experience the wonder and magic of Giant’s Causeway and Dunluce Castle (From Game of Thrones fame) – general admission included!

✱ Historic walking & coach tours of Dublin and Belfast cities.

✱ Porterage of one suitcase per person.

✱ Tips and taxes in Ireland included.

✱ Gratuities to the driver/guide not included and are optional.

Tour HighlightsInclude:✱ Arrival transfer from Dublin airport to hotel.

✱ Entertaining dinner and show with the group on the evening you arrive in Dublin!

✱ Sightseeing by deluxe touring motor coach with professional Irish guide!

✱ Fabulous Irish breakfast included daily (except day of arrival).

✱ Enjoy seeing Riverdance at the famous Gaiety Theatre in Dublin City! After the show, meet outside at the cast entrance for possible autographs and photos!

✱ Expert tours of Ireland’s capital cities of Dublin and Belfast.

✱ See the home of the fated TITANIC and world-famous museum in Belfast.

✱ Bask in the glory of Ireland’s scenery in County Wicklow’s Powerscourt Gardens rated #3 in the world by National Geographic.

Those departing from USA or Canada will depart their home airports on August 1st and fly overnight, arriving Thursday morning August 2nd, 2018.

Day 1 – Thursday: Arrive Dublin, IrelandMorning arrival at Dublin Airport. After clearing Irish customs, your driver/guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals hallway. Make your way to your Dublin hotel. (Hotel check-in time is 2.00pm). Store your luggage with the concierge and check out the surrounding area. Relax in the afternoon and then meet the group for dinner and an entertaining show (ALL included in tour price).

Day 2 – FRIDAY: Dublin After a hearty Irish breakfast, the group will embark on a 2½-hour private/guided walking tour of Dublin City, seeing many of the interesting sites such as Trinity College Dublin, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the bustling Temple Bar area, and more! The remainder of the afternoon you have free time to shop, eat, and/or practise for the dance competition. At 6.30pm sharp the group will depart from the hotel via our private coach bus to the famous Gaiety Theatre, just off Grafton St, to see RIVERDANCE! After the show we will have an opportunity to wait at the cast entrance for potential

‘photo opp’ and autographs! The coach will return to the theatre 30 minutes after the show. (Breakfast, tour and ticket to Riverdance included.)

Day 3 – Saturday: Dublin Today is a BIG DAY! Enjoy an early breakfast (included) followed by heading to the prestigious IRISH OPEN FEIS taking place at the Helix Theatre at Dublin City University. Dancers must enter the feis at www.irishopenfeis.com (feis entry fee additional). For those who do not wish to dance at the feis, today is a free day in Dublin city, or come see some of the action at the competition. Door entry fee is €5.00 per person. Coach transfer is provided to and from the Helix Theatre at 6.45am, noon, 6.00pm, and 10.00pm. Food is available at the theatre and on campus.

Day 4 – Sunday: DublinAfter a lovely Irish breakfast, the coach departs for the famed Guinness Storehouse providing a guided tour of one of Ireland’s oldest and most cherished brands. Lunch is provided today. After Guinness we are heading to County Wicklow to Powerscourt Gardens, one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland, voted #3 as one of the World’s Top Gardens by National Geographic. Stretching over 47 acres, Powerscourt offers a sublime blend of format gardens and sweeping terraces. Return to Dublin after the gardens and enjoy your evening free to

dine on your own. The Tour will provide suggestions as to where you may find trad Irish music to enjoy. (Breakfast, admission for attractions and lunch included.)

Day 5 – Monday: Dublin to BelfastAfter a leisurely start to our morning, we will depart Dublin and head north to Ireland’s other capital city of Belfast. On the way we will stop for a scenic lunch. Following lunch,

the coach will head to one or more of the famous Irish dance costume design houses where you will see the inner

workings of this beautiful Irish craft. Later we will head to Belfast city centre. Enjoy free time this evening getting your bearings in this architecturally significant city, home to many World Championship competitions, and IDM cover shoots. (Breakfast and lunch included.)

Day 6 – Tuesday: Belfast After a lovely Irish breakfast, we will enjoy a historic tour of Belfast City, learning about the history of the North/South conflict and other interesting facts. Later in the afternoon the coach will transport the group to the famed Titanic Belfast; a monument/museum dedicated to Belfast’s maritime heritage. It tells the stories of the ill-fated Titanic, which hit

an iceberg and sank during her maiden voyage in 1912, and her sister ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic. Uncover the legend of Titanic, in the city where it all began. Later, the coach will return the group to the hotel. Enjoy free time this evening. (Breakfast included.)

Day 7 – Wed: Antrim Coast to Dublin After an early rise, it’s off to the Antrim Coast and Giant’s Causeway. Walk in the steps of ‘giants’ with thousands of basalt columns tumbling down into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an epic sight that will leave you awestruck. After departing Giant’s Causeway the coach will stop at an historic castle. Standing on its basalt outcrop high above the waves, is the mighty, turreted ruins of Dunluce Castle – or House of Greyjoy, as Game of Thrones fans will know it! Mid-afternoon the coach will make its way back to Dublin with an evening arrival. Bid farewell to your driver as the

tour is officially ending at this point. Enjoy your overnight accommodation in Dublin. (Breakfast, tour and admission to attractions

included).

Day 8 – Thursday: Dublin Say goodbye to your friends with a lovely Irish breakfast at the hotel. Today you should make your way to the airport independently or continue with your stay in Ireland. *Flights to the US and Canada arrive home the same day you depart. (Breakfast included.)

HOW TO SECURE YOUR SPOT:ONLINE: www.celtictours.com/94017

CALL: Kathy Gordon, Celtic Tours – 1-800-833-4373

Email: kathyg@celtictours.com

HOTELS/SimilarDUBLIN: (4 nights) – Camden Court Hotel BELFAST: (2 nights) – Malone Lodge Hotel DUBLIN: (1 night) – Camden Court Hotel

*$1,775.00 P.P.

SHARING (LAND RATE)

$469.00 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.

*AIRFARE ADDITIONAL.

*8 day/7 night – four-star hotels - 5 nights Dublin, 2 nights Belfast

*7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, plus admission to numerous attractions and shows. Expert tour guides! Irish dance THEMED tour!

DANCE AT A FEIS, SEE RIVERDANCE,

TOUR IRELAND’S CAPITAL CITIES AND MORE!

$1,775 pp sharing, $469 single supplement/ *Land Rate – airfare additional.

8-DAY, 7-NIGHT Tour Of Ireland 8-Day Itinerary

NOTE: This is our

inaugural year and

the tour is limited in

size! Reserve your

spot now!

August 2nd-9th, 2018. Dance at a feis, See Riverdance, Tour Dublin, Belfast,

Wicklow, the Antrim Coast and more!

Explore Ireland with Irish Dancing Magazine

& Celtic Tours!

Gaiety Theatre, Dublin

Titanic, Belfast

&

The beautiful Irish coast

41 www.irishdancing.com IDM