Page 4 - AAA Now! – AAA Northampton County – Spring 2020

TRAVEL WITH SOMEONE YOU TRUST®
PRE-SUMMER TRAVEL SALE • MARCH 7-21, 2020 TRAVELING TO IRELAND WITH CIE TOURS
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By Diane Parkansky
AAA Northampton County Travel Consultant
After assisting many AAA members with trips to Ireland and hearing about their wonderful adventures, I chose Ireland for my destination training this year.
I selected CIE’s Irish Gold tour, which began with a stay at southern Dublin’s waterfront. The tour guide took us to Trinity College and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and we finished the day with a Guinness and fish & chips in O’Neill’s Irish Pub with fun new friends.
Day 2 – We traveled west to Galway. Along
the way we toured Clonmacnoise Monastery and learned about the Celtic Cross. Later, we toured Galway, a town full of culture, festivals, music and whiskey bars.
Day 3 – We ventured north today to the beautiful Kylemore Abbey. Along the way, we stopped at Connemara Marble Factory Shop where they create beautiful jewelry. We next took a catamaran tour of the only Irish fjord. Kylemore Abbey is on 1,000 acres of lush forests with waterfalls and a serene lake.
Day 4 – En route to Killarney, we saw a fascinating sheepdog exhibition at Caherconnel Fort. Next stop was Cliffs of Moher, the deep fog lifted for a view of
these steep shoreline cliffs. We took an auto ferry
to Killarney and checked into the Great Southern Killarney Hotel, a grand Victorian-style hotel. I walked in the Killarney National Park through the flower garden before dinner, which included Irish music and dancing lessons.
Day 5 – Today we took an invigorating jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park with driver John and horse Molly. John was full of stories and jokes, and the scenery was beautiful. We then headed to the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile scenic drive along the coast. In my free time I hiked through the Killarney National Park to Ross Castle, and some- where in between the babbling brook, castle and red deer I fell in love with Killarney and County Kerry.
Day 6 – We left Killarney for the Blarney Castle
in County Cork, with beautiful gardens, riverside trails and waterfalls. After exploring we stopped at The Marine Bar in Dungarvin where Christy O’Neill greeted us with Irish beverages and Irish music singalongs. This was one of my favorite experiences on this trip. Later, in Waterford, we learned how
much detail and skill goes into each piece of Waterford crystal.
Day 7 – This morning we toured Waterford with Jack Burtchaell, who brought the Viking history of the oldest city in Ireland to life. The oldest brewery in Ireland, Smithwicks in Kilkenny, was next. Kilkenny is a scenic town with shopping, dining, and the majestic Kilkenny Castle.
CIE did an excellent job in sharing Ireland’s history, culture and customs with us. The hotels were full of character and centrally located. The tours were of interesting places with plenty of free time to explore on our own.
4 Text APP188 to 88202 to download the AAA app or use your preferred App store SPRING 2020