THE 2012 IRELAND TRIP IS ON!!

9 - 18 November 2012

Space is limited this year, so sign up early to be guaranteed lodging in band hotels. Your specially arranged tour package of the Emerald Isle includes roundtrip airfare from: JFK/SNN/DUB/JFK (*SFO, Chicago extra), plus eight (8) nights accommodations as follows (or similar):

THE SHOWS

There will be three full on rock shows and one more acoustic performance.
Venues and dates TBA.

THE HOTELS

• Belfast - Europa Hotel (2 nights)
• Sligo - Clarion Sligo Hotel (1 Night)
• Cong - Ashford Castle (1 Night)
• Galway - Imperial Hotel (2 Nights)
• Dublin - Camden Court Hotel (2 Nights)

The Official Itinerary

The Overall Package Includes:

• Live concerts with us, The Young Dubliners.
• Hang out with the band on nights off as we carouse the local scene.
• Full Irish Breakfast Daily.
• Four Dinners with the band and group.
• Admissions to Ulster American Folk Park, Sligo Abbey.
• Fully escorted sightseeing as per itinerary.
• Touring By Deluxe Touring Motorcoach.
• Porterage of one suitcase per person.
• Services of Hammond Tours Escort throughout.
• Taxes and Service Charges, except gratuity to driver/guide.
• Professional Portfolio of Travel Documents.

Day 1
Friday 9 November

USA to Ireland: Depart USA for overnight flight to Ireland. Dinner and in-flight entertainment is served shortly after take-off.

Day 2
Saturday 10 November

Dublin-Belfast: Morning arrival at Dublin Airport where after clearing customs you are met by your professional Irish Driver Guide and Hammond Tours Greet Staff. We travel out of Dublin heading north through Drogheda & Newcastle into Belfast. Known as the "Gateway to the Boyne Valley" Drogheda is associated with an extraordinary number of significant events in the history of Ireland - The Battle of the Boyne, St Oliver Plunkett, Poynings Law, Cromwell's Siege and the surrender of the Irish Chieftains to the English King. We continue into Belfast where we check into our hotel for some time to rest. This evening we enjoy dinner at our hotel.

Day 3
Sunday 11 November

Belfast: After a full hearty Irish breakfast we enjoy a tour of Belfast. Our panoramic tour passes by the Edwardian-style City Hall and adjacent Linen Hall Library as well as Queen's University, the alma mater of a glittering list of luminaries including Ireland's prize-winning poet, Seamus Heaney. We then visit the Wall Murals. They are largely concentrated in the west of the city, and tell the story in picture form of Irish/British feudal history, going back over 800 years. Touch the peace wall, or write your name on it, like millions of others, famous and otherwise, after all it is longer than the Berlin wall! This afternoon we have free time to browse this Northern Capital. Dinner is on your own.

Day 4
Monday 12 November

Belfast-Sligo: After breakfast we depart Belfast stopping at The Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. The Folk Park depicts emigration from Ireland to the United States during the Great Famine in the mid 1800's. We continue via Enniskillen to Sligo where famous author William Butler Yeats is buried at Drumcliff Cemetery... Our next stop is Sligo Abbey. A massive stone complex that is still redolent of "auld grandeur" and famed for its medieval tomb sculptures, Sligo Abbey is the town's only existing relic of the Middle Ages. Maurice FitzGerald erected the structure for the Dominicans in 1253.

Day 5
Tuesday 13 November

Sligo-Westport-Ashford Castle: After breakfast morning departure for Cong via Westport which is designated as one of Ireland's Heritage Towns overlooking Clew Bay. One of the few planned towns in the Country, Westport was designed in the 18th Century by James Wyatt. It has become one of Ireland's established tourism centers, with many outstanding features, most notably the beautiful tree-lined boulevard known as The Mall, running parallel to the Carrowbeg River. We continue to the Five Star Deluxe 13th century estate, Ashford Castle. Plenty of time this afternoon to enjoy the many amenities this property has to offer. Among the activities found are golf, horseback riding, skeet shooting, tennis or fishing. Perhaps you want to rejuvenate yourself in the state of the art health center. You might decide to walk among the three million species of shrubs, trees and flowers that the spectacular gardens have to offer. Tonight we enjoy dinner in the Castle. Sleep like a king or queen tonight in your luxurious bedroom.

Day 6
Wednesday 14 November

Connemara Tour: After enjoying a gourmet breakfast, we depart from Ashford Castle and begin our journey on the northern edge of Lough Corrib and on to the Connemara region, one of the most scenic and unspoiled areas in the country. Today we take in the magnificent views of the Connemara region, Ireland's treasure of wild, natural beauty where, in some places, Gaelic remains the only spoken language. We travel first to Clifden. Situated on the west coast of Ireland against the backdrop of the 12 Ben Mountains and beautiful rugged coastline, the town is known locally as the Capital of Connemara. Clifden is a lively location full of shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes. The Sky Road in Clifden is one of the best tourist attractions in the entire Connemara region. The circular route is 11km long and takes you out west from Clifden. Simply put, the scenery along the Sky Road is stunning. Very few places in Ireland can match the rugged beauty and range of scenery that can be seen from the Sky Road. The route is well signposted from Clifden and easy to find. We then continue to Galway. In the 1400's, there began in Galway the rule of the 'Tribes', as the leading fourteen families were called. Their names were Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, Darcy, Deane, Font, French, Joyce, Kirwan, Lynch, Martin, Morris, and Skerritt. Time today to browse ''Shop Street'' as well as the lively pubs that dot the city.

Day 7
Thursday 15 November

Aran Island: Optional trip to the Aran Islands can be arranged at your hotel. This day-trip takes the whole day, so do not go for it unless you are up to it. On the Island, the way of life is as it would have been in days gone by, except for the mini-vans that take tourists on sightseeing trip, it has remained as it was in the 19th century. The most impressive of all the ancient fortresses in Ireland, is here, Dun Aengus Fortress. Built to maximize defense, it is surrounded by high walls on three sides, the other is a sheer drop of 500 feet to the ocean. (Please note that the Aran Island Tour is a full day). If not taking the optional tour you may enjoy Galway on your own.

Day 8
Friday 16 November

Galway-Dublin: Morning departure has us traveling through the Irish Midlands and Athlone to Dublin City. Upon arrival in Dublin we have a full panoramic tour of this fascinating port city. We see where writer Jonathan Swift (Gulliver's Travels) gave his famous sermons at St. Patrick's Cathedral. After the tour the rest of the day is yours, to explore this infinitely varied thousand-year old city as you will; possibilities range from St. Michan's church to the Brazen Head, from St. Stephen's Green to Guinness Brewery and Jamison Whiskey Factory.

Day 9
Saturday 17 November

Dublin: Our last day in Ireland presents itself with a plethora of activities. Enjoy strolling along pedestrian Grafton Street with its many shops and pubs or perhaps visit Guinness Brew House or Jamison Whiskey Factory. Free Day today.

Day 10
Sunday 18 November

Dublin-USA: After breakfast we are transferred to nearby Dublin Airport. In the off chance that you missed shopping opportunities, Dublin has a large Duty-Free Shop that you can visit once you are checked in for your flight. In the traditional Irish way we wish you ''Safe Home.''