The Annemarie Victory Organization Ireland Tour

The Annemarie Victory Organization, Inc.
136 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10021
Telephone: 212.486.0353

Ireland with Frank McCourt

Sunday Aug 3rd Depart US.

Monday Aug 4th

Arrive at Shannon Airport where your driver will be awaiting for you. He will whisk you out of the airport and Southwards, taking the road along the River Shannon towards Glin. Pass by Askeaton, home in the 18th century of The Hell Fire Club. The tower of the 15th century Desmond Castle dominates the town, rising from Deel island. The Franciscan friary built in 1389, was plundered and burnt in 1579. Saint Marys Church is a 13th century building, whose ruins are the Protestant Church. Nearby is the grave of the poet Aubrey de Vere. History is all around you!

During the 1930s and early 1940s, the port of Foynes, the next village, was the fulcrum point for air traffic between the United States and Europe. The famous Pan Am flying boats were frequent visitors, carrying passengers who ranged from celebrities to refugees. The Foynes museum recalls the era with a comprehensive range of exhibits and graphic illustrations. It also includes a 1940s style cinema, the original terminal building through which many VIP's passed, war years' radio and the weather room. Irish coffee was "invented" here in 1943.



Tarbert House		The Jail at Tarbert

To Tarbert, to see a Georgian Gaol. Then a private visit to Tarbert House, the home of the Leslie family since they built the house in 1701. In the front hall you will see the weapons of the private militia that they raised during the US War of Indepedence. Listowel is a the literary centre of the west and the home of the noted playwright the late John B Keane who wrote of it :-

Beautiful Listowel, serenaded night and day by the gentle waters of the River Feale.

Listowel where it is easier to write than not to write,
Where first love never dies, and the tall streets hide the loveliness,
the heartbreak and the moods, great and small,
of all the gentle souls of a great and good community.
Sweet, incomparable hometown that shaped and made me.

A light lunch here and then head on to Kenmare, a charming market town set on the banks of the Roughty River and overlooking an inlet of the Atlantic.

The Ring of Kerry is a circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula. Killorglin situated on a hill overlooking the wide and graceful River Laune, a river offering salmon and trout angling. Dominating the landscape to the south are the MacGillycuddys Reeks. It is the location of the famous "Puck Fair" festival - On the bridge into the town is a salmon smoke house called The Fishery.

The Bog Village is situated half way between Killorglin and Glenbeigh on the main Ring of Kerry route. It is a must for you to stop off and enjoy a step back in time to the early 18th century to recapture the way life would have been at that time. Peat, or turf as it is usually called in Ireland, is harvested from bogs and is still used as domestic fuel. The village is here to preserve the past for your enjoyment. This is a most worthwhile and historic visit to see the real Kerry life as it was, in the heart of Kerry's bogland. The Bog Village is adjacent to the Red Fox Inn Bar and Restaurant, which is open seven days a week.

Glenbeigh nestles at the foot of a well-wooded mountain and close to the head of Dingle Bay. It is dominated by the strange ruin of Wynn's Folly, or Hedley Towers, once home of the Winns, Barons Headley. Wynn's Folly was burnt down in 1922. After Glenbeigh you will pass through Kells Bay where a local shepherd will give a demonstration of working sheep dogs.


Sheep dogs	Waterville	The Lakes

On through Charlie Chaplin's Waterville and Cagerdaniel where, by golden beaches, stands Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Plantations and garden walks were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some features of the demesne are strongly associated with Daniel O'Connell, including the old Summer House.

Between Waterville and Derrynane you will see a Neolithic Stone alignment on the ridge above the road. Outside Caherdaniel is a ruined Iron Age fort.

Near Castlecove, some distance off the main road, is Staigue Fort - probably the finest example of a stone fort in Ireland, and is about 2500 years old. It is built of local stone and is almost circular, 27m in diameter. The walls are almost 4m thick at the base, and 2m thick at the top. Through Sneem and back to Killarney.

Good eating places en route are The Bianconi in Killorglin, , The Ballinskelligs Inn or The Cill Rialaig Centre, Waterville Golf Course Club House, The Skellig Inn (but arrive late after the coaches have gone).

Wednesday Aug 6th

9 am Leave Kenmare and head to Blarney Castle through the Irish speaking village of Ballyvourney.

10.30 am Blarney Castle is a McCarthy stronghold near Cork, and is famous for it's Stone of Eloquence. Shopping is a pleasure in the village where there are a number of excellent outlets, including the world famous Blarney Woollen Mills. Established in 1824, the outlet has become one of the largest craft shops in Ireland. Leave Blarney at 12.00

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Blarney		Annesgrove

1.00 pm A feast for the senses awaits you as at Annesgrove Gardens, a famous Robinsonian Garden, covering an area of some twelve hectares, and renowned for its magnificent shrubs, rhododendrons and azaleas. Planned and set by the Annesely family over the last 250 years, it is a place where time stands still, making it a living memento to the enchanting elegance of days gone by, and an ideal venue for leisurely strolls. an informal private lunch here with the Annesley family and then explore the garden

3.00 pm leave Annesgrove.

Pass through Doneraile, with its haunted and beautiful park. Thee Georgian Doneraile Court was home to the St. Leger family until 1969. The main road bypasses Croom with its waterwheel heritage centre in the old mill. In Croom, you can come and live the story of an Irish country mill from the glorious days of its success to its demise in the 1940's, and make the acquaintance of the Catholic landed gentry family who built it, the local community who worked and supplied it, and the bakers who made bread from the flour milled there.

Snuggled in a wooden and lush countryside setting, Adare is widely regarded as being Ireland’s prettiest and most picturesque village. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the Shannon river, Adare dates back, at least, to the early 13th century. The bridge by which you leave the village, in the shadow of the ruined Desmond Castle, was built in 1329. Two groups of world famous ornate, thatched cottages line part off the village’s broad main street, punctuated with beautiful stone buildings, medieval monasteries and ruins.


	Adare

Thursday Aug 7th

9.30 Depart Hotel

10.00 am Arrive Limerick Founded in the early 9th century as a Viking colony on an island in the River Shannon, Limerick takes it's name from the Norse word for "rich soil or land" (Laemrich). After the defeat of the Vikings, Limerick became the seat of the Kings of Munster until appropriated by the Anglo-Normans, in the late 10th century. Limerick received it's first charter, from King John, in 1197, ten years before London installed it's own mayor and corporation. The Limerick Normans owned great tracts of land and built over four hundred castles in the county, more than any other county in Ireland, as well as many large monasteries. There are many fascinating and historic sights to be seen in this 1000-year-old city including King John's Castle, St Mary's Cathedral, & The Hunt Museum. Meet Michael O'Donnell at The Georgian House who will lead you off up Henry Street on a walk back into the grim days of yore, as recalled in Angela's Ashes.

At 4.30 pm this evening there is horseracing at the racecourse at Limerick Junction, just over an hour from Adare.

9.30 Depart hotel to travel to Dublin


Leixlip	Desmond Guinness

1.00 Private lunch with The Hon Desmond Guinness in his 12th century Leixlip Castle. Erudite and charming, Desmond found the Irish Georgian Society in the 1960s and his home is seminal in the invention of the country house style of decoration, refined by Ralph Lauren. His mother was one of the famous Mitford sisters and Leixlip has long been a melting pot where rock stars and politicians, film directors and royalty all rub shoulders!


Senator Norris	Trinity	The Shelbourne

3.45 Meet Senator David Norris at Trinity College for a private tour of this August institution, founded by Queen Elizabeth I for the education of the Gentlemen of Ireland!

5.00 Walk up Kildare Street to The Shelbourne Hotel to check in - your baggage will have already arrived.

6.45 Leave the hotel for a private Joycean dinner in The House of Dead on Ushers Island. The James Joyce House of the Dead is one of Dublins most important literary and Historic buildings. Located in the City Centre, it is where Joyce set his most famous story, “The Dead” , Director John Huston located his film of the story here

6.15 PM Leave Croke Park for Howth

6.45 PM visit to Howth with dinner at the Abbey Tavern "An Evening of Irish Music" or consider a house party The Irish House Party is organised and hosted by local musicians, dancers and actors who create this famous Irish custom. There are no stages, microphones or fake antiques hanging from the walls commonplace now in the many large refurbished 'Irish' pubs around Dublin. On arrival you are welcomed by the host (Fear an Tí) for a sumptuous four course dinner from a choice menu, a humourous introduction to Irish music and writers, live traditional music with all-Ireland champion musicians, entertaining stories about Dublin and its unique characters, learning a song in the Irish language with a song book for each guest, taking part in Ceili dancing and games, singalongs with traditional hits.