Celtic Dream Tours

April 02, 2010

Paul Duffy Musical Tour

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

We are now finalizing all the aspects of the upcoming Paul Duffy Irish Musical Tour starting on April 16th.

Since we have had to cancel our farm visit, and Ashford Castle stay as it didn't end up in the budget, we have decided to go to Ashford Castle and enjoy their Famous Lady Ardilaun Afternoon Tea.

Lord and lady Ardilaun enjoyed one of the great romances of their time and in celebration of their 25th wedding anniversary in 1896 they received a gift of beautiful tea service. This service is on display in the foyer and we will be enjoying " Lady Adilaun's afternoon tea" served in the traditional fashion.

So we will have our tea in the Drawing Room of the beautiful Ashford Castle, located in the village of Cong, County Mayo on the West Coast of Ireland.

If you ever visit Ireland and your budget allows it, this is an amazing place to stay. We use it on most of our tours to Ireland, so come join us someday!

P.S. All photos are taken by us and are our property.

Earlier that same day we will go to one of my favorite places in Ireland, Kylemore Abbey, which is run by Benedictine Nuns, originally from Ypres in Belgium.

The Abbey was initially called Kylemore Castle and has a stunning view over the Lough. There is an amazing Gothic Chapel on the grounds and also some fabulous gardens a mile into the estate.

Included in your entry fee is a bus ride to the walled gardens and kitchen garden, also the gardener's cottage and the ruins of the Glass Houses. This will be a wonderful day, especially since we get to drive through the amazing Connemara Mountains.

March 31, 2010

You missed a great trip!

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

Well we are just back from our first tour of the year, the Ireland St Patrick's Day From Medieval to Modern Times tour! It was a great success and everyone had a great time. The weather was amazing for March in Ireland, actually felt warm sometimes and it was nice and sunny alot! So overall a great time was had by all. One of my favorite days was the day we went to Kylemore Abbey and the Organic Farm Visit, it was so much fun and just so different! I love the Abbey now in the hands of the Benedictine Nuns, with its beautiful formal gardens, and the stunning Gothic Chapel all overlooking a beautiful Lough.

If you are in the Connemara area of Ireland this is a must visit!

Another of my favorite days was the day we went on the ferry to Inish Mor, the largest of the Aran islands. The islands are amazing, rocky, and beautiful. We had a local guide whisk us off to see Dun Angeus and then we had lunch in a quaint tea room, followed by a drive down to the end of the island which was the most westerly place in Ireland.

There are two other Islands in the Aran's and maybe next time we will visit one of those! I was told that the middle sized one, Inish Mean is a beautiful place to visit and not nearly as touristy, not that Inish Mor was at all...

The ferry crossing was very rough and it seems because of the location and the Atlantic, it is usually about the same, and no cars were on the ferry just passengers. What a fun day trip, if you go to Ireland I can highly recommend taking this day trip. The first picture is the quaint tea room where we had lunch, the second is the view from Dun Angeus, amazing! More Later!!!

March 21, 2010

On Tour In Ireland! Join us via blog!

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

So here we are now in Galway City, on the West Coast of Ireland. Staying in a boutique city hotel right in the heart of the city so we can all walk around and explore the city.

These photos were taken at the Rock of Cashel, a wonderful historical grouping of buildings that was once a monastry. One is of a ruined castle in the town, this was the view from the Rock!!!

Tomorrow we are going to Inis Mor, one of the Aran Islands, we get there by ferry. It is the main island of the three Aran Islands and we will spend the day with a local guide on the island.

October 15, 2009

PAUL DUFFY - IRISH SINGER TOUR

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

Our Special Musical Tour with Paul Duffy formerly of the Commitments, is now posted on our website with booking available right from there! Our tour emcompasses 8 night accomodation in fabulous Manor Homes, Castles and Boutique city hotels around Ireland, visit ancient historical sites, monasteries, standing stones and the Cliffs of Moher, Boat trip to the Aran islands, and all the exciting places to visit in Dublin.

All this with the wonderful music of Paul Duffy, former singer/sax player with the Commitments, playing music for us nightly in pubs and hotels around his Homeland...

May 15, 2009

Ireland with Paul Duffy NEW DATE April 2010

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

Price is $2495 Not including airfare per person based on double occupancy! Optional extended Dublin tour available for $795 per person.

So if you are a Paul Duffy fan, or just love great Irish Music, join Dublin Born Paul on our fabulous tour around the Emerald Isle. Feel like a local and Live it!!!

Visit Ireland, like you've never seen it before!

May 07, 2009

PAUL DUFFY - IRISH SINGER TOUR

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

We are delighted to announce a brand new tour we are operating this September, starting on the 25th, a MUSICAL tour to IRELAND, with Paul Duffy, former singer with the Commitments, returns to Dublin, his home town and we tour Ireland. First time ever, we are operating this tour around Ireland, visiting Waterford, Wicklow, Galway, Cong, and the Aran Islands. As we tour around Paul will entertain us with music and stories of Ireland. Each evening we will have music sessions in local pubs with Paul and often other local musicians will join in.

Check out the itinerary on our website for this fun and exciting trip to Ireland, The Emerald Isle. We will stay in wonderful hotels, minimum of 3 star, all with ensuite bathrooms, and some Castles, all with great locations in this beautiful, stunning country. Enjoy 8 nights (with an optional 4 more in Dublin) on our musical tour, Space is limited.

March 19, 2009

NEW TOUR TO IRELAND

CATEGORY: Ireland - From Medieval to Modern Times

After many years of clients and travel agents asking if we do tours and FIT's to Ireland, we have decided that maybe we should! After doing research and finding that not many companies (IF any) are doing the kind of upscale tours that we do to Scotland, in Ireland, we made the decision to start planning them to Ireland too! Ian and I took another trip to Ireland last summer with the purpose of finding some great hotels and locations to visit so that we can take clients there on tours!

Now just our luck, we had the WORST weather Ireland had in 22 years, which is very unusual for me, as usually when I go to Scotland to take the tours, I always say I brought the Florida sunshine with me! But no, we had rain, rain and more rain in Ireland! But I have to say it was beautiful as usual! It can't be the Emerald Isle if there is no rain, after all!

So we planned this tour, Ireland, From Medieval to Modern Times, that visits some of the more famous places in Ireland that people want to visit, along with some hidden gems, out of the way places that are off the beaten track that larger tours don't go too!

As always, we don't go to tacky touristy shows, don't stay in Tourist class hotels, and Don't cram you 50 people to a coach!

We show you the Real Ireland, you will travel in style on a luxury midi coach, with a small group of just 12 or 14 people, so it's much more *family style* travel, we will take you to see places made famous in Songs, local pubs where the locals hang out, dine on Gourmet Irish food by Great Irish Chefs, all while staying in fabulous Irish Castles, Mansions and Boutique City Hotels! So you get a little bit of everything, from the Modern to the Medieval!!!

Our first tour is September 30th, 2009 and space is limited to 12 people! The second tour will take place over St Patrick's Day 2010!!

So join us for a fun filled, enjoyable trip to Ireland, and see Ireland, as you've never seen if before! Of course we are still doing all your favorite Scotland tours too! Check the website often for updates on tours and availability!