Page 50 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio – January 2020

Continued from page 47
Walk along the remarkable Cliffs of Moher, rising nearly 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, to the O’Brien’s Tower and catch glimpses of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. From there, make your way to Bunratty or Knappogue Castle for a medieval-style feast, where lords and ladies will serenade you.
This tour begins and ends in Dublin and also visits the Book of Kells, Taylors Three Rock Pub, Adare and Limerick.
The AAA Member Appreciation trip will be June 23- July 2. A deposit of $500 per person is due at time of booking with final payment due by March 6.
ENCHANTING EMERALD ISLAND
Focusing on the rich history and culture of Ireland, this experience will travel across the valleys of the ancient land, from Dublin’s Georgian Squares to the Anglo-Norman Kilkenny Castle on the Nore River.
On the shores of Lake Kylemore, you will find the Benedictine monastery of Kylemore Abbey, built in 1868 as Kylemore Castle as a private home for a wealthy doctor from London. The nuns bought the castle and surrounding gardens in 1920.
Some say a trip to Ireland is not complete without driving the Ring of Kerry, the most scenic drive in Ireland. This 111-mile loop around County Kerry offers a variety of landscapes that have been the muse for artists for ages.
Kilkenny Castle was built over the Nore River in 1195 and served as the junction of several routes of travel throughout Ireland. Today it is owned by the city, which runs the castle and gardens as a tourist attraction. And it is has used the space well. In the basement of the castle, you will find one of the best art museums outside of Dublin, the Butler Gallery.
This tour begins and ends in Dublin and also visits Stroketown, Enniscrone, Cliffs of Moher, Killarney and Blarney Castle.
Kylemore Abbey
The Brendan Vacations trip will be Sept. 5-13. A deposit of $500 per person is due at time of booking with final payment due by April 29.
MYSTICAL IRELAND & ‘GAME OF THRONES’
So if all you know about the Irish is St. Patrick’s Day, then this tour will help you out by taking you to the saint’s final resting place at Down Cathedral and letting you learn about his work. Also in Belfast, you will visit the Crumlin Road Gaol and find out how prisoners lived there from 1846 through 1996.
While still in Belfast, your tour includes a trip to shipyards where the RMS Titanic was built. Then, head off to Titanic Belfast to learn about the ill-fated ship as well its sister ships, the RMS Olympic and the HMHS Britannic.
From Belfast, you will head north, but too far north as “Game of Thrones” fans know you do not want to travel there. Along the Glens of Antrim, you will view scenery made famous in the HBO series, whether it’s the coast, the valleys or the mountains. And, thankfully, not a dragon in sight.
This tour begins in Dublin and ends in Bunratty, departing from Shannon Airport. It also will visit Dublin Castle, Donegal, Killary Harbour, Westport House and the Cliffs of Moher.
This AAA Member Appreciation trip will be
Sept. 15-24. A deposit of $500 per person is due at time of booking with final payment due by May 29.
ICELAND & IRELAND CRUISE
Not only will you see the highlights of Ireland, but you will get two days in Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice. But your adventure will start in England, just a short train ride away from London if you want to make a quick visit. You
48 | AAA MAGAZINE
iStock.com/espiegle