Today we arrive in Dublin, a city famous for its lively streets, rich traditions, and enduring culture of storytelling. Upon arrival, make your way to the Ruby Molly Hotel and take some time to settle in before meeting your fellow travelers and tour leader in the afternoon for an orientation walk through Dublin and a welcome dinner.

Hotel: Ruby Molly Hotel  opens a new window

Meals: Dinner

Activity Level: Easy

After breakfast at the hotel, we'll walk to Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university and one of Dublin's most significant cultural landmarks. Founded during the era of British rule, Trinity offers a unique perspective which explores Ireland's transition from colonial governance to an independent cultural identity. Our visit includes the Old Library and the Book of Kells, a remarkable manuscript more than 1,200 years old. With its intricate illustrations and vibrant hand-crafted designs, the manuscript reflects Ireland's long tradition of learning, artistry, and storytelling.

We'll enjoy a group lunch at The Bank on College Green, once frequented by some of Ireland's most celebrated writers, including Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and Samuel Beckett. In the afternoon, we'll take part in a discussion on Irish Modernism, exploring how writers, artists, and thinkers helped shape Ireland's cultural identity during a period of profound change.

The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. For those who wish to continue exploring, an optional visit to The Cobblestone offers an opportunity to experience a beloved Irish tradition: live music sessions featuring local musicians who gather to play and sing in spontaneous rounds in an authentic neighborhood setting.

Hotel: Ruby Molly Motel  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

We'll ease into the day with breakfast at the hotel and a discussion of our James Joyce readings. Through stories such as Araby, A Painful Case, and The Dead, we'll step into the Dublin that James Joyce knew, exploring the neighborhoods, and daily life that inspired some of his most memorable writing.

We’ll then make our way to the James Joyce Centre for a walking tour of Dublin. Immersing ourselves in the world of one of Irelands most influential writers, we'll discover how Dublin became both the setting and inspiration for Joyce's work, while gaining insight into the political, social, and religious forces that shaped modern Ireland.

After a group lunch, we'll continue our conversations about Irish literature, drama, and culture before returning to the hotel.

This evening, you'll have time for dinner on your own before we attend a performance at one of Dublin's celebrated theaters, such as the Samuel Beckett Theatre, the Abbey Theatre, or the Gate Theatre. From the wit of George Bernard Shaw to the groundbreaking works of Samuel Beckett, Irish drama has left an enduring mark on audiences around the world. There is no better place to experience that tradition than from a seat in the audience.

Suggested Reading: Araby, A Painful Case, and The Dead, by James Joyce.

Hotel: Ruby Molly Hotel  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

This morning, we'll visit Kilmainham Gaol, one of Ireland's most important historical sites. The prison played a central role in the story of Irish independence, and its halls still echo with the events that shaped the nation. Following our guided tour, we'll walk through the nearby grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Art and consider how artists, writers, and poets have interpreted moments of profound national change. Along the way, we'll discuss selections from W. B. Yeats's Easter, 1916 and The Second Coming.

We'll continue to the Guinness brewery district for lunch and a guided visit to one of Ireland's most recognizable cultural institutions. From there, we'll return to the hotel to collect our luggage before boarding the train south to Cork.

As the Irish countryside unfolds outside our windows, consider reading Frank O'Connor's Guests of the Nation. Set during the Irish War of Independence, the story offers an introduction to the complex questions of identity, loyalty, and belonging that shaped twentieth-century Ireland. Our journey also marks a transition from Dublin, the seat of British administration, to Cork, a center of Irish republican activity, language revival, and cultural renewal.

This evening, we'll arrive in Cork and gather for dinner before settling in for the night.

Suggested Reading: W. B. Yeats's Easter, 1916, and The Second Coming

Hotel: Isaacs Hotel Cork City  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

After breakfast, we'll gather to discuss Frank O'Connor's Guests of the Nation, a powerful story that explores loyalty, conflict, and identity during a defining period of Irish history. You'll then have some free time to explore Cork, a city known for its independent spirit, vibrant arts scene, and strong literary heritage.

Later, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the historic English Market, a beloved Cork institution that has been at the heart of local life for generations. Lunch is on your own, giving you the opportunity to sample regional specialties and browse the market's many food stalls.

This afternoon and evening you'll have the opportunity to attend events at the Cork International Poetry Festival, a celebration of contemporary poetry and Ireland's enduring literary traditions. Alternatively, enjoy free time to explore Cork at your own pace, whether that means browsing local shops, discovering the city's vibrant food scene, or simply soaking in its atmosphere. Dinner is at your leisure.

Suggested Reading: Frank O'Connor's Guests of the Nation

Hotel: Isaacs Hotel Cork City  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast

Activity Level: Moderate

This morning, we'll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading west by private coach to Galway, stopping at Coole Park along the way. Once the home of Lady Gregory, Coole became a gathering place for many of the leading figures of the Irish Literary Revival, including W. B. Yeats and J. M. Synge. Here, writers and artists drew inspiration from Ireland's landscapes, folklore, and traditions as they worked to preserve and reimagine Irish culture for a new generation.

After a group lunch, we'll continue to Galway, a city known for its artistic energy, traditional music, and deep connections to Ireland's cultural heritage. In the afternoon, we'll gather for a discussion of Yeats's The Wild Swans at Coole and The Circus Animals' Desertion, considering how landscape, memory, and identity have shaped Irish poetry across generations and continue to influence Ireland's story at home and abroad.

The remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy. You may wish to explore Galway's lively streets, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, or join fellow travelers for an optional visit to The Crane Bar or Tigh Coili, where traditional Irish music remains a vibrant part of everyday life.

Suggested Reading: W. B. Yeats' The Wild Swans at Coole and The Circus Animals' Desertion

Hotel: The Dean Galway  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Activity Level: Moderate

Today we'll explore some of Ireland's most celebrated landscapes as we travel through County Clare. Our journey takes us to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, the unique limestone landscape of the Burren, and picturesque Dunguaire Castle on the shores of Galway Bay. Together, these places offer a glimpse into an older Ireland and the traditions, stories, and ways of life that endured along the western coast for generations, helping to shape the country's cultural identity.

We'll stop for lunch along the way before continuing through a region that has inspired generations of artists, musicians, and storytellers. From ancient stone walls to sweeping Atlantic views, this is Ireland at its most iconic.

This evening, we'll return to Galway, where the rest of the night is yours to enjoy. Explore the city's vibrant streets, enjoy dinner at a local pub or restaurant, or simply soak in the atmosphere of one of Ireland's most creative and welcoming communities.

Hotel: The Dean Galway  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Activity Level: Moderate

After breakfast, we'll take the ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the Aran Islands. Located at the edge of Galway Bay, the islands have long been associated with the Irish language, traditional ways of life, and a strong sense of place. You'll have time to explore the island, visit local shops, browse the famous Aran sweater market, enjoy lunch on your own at one of the local pubs or cafes, or perhaps rent an e-bike to discover more of the island's rugged landscape.

The Aran Islands offer a glimpse of a different Ireland, one shaped by the Atlantic, close-knit communities, and traditions that have endured for generations.

As we return to Galway this evening, we'll reflect on the work of contemporary Irish writers such as Colm Tóibín and Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney, whose writings have helped shape modern understandings of Irish landscapes, communities, and identity.

Dinner is on your own, with an optional gathering later for traditional music in one of Galway's welcoming pubs.

Suggested Reading: Colm Tóibín's Five Bridges

Hotel: The Dean Galway  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast

Activity Level: Moderate to Strenuous

This morning, we'll board the train back to Dublin, enjoying one last journey through the Irish countryside before returning to the capital. Along the way, we may find ourselves reflecting on the stories, places, and conversations that have connected our travels, from Dublin's historic streets to the windswept Atlantic coast.

After arriving in Dublin, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. Perhaps you'll revisit a favorite neighborhood, explore a museum, browse the city's bookshops, or simply settle into a café and watch Dublin life unfold around you.

This evening, we'll gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate our time together in Ireland. As we share memories from the journey, we'll raise a final sláinte to the stories, landscapes, and cultural traditions that have brought Ireland to life along the way.

Hotel: Ruby Molly Hotel  opens a new window

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Activity Level: Moderate

After breakfast, we'll begin our journeys home. Before we depart, we'd like to leave you with a traditional Irish blessing that captures the warmth, hospitality, and spirit of the road that have accompanied us throughout this adventure:

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

The rains fall soft upon your field...

Meals: Breakfast

Activity Level: Easy

Included

• Engaging discussions led by our expert trip leader
• Breakfast each morning of the program
• Hotel accommodations throughout the journey
• Group meals as noted in itinerary
• All guides, tips, tickets and entrance fees as noted in the itinerary
• All in-country transportation as noted in the itinerary
• Accident and sickness insurance with medical evacuation and security evacuation

Not included

• Airfare to and from Ireland
• Meals that are not specifically noted in itinerary
• Transportation costs not noted in itinerary
• Cancellation and lost luggage insurance
• Any costs outside of the itinerary