Ireland 2023 - Day One

Treacy's Bar & Restaurant

In typical Alumni Travel Program fashion, we were off to a running start to a very long and productive day. Just landing at Dublin Airport, we met our C.I.E. Tours bus driver/tour guide, Sean McGovern. After boarding the motor coach, we took a scenic 90-minute ride from Dublin to Portlaoise, where we stopped for a traditional Irish breakfast at Treacy's Bar & Restaurant.

The Rock of Cashel

After breakfast, we travel into County Tipperary for a visit to the Rock of Cashel where we toured the majestic church ruins that are clustered high on a limestone outcrop overlooking the surrounding countryside.

Granny's Kitchen

The skies opened up a bit just as we were disembarking the coach to tour the grounds but that didn't damper the spirits of our travelers, some of whom capped off the visit with a nice warm beverage from Granny's Kitchen just down a quaint little street from the ruins.

The port of Kinsale

After wrapping up our visit, we continued our drive into Kinsale. The rain started to come down during our drive and we had a little excitement when the wipers on the van stopped working. Fortunately, it was just a blown fuse and Sean was able to fix it and get us back on our way quickly.

As we reached the seaport town of Kinsale, we welcomed our local guide, David, onto the bus for a driving tour and complete history of thetown.

A favorite of artists due to its steep narrow streets, quirky shopfronts and many fine Georgian houses, Kinsale boasted a robust trade and fishing economy for decades. In recent years, Kinsale has come to be known as the "Gourmet Capital of Ireland" thanks in part to its many wonderful restaurants and pubs.

The Kingsley Hotel

After leaving Kinsale, we continued our journey to Cork to check into The Kingsley Hotel where we enjoyed a fantastic Welcome Dinner in the at Fairbanks Restaurant.

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