ISI 2011, Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is renowned for its wonderful and historical public houses. The síbíns (shebeens - illegal houses that sold illicit spirits) of old have reluctantly transformed themselves into the modern trendy chrome bars of Temple Bar, however, there are still many great bars that have not been refurbished since Victorian times.

This tour takes you to three of Dublin's finest historic pubs where Dubliner Lorcan Collins, (writer, historian, raconteur and drinker) will entertain with an array of anecdotes and stories about pub life, historical Dublin, drinking etiquette, Dublin characters, the art of pouring the perfect pint of Guinness, the craic, songs and poems celebrating drink, etc. The tour visits pubs that once served such luminaries as James Joyce, Michael Collins, Brendan Behan, Paddy Kavanagh and each venue is chosen for its original splendor and conviviality.

Inclusions

Specialist guide

Price (per person)

EUR25.00

Dates

Sunday 21^st, Wednesday 24^th

Min numbers

15

Max numbers

40

Duration

2½ hours (walking)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

Drinks are not included

Don’t miss this opportunity to partake in an entertaining soda scone making class at Ballyknocken House & Cookery School, scenically located on a 350 acre farm in County Wicklow – the garden of Ireland.

The name Ballyknocken stems from the Gaelic, Baile an Cnocan - the town land of the little hill. The little hill in question is Carrick, which rises directly behind Ballyknocken House. For the record, Carrick originally measured 999 ft, however, as it has to be 1,000 ft to be classed as a mountain, some enterprising locals are reputed to have piled a cairn of rocks atop the hill to achieve the required measurement.

The class is hosted by celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio (nee Byrne), who learnt her cooking skills from her mother and then trained professionally. Her naturally vivacious personality and pure infectious enthusiasm for food is your guarantee of a great time.

Catherine's grandparents purchased the charming Victorian guesthouse in the 1940s and were fortunate enough to inherit old deeds and some interesting paperwork regarding the guesthouse dating back to the 1700s. Catherine will entertain you with stories of previous occupants and many others during your visit.

Inclusions

Coach transportation, scone-making class, Irish coffee making, qualified guide

Price (per person)

EUR65.00

Dates

Monday 22^nd, Thursday 25^th August

Min numbers

25

Max numbers

70

Duration

4¼ hours (approximately)

Dress Code

Casual

Note

Other drinks are at additional cost.

Travel back in time to the origins of this intriguing city, which has played host to Vikings, Normans and Anglo-Saxons without allowing its native Celtic spirit to be even vaguely diluted. In addition to the city’s attractions such as Phoenix Park and O’Connell Street, highlights of this tour are visits to St Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College to view the Book of Kells. Throughout its long history, St Patrick’s Cathedral has contributed much to Irish life, and one key aspect of this relates to the writer and satirist Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver's Travels) who was Dean from 1713 to 1745. It has also been the place of worship for the Guinness family whose members are responsible for a major reconstruction in 1860-65, the creation of the adjacent "St Patrick's Park" from an area of decrepit housing and the donation of a new set of bells. Make sure you ask your guide to explain the expression “chancing one’s arm”.

Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth 1, Trinity College Dublin is traditional and stately in true Oxbridge fashion. Famous alumni abound – Swift, Wilde, Burke, Goldsmith, Beckett and Walton (Nobel Prize winning physicist). A temple to academia and learning, the Library at Trinity conserves the world’s most treasured manuscript - the Book of Kells. Dating from the 9th century, this lavishly decorated copy of the 4 gospels is a living example of the profound richness of ancient Celtic art and a “must see” on the itinerary of all visitors to Dublin. After viewing the Book of Kells and other related manuscripts, you will proceed upstairs to the magnificent Long Room which houses 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books in its oak bookcases.

Inclusions

Admission to St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Long Room at Trinity College, qualified guide

Price (per person)

EUR22.00

Dates

Tuesday 23^rd,  Friday 26^th August

Min number

30

Max number

No set

Duration

3¾ hours (approximately)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

Take your own bottled water

Drive to Malahide Castle via the coast road taking in picturesque views of Howth and surrounding areas. The Howth Peninsula is situated at the north end of Dublin Bay and the name is derived from the Danish word 'hoven', which means "head". The picturesque fishing village boats an abundance of pubs and restaurants and plenty of places to stroll.

Offering the visitor an engaging and truly memorable experience, Malahide Castle is one of the oldest and most historic castles in Ireland. From 1185 until 1975, it was the home of the Talbot family. This was a remarkable tenure by a single family and is one of the longest in Ireland. Supposedly haunted by five ghosts, the castle boasts a combination of styles and periods. The medieval Great Hall is the only one in Ireland that is preserved in its original form while the National Portrait Gallery features many fine portraits of the Talbot family as well as 18th and 19th Irish notables.

Inclusions

Coach transportation, admission to Malahide Castle, qualified guide

Price (per person)

EUR30.00

Date

Sunday 21^st, Wednesday 24^th

Min Number

30

Max Number

No set

Duration

3½ hours (approximately)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

Take your own bottled water

This walking tour is an evocative journey into a past that stretches beyond two millennia.

Traverse narrow laneways until you reach the courtyards of the historic Dublin Castle. Visit the Georgian splendour of City Hall before crossing into Temple Bar, the site of Dublin’s origins. Explore hidden streets and discover period and modern buildings rubbing shoulders with the ruins of medieval towers, walls and gates. Stand close to the River Liffey upon which the Norse longboats sailed over 1,000 years ago to capture the early Christian village of Dublin. Follow in George Frederick Handel's footsteps and see the site where his Messiah was first performed under the shadow of the ancient Christ Church Cathedral. Find out why Dublin has two cathedrals of the same faith and why the tower of Christ Church Cathedral contains a world record. View a stretch of Viking/Norman city wall still standing in splendid isolation on a street tourists rarely see. Climb steps by the ancient St Audoen's Church founded by the Normans in 1190, now the city's oldest parish church and still in continuous use.

Inclusions

Specialist guide

Price (per person)

EUR20.00

Min number

15

Max number

No set

Duration

2½ hours (walking)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

Take your own bottled water

See places that the visitor to Dublin rarely glimpses. Stroll through the east end of the buzzing yet historic Temple Bar district and the 17th and 18th century docklands area - now Dublin's Left Bank and cultural quarter. Cross the famous Ha'penny Bridge and along the gracious boardwalk to enjoy the tidal waters of the River Liffey. Check out the Italian Quarter where a surprise awaits in the form of an extraordinary and contemporary wall-mounted depiction of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. After passing a remarkable church transformation, you arrive at an underground vestige of the Middle Ages, the Chapter House of St Mary's Abbey. Continue through the Victorian Fruit & Vegetable Market building and past Ormond Square (a little townhouse oasis) before arriving at the massive Georgian pile of the Four Courts - site of the country's highest courts of law and forever associated with the start of Ireland's Civil War in 1922. Visit St Michan's Church, first founded by the Vikings around 1030 and for 600 years the only parish church on the north side of the city. In the crypt of the church you will 'delight' in the grisly experience of seeing mummified remains of centuries-old burials and hearing their individual stories.

Inclusions

Specialist guide

Price (per person)

EUR22.00

Min number

15

Max number

No set

Duration

2½ hours (walking)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

St Michan’s Church is closed on Saturday so the visit will be substituted with another activity
Take your own bottled water

In 1916, a small band of armed insurrectionists declared Ireland a republic. The event is known as the Easter Rising, a violent battle which resulted in many deaths and the destruction of many parts of Dublin.

Lorcan Collins, co-author of the best-selling guide to The Easter Rising, takes you to sites of the rebellion and gives you an understanding of the historic occasion which precipitated the formation of the Irish Republic. You are treated to the a retelling of the events around Trinity College, the drama of Citizen Hall, the march of the rebels to the Post Office and more.

Lorcan's great asset is his zeal for the Irish cause, his insight into the political jousting of the time and his hilarious descriptions of various episodes.

Inclusions

Specialist guide

Price (per person)

EUR25.00

Min Number

15

Max Number

40

Duration

2½ hours (walking)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

Take your own bottled water

Stunning scenery, a glimpse of Ireland’s aristocratic past and some excellent shopping for good measure.

Powerscourt House and Gardens is one of Europe’s great treasures and Ireland’s most famous estate. Gracing the foothills of the Wicklow mountains, the 18th century Palladian mansion was partially destroyed by fire in 1974. A long restoration project ensued and an exhibition now brings its rich history to life. Also onsite is Ireland’s premier shopping emporium, Avoca Handweavers.

Begun in the 1740s, 47 acres of gardens are remarkable for their grandeur of scale and comprise a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, splendid statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and an extensive variety of trees and shrubs.

On the return drive to Dublin, you will pass through the two charming seaside villages of Dalkey and Killiney, home to celebrities such as Maeve Binchey, Bono, Enya and Van Morrison.

Inclusions

Coach transportation, admission to Powerscourt House & Gardens, qualified guide

Price (per person)

EUR27.00

Min number

35

Max number

No set

Duration

4 hours (approximately)

Dress Code

Casual (including a jacket/coat)

Note

Take your own bottled water